Levy Infantry (FOTS Unit)

Levy Infantry (FOTS Unit)
File:Levy Infantry FOTS.png
Class	Militia Infantry
Recruitment Cost	500
Upkeep Cost	80
Requires	Buildings: Stronghold
Melee Attack	3
Charge Bonus	8
Bonus vs Cavalry	2
Range	125
Accuracy	10
Reloading Skill	5
Ammunition	15
Melee Defence	1
Armour	1
Morale	4
Speed	4

Description

To defend one's home is an act of a brave and worthy man.

Levy infantry are raised as militia: second-line forces that are trained to a reasonable standard but are not full time or professional soldiers by any means. They are a strategic defensive force, acting as garrisons and guards in their home provinces. On the battlefield, they can give a good account of themselves, and can use their smoothbore guns efficiently. However, these weapons are slow to load and, because they are not rifled, they are not particularly accurate or long-ranged. They are, however, simple, rugged, dependable and cheap. Levies have surprisingly decent morale, but they are not well-suited to close combat, and they will take casualties if cavalry are allowed to overrun them.

These militia troops were the natural successors to the ashigaru of earlier Japanese history. The ashigaru were men of the peasant class, rather than samurai warriors, who made a living as soldiers. Although equipped, armed and drilled in European style, often by European mercenary officers and sergeants, the levies retained the distinctive jingasa helmets of the ashigaru. This conical helmet was actually a more practical bit of kit than a European hat. There was a chance, for a start, that it might keep out a shell splinter; it was waterproof; and it could, at a pinch, be turned upside down and used as a cooking pot.

Strengths & Weaknesses

• Poor accuracy and slow reload rate.
• Weak in melee.
• Weak against cavalry.
• Average morale.

Other Information

Levy Infantry is one of two units available without any buildings besides the main Castle. At the start of a Campaign, using large stacks full of Spear Levy and Levy Infantry can be useful in expanding your territory, since they can be recruited quickly, are inexpensive and don't require the time and investment of stronger early game units.

Compared to their melee equivalent, Spear Levy, Levy Infantry are very vulnerable in melee; they have only 3 attack, 1 armour, and 1 defense skill, meaning they will die very easily. However, they have a surprisingly quite high charge bonus of 8. When fighting Spear Levy if they get a good volley or two and then countercharge, they will probably beat them.

As soon as you've secured a good expanse of territory and built up your Economy, it is strongly recommended that you switch over to Line Infantry as the standard unit for your field armies, and even castle garrisons that are under risk. Levy Infantry are less cost effective and have very poor stats and abilities when compared to Line Infantry. However, the fact that Levy Infantry can be recruited everywhere is a huge advantage; this can make them very useful to hire in a pinch, and can free the player from building expensive military buildings, saving vital funds in the early game. They need support but are much more useful than they are often given credit for, as having any ranged unit at all gives an army more tactical options. In a more advanced army they can also be useful as bait, to be put into positions to absorb damage and to stop the enemy from targeting more valuable troops.

The Aizu do not get Levy Infantry, but instead have the White Tiger Force, who have notably better ranged stats but are otherwise the exact same. This helps them a bit but they are still notably inferior to Line Infantry and Aizus equivalent, the Black Tortoise Force. The Aizu also get +1 experience for Traditional Units, including the Spear Levy, making the Aizu Levy troops the best in the game.