Foot Samurai (ROTS Unit)

Foot Samurai (ROTS Unit)
Class	Bow Infantry
Recruitment Cost	700
Upkeep Cost	150
Requires	Buildings: Bushi School
Melee Attack	14
Charge Bonus	6
Bonus vs Cavalry	0
Range	150
Accuracy	60
Reloading Skill	60
Ammunition	25
Melee Defence	6
Armour	6
Morale	8
Speed	4

Description

Samurai infantry well able to fight in melee and with the bow, making them superb all-purpose warriors.

To be a samurai was, originally, to be a mounted warrior with bow and spear; mastery of the sword and fighting on foot were later developments. However, once adopted, these new ways were treated with equal sincerity and dedication. Samurai infantry are master archers, capable of hitting targets at impressively long ranges, and also quite capable of defeating enemies in close combat. However, the numerically small size of the unit does make them vulnerable to being overwhelmed by numerous lesser enemies. A wise commander also makes sure they are carefully handled when cavalry threaten.

War, the skills of war, and the spirits went hand in hand in Japan. According to the "Azuma Kagami", a written account of the Gempei War, Minamoto Yoritomo's first action when summoned to war was to put on ceremonial robes, and bow towards the Iwashimizu Hachiman shrine. By doing this, the Minamoto Shogun placed the destiny of his family in the hands of Hachiman, the kami of war and the Minamoto's tutelary spirit. To make sure Hachiman continued to favour his clan, Yoritomo had a Shinto priest and a samurai "deeply versed in Shinto ritual" offer prayers on his behalf.

Strengths & Weaknesses

• Very good accuracy and reload rate.
• Very good in melee.
• Very good morale.
• Vulnerable to cavalry and massed levy troops.

Special Abilities

• Flaming Arrows - This unit can fire flaming arrows for a short period of time. Flaming arrows have a greater damage effect and can set fire to flammable objects. Flaming arrows don't function in wet weather.
• Whistling Arrows - Whistling arrows have an unsettling effect on both enemy and friendly troops, reducing their morale and combat ability for a short period when they fly over them.

Other Information

The Excellent Stats of Foot Samurai are badly offset by their high recruitment and upkeep costs and the fact that there are only 45 men per unit, meaning that they're simply too expensive to recruit until you've built up a strong economy to support them. And even then, they're far too valuable for anything else other than turning the tide of a battle or defending a castle against an enemy assault. The most recommended Improvement that they should be given is Exceptional Armour as they are simply too good with the bow and sword to need either Exceptional Accuracy or Exceptional Weaponry, respectively. Extra Armour is also very helpful in reducing the risk of damage from arrow fire and engaging in melee against, more often than not, overwhelming odds. And the last thing that anyone would want is to have to replace a decimated unit of Foot Samurai.

Second Opinion

When playing as the Kamakura Minamoto, their Reduced Upkeep bonus for Samurai units will lower the cost of Foot Samurai to be only slightly more expensive than Bow Attendants. This provides them with the practical alternative of using Foot Samurai over Bow Attendants which allows them to dominate both Archery Duels and Melee Combat unlike Bow Attendants which are not as resilient and can easily be destroyed by melee units. Also, massing Foot Samurai with Exceptional Accuracy will allow you to swiftly start and end both field battles and siege assaults before both armies can even get into melee range.

Comprehensive Unit Stats

	Exp Lv 0	Exp Lv 1	Exp Lv 2	Exp Lv 3	Exp Lv 4	Exp Lv 5	Exp Lv 6	Exp Lv 7	Exp Lv 8	Exp Lv 9
Melee Attack	14	15	16	17	18	18	19	20	20	21
Accuracy	60	62	64	66	68	70	72	74	76	78
Reloading Skill	60	62	64	66	68	70	72	74	76	78
Melee Defence	6	7	8	8	9	11	11	12	13	13
Morale	8	9	9	10	11	11	12	12	13	14