Naginata Samurai (TWS2 Unit)

Naginata Samurai (TWS2 Unit)
Class	Heavy Infantry
Recruitment Cost	750
Upkeep Cost	150
Requires	Buildings: Naginata Dojo
Melee Attack	9
Charge Bonus	12
Bonus vs Cavalry	15
Melee Defence	6
Armour	9
Morale	10
Speed	4

Description

These samurai are armed with long-bladed naginata. Polearms have a very effective reach in melee fighting.

The naginata is a long staff with a curved blade fixed to the end. Its length and flexibility of use make it a great melee weapon. Like all samurai, these warriors have trained hard to achieve full mastery of their chosen weapon and excel when fighting enemy cavalry and infantry. Should a defensive formation be needed, they can group together into a protective square, where they resemble a kind of hedgehog, with the long spikes of naginata protruding from every side. Despite their versatility, they are still vulnerable to the very best cavalry and infantry and they have little protection against missile attacks.

Historically, the naginata proved to be a very adaptable weapon, used by a variety of different groups in many ways. Samurai women were trained to use it in self-defence when their men were away at war, where the polearm’s length compensated for the height disparity between men and women. The sohei warrior monks used it en masse, which suited their mob-like formations, while samurai used it both when mounted and on foot. To extend its already formidable reach, a samurai would hold the end of his naginata and whirl it above his head, or stand up in the stirrups of their horses and use slashing motions at the enemy.

Strengths & Weaknesses

• Versatile infantry that are good in melee and against cavalry.
• Not as good in melee as sword infantry, and not as good against cavalry as spear infantry.