Hattori Matchlock Ashigaru (TWS2 Unit)

Hattori Matchlock Ashigaru (TWS2 Unit)
Class	Matchlock Infantry
Recruitment Cost	300
Upkeep Cost	100
Requires	Clan: Hattori Buildings: Fort Arts: Gunpowder Mastery
Melee Attack	2
Charge Bonus	2
Bonus vs Cavalry	0
Range	100
Accuracy	30
Reloading Skill	5
Ammunition	15
Melee Defence	1
Armour	1
Morale	3
Speed	4

Description

These ashigaru troops are armed with matchlock arquebuses and pepper the enemy with long range, mass volleys.

The role of matchlock ashigaru is to unleash massed gun volleys upon the enemy, keeping them confused and, in the process, weakening them enough for a frontline charge. Once fired, the matchlock guns take a long time to reload, but their range, noise, and effect on enemy morale more than compensates for this lack of speed. The smoke and fire they produce can be very disorientating to enemies, particularly when targets are dropping all around. When the main fighting starts matchlock gunners should retreat behind melee troops. They do not have the training to fight in close combat and have no defence against a cavalry charge.

Historically, it was considered a great honour for any samurai to fire the first shot of a battle. The honour traditionally fell to the samurai archers, who opened most battles with an archery duel. However, the Sengoku Jidai introduced the European arquebus, guns which required much less skill to use than the bow. The archery duel became an exchange of gunfire and, as the guns were largely carried by ashigaru, the first shots were now fired by simple foot soldiers. The ashigaru gunners were led by a teppo ko gashira, a man chosen for his skill and courage, who ordered when to load, when to fire and signalled his superiors when the enemy had been weakened enough for a charge to be attempted.

Strengths & Weaknesses

• Armed with slow-firing but high damage matchlocks.
• Vulnerable to cavalry and to melee infantry.