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

At the start of a Campaign, using large stacks full of Spear Levy and Levy Infantry is your only option towards expanding your territory as your Economy is too weak to afford a sufficiently sized army of better quality 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 castle garrisons. Levy Infantry are simply cost ineffective and have very poor stats when compared to Line Infantry. However, Levy Infantry can be much more useful than they are given credit for.