Kunitori Zunou Battle ~ Nobunaga no Yabou Combat System Explanation ========================= Alan Kwan 3 July 2008 ===================== version 1.1 ----------- This document explains the combat system, i.e. what happens when opposing units/castle engage. If you cannot read Japanese (or even if you can), this information is very important, because the combat system in this game is rather unusual, and it will be very difficult to succeed in this game if one doesn't understand this. The rules outside combat are explained in the "rules & strategy guide" document. Version History --------------- 4 July v1.1: corrected a misunderstanding about siege battle (caused by Nobunaga's astonishing skill) 3 July v1.0 Combat Sequence --------------- Combat is resolved by the following step-by-step procedure: 1. Rout: If the total attacking force is greater than the total defending force (a castle adds its defense value to the defenders' force), all defending units are immediately defeated, and the attackers conquer the contested space with no losses. If the attacking force is smaller or equal, proceed to step 2. 2. Strike: If the defenders are not routed, each side makes one strike, and then the attackers retreat. Although the game shows the attackers striking first, striking is effectively simultaneous: any defending units reduced to 0 force still gets a chance to strike before being defeated. 3. Strike damage: Each side strikes with /only/ their most effective unit, against /every/ enemy unit in the battle. The number of units or their force has *no effect* on strike damage. Strike damage is modified only by class, troop types, and certain skills. After both sides strike, units reduced to 0 force are defeated. Class: The base damage a unit inflicts when striking is equal to its class. (A unit builds up its class by fighting repeatedly without being defeated.) Troop types: Calvary is strong against infantry, infantry is strong against gunners, and gunners are strong against calvary. The stronger type inflicts double damage. The weaker type inflicts zero damage. (Note: Having units of the stronger type does not protect you from *routing* at all.) Castle: If the defenders of a castle are all of the weaker type, the "inherent castle defense" strikes in their stead for 1 damage. Example: You attack a stack of three force 4 infantry units with a force 6 infantry. Since the defenders have the larger force (12 to 6), they are not routed and we proceed to striking. One of the defenders is class 2, and all other units are class 1. You strike and do 1 damage to each defending unit (hence 3 damage total). The class 2 defender strikes and does 2 damage to your unit. We can see that, having more units confers no advantage in striking; in fact, it is disadvantageous since every unit will be struck at. 4. Retreat: The attackers always retreat after strikes are exchanged, even if the defenders are eliminated by the strike. The attackers can conquer the space only if they rout the defenders, or if the space is undefended to begin with. Important exception: Nobunaga's "Triple Shot" skill (as well as certain other Daimyo skills) allows his army to "attack twice". After the defenders are weakened by the first strike, it is possible for Nobunaga's army to rout the defenders if they have the greater force at that point. If the defenders are routed, they do not strike back. Attacking a Castle ------------------ You can always walk into a neutral (uncontrolled) castle. But against an enemy-controlled castle (even an empty castle not defended by any units), you can capture it only with a force greater than the castle defense. If you attack a castle with no defending units, you simply compare your force against the castle's defense. If your force is greater, you capture the castle. If not, the inherent castle defense strikes at you for 1 damage, and then you retreat. If you attack a castle defended by units, combat is resolved according to the procedure explained above. Attacking in Waves ------------------ When attacking a space defended by many units, and you don't have enough force to rout the defenders, it will not be effective to attack with many units at once, since you'll get only one strike at the defenders, while all your units will be struck at once. Instead, you should move each unit seperately to attack. This way, each unit will get its own strike. This tactic is taught in chapter 7 of Nobunaga's scenario. END OF DOCUMENT