Nobunaga's Ambition (SNES) - The Yamana Clan

Groundhog · 06-27-2006, 01:09 AM

About a year ago I started a dynasty in NA before losing the damn save games accidently. I've finally worked up the patience to start it up again. For those who don't know, Nobunaga's Ambition is a fun little strategy game from Kohei that was released on PC and nintendo many years ago, and continues to be updated each year in Japan. This SNES version is the last version that has been translated in to English; as far as I'm aware at least.

It takes place in 16th century Japan, during the warring states period, or sengoku jidai as it's known. The Ashikaga shoguns have been robbed of any true power, and instead powerful men known as daimyo (or 'big names') have raised armies and conquered the provinces, each vying with the other for land and wealth. A few of the more ambitious daimyo have their eyes on the capital of Kyoto - the ownership of which is the first step towards bringing the entire realm under their sword.

I'll be taking charge of the Yamana clan of Inaba province this time around, after trying the even smaller Satomi clan last game.

A map of this period - including provinces and the major warlords - can be found here: http://www.samurai-archives.com/1560.html

Franklinnoble · 06-27-2006, 01:38 AM

Dude... I LOVED the original NES version of this game. This is the game that got me hooked on TBS games in the first place.

Groundhog · 06-27-2006, 01:38 AM

The Yamana Clan

History

The Yamana have long been a powerful clan. They are descendants of the famous Minamoto clan, who in the 12th century defeated their enemies to establish the first warrior government in Japan. The Yamana's fortune came in to bloom during the 14th century when they were supporters of the first Ashikaga shoguns, who usurped the original Minamoto government. The Yamana clan went on to hold many key positions in this new Ashikaga government.

In 1467 the clan's leader, Yamana Souzen (1404-1473), also known as 'the Red Monk', and the leader of the Hosokawa clan, Hosokawa Katsumoto (1430-1473), got in to a conflict that was to have a disasterous affect on the entire realm. Both were high-ranking officials to the Ashikaga, and they turned a private conflict between the two clans in to a dispute over the shogun's successor. The war that resulted, known as the Onin War, lasted 10 years and was the most bloody that Japan had yet seen. The great capital city was destroyed utterly, and the Ashikaga government lost the last ounce of power it had left.

Worse still, countless other lords throughout the nation had thrown their lots in with either side and used it as an excuse to wage war on their neighbours. War spread throughout the country, ushering in the civil wars that would take more than a century to stamp out.

The Onin War and loss of Ashikaga supremecy also saw the Yamana robbed of much of the power they had built up over the centuries. With posts in the Ashikaga government now holding little meaning, the once powerful Yamana clan now hold just the province of Inaba, with enemies on their borders. Will they be able to regain the prestige and power that they have lost?

Daimyo

Heir

Generals

Groundhog · 06-27-2006, 02:07 AM

Initial Overview - 1555

We are sorrounded. We have the Amago and Ukita on our Western borders, Akamatsu to the South, and Hatano & Isshiki to the East. Of these clans, Ukita is probably the strongest. We will be looking to establish ties with them. Further West lies the Mori; probably the most dangerous of all clans nearby. To the East beyond our neighbours lay the most vicious clans of all - the Takeda/Oda/Imagawa/Uesugi et al. They are some ways off causing us trouble.

In terms of our province of Inaba, we start out fairly strongly. Inaba has a sturdy castle, plentiful fields and a decent market:

Our army is 7,000 strong, though our generals are not known for their military prowess. We also have 1,500 rifles available, which will come in handy should anyone attempt to invade our borders.

Our first objectives are to expand our military and form some alliances. We are in a dangerous position and need to prevent the likely chance of an invasion. The Yamana clan's power may have diminished from it's historical heights, but all warriors would love to claim the head of a Yamana general...

Groundhog · 06-27-2006, 03:22 AM

1555

We start 1555 by sending a message out to all villages requesting young men for military service. We promise rewards for exceptional service, and manage to recruit and equip 500 soldiers to our ranks, bringing our army to 7,500.

In April our daimyo's personal retainers travel to Izumo province, to the North-West border of our province, with 50 gold in a hope to increase relations. We had intended to see the Ukita instead, though the mountain range that lays on our borders makes travel difficult (ie. it's not actually counted as an adjacent province). Unfortunately, we are rebuked. The Amago daimyo pleads sickness and will not receive our messengers nor our gold.

As April draws to a close we hear tidings from the Eastern side of the country. The powerful Hojo clan send an army 6,800 strong against their Satomi neighbours of Awa province, located on the South-Eastern point of the map. The Satomi army numbers just 5,400 men, and in the naval battle that takes place on the first day of fighting they are handled roughly. Both Satomi clan heirs are captured, and the Hojo easily move their way past the Satomi naval blockade and on to the shore, advancing on the castle in haste. Just the daimyo and his 1,500 remaining foot soldiers defend the keep against the 5,200 Hojo that survived the naval battle. In pouring rain the Hojo rapidly reduce the castle, and the daimyo, Satomi Yoshitaka, takes his own life. His two sons join with the Hojo clan, who now control two provinces. And thus the Satomi clan fades in to history.

The news is also not good for us. Just as our villages were preparing for the harvest, a typhoon hits us in June. The damage is considerable. Our fields are reduced from 274 to 254, our markets from 271 to 252, and our flood protection falls from 59 to 33. Not what we needed at this point of the game. We can expect a poor harvest at the end of the month. Food is very important not only to feed our people and civilians, but excess rice can be sold. This was my plan to gain gold to be used both political maneuverings and further additions to our military, and it's now taken a big hit.

June also brings more violence. The Miyoshi - a powerful clan based on the island of Shikoku, though now with a foothold on the main island too - invade the shogun's own province! The Miyoshi have an army of 6,000 to the shogun's 4,400, and the battle goes as could be expected; a loss to the shogun. With the shogun's defeat, the Ashikaga bakufu, established in 1333, comes to a finish.

Miyoshi's success is shortlived however as the Kitabatake invade the shogun's former province. The Miyoshi had been in the process of requesting supplies and men to the newly-stolen province, and they were caught well off-guard. The former shogun's immense castle saw to it that the allied Kitabatake army, numbering 8,000, took it's time to reach the 1,400 strong Miyoshi army, but once the inner-keep was breached it was a massacre.

Not long after the Miyoshi face yet another assault, this time from out neighbours, the Hatano. They invade Yamashiro, heavily outnumbering the Miyoshi. The battle is swift and decisive; the Miyoshi now hold just one province on the mainland, and we breath a sigh of relief.

While this was going on we send another messenger to the Amago clan, this time with 100 gold. The Amago don't feign sickness this time, and our relations improve. We try to hammer out a formal alliance and a marriage of one of our daimyo's daughters to their daimyo, but no luck as yet. Still, positive progress.

As the year draws to a close we spend the remaining 68 gold in our treasury to repair damage done to our markets in the typhoon earlier this year. We tax the gold at the end of this month, so the repairs will hopefully bring us enough cash to improve our military some more.

Groundhog · 07-17-2006, 04:37 AM

1556

As January rolls around we set our taxation rate at "6 parts to the Prince, 4 to the people", or 60%. This is about 5% higher than usual, but unfortunately is neccessary at this stage for us to continue to develop our lands. We expect outrage, but the initial signs are promising, and the taxes arrive at our castle with little fuss. Our department of treasury reports a gold stock of 162.

We use 56 gold to continue to improve our fields after the devestation of last year's flooding, and it jumps up 9 points to 276.

February begins with the Miyoshi clan, fresh from licking their wounds, re-invade the Hatano's lands of Tanba province. The Miyoshi army is far stronger now than when the Hatano last attacked, numbering 6,300 men to the 3,400 Hatano defenders. Fighting rages for several days, but the Hatano are driven back to their castle. Early morning on the 3rd day of combat the Miyoshi forces storm the castle and capture Hatano Naomasa, heir to the Hatano, who enters the service of the Miyoshi. Most alarmingly - the Miyoshi now lie on our borders!

The Miyoshi are by far our greatest threat, and we straight away send our daimyo's personal retainers to offer tribute to the Miyoshi by means of 100 gold. Unfortunately, they are refused. Our situation just got a lot more dangerous. In response to this we send men back to the Amago clan with 75 gold in an attempt to improve our relations with this clan and work towards and alliance that would help us should the Miyoshi invade. The Miyoshi thank us for our generosity, but think it would be "improper" to accept the gift. It appears that they do not wish to anger the Miyoshi should the invade our lands.

In response to the increased threat of invasion, we summon all ashigaru footsoldiers and run through basic training, improving their skill from 56 to 77. We also improve our farm land in anticipation of the harvest to come, bumping it up to 281.

As June begins, Takeda general Yamamato Kansuke invades the Uesugi province of Musashi. The Hojo clan, from a neighbouring province, assist by sending an infantry squad, giving the Takeda army a total troop number 9,600 while the Uesugi forces just 6,600 - mostly cavalry. Despite an aggressive charge from the Uesugi men - under the leadership of a former Satomi heir - the Takeda are too powerful, and the battle does not enter a third day before the Takeda storm the castle and kill the Uesugi daimyo.

aran · 07-17-2006, 11:22 PM

Hmm... Reading this makes me want to start a Romance of the Three Kingdoms X dynasty.

Izulde · 07-18-2006, 12:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by aran

Hmm... Reading this makes me want to start a Romance of the Three Kingdoms X dynasty.

Why X when VII and VIII are so much better?

06-27-2006, 01:38 AM	#3
Groundhog Coordinator Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Sydney, Australia	The Yamana Clan History The Yamana have long been a powerful clan. They are descendants of the famous Minamoto clan, who in the 12th century defeated their enemies to establish the first warrior government in Japan. The Yamana's fortune came in to bloom during the 14th century when they were supporters of the first Ashikaga shoguns, who usurped the original Minamoto government. The Yamana clan went on to hold many key positions in this new Ashikaga government. In 1467 the clan's leader, Yamana Souzen (1404-1473), also known as 'the Red Monk', and the leader of the Hosokawa clan, Hosokawa Katsumoto (1430-1473), got in to a conflict that was to have a disasterous affect on the entire realm. Both were high-ranking officials to the Ashikaga, and they turned a private conflict between the two clans in to a dispute over the shogun's successor. The war that resulted, known as the Onin War, lasted 10 years and was the most bloody that Japan had yet seen. The great capital city was destroyed utterly, and the Ashikaga government lost the last ounce of power it had left. Worse still, countless other lords throughout the nation had thrown their lots in with either side and used it as an excuse to wage war on their neighbours. War spread throughout the country, ushering in the civil wars that would take more than a century to stamp out. The Onin War and loss of Ashikaga supremecy also saw the Yamana robbed of much of the power they had built up over the centuries. With posts in the Ashikaga government now holding little meaning, the once powerful Yamana clan now hold just the province of Inaba, with enemies on their borders. Will they be able to regain the prestige and power that they have lost? Daimyo Heir Generals __________________ Politics, n. Strife of interests masquerading as a contest of principles. --Ambrose Bierce

06-27-2006, 02:07 AM	#4
Groundhog Coordinator Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Sydney, Australia	Initial Overview - 1555 We are sorrounded. We have the Amago and Ukita on our Western borders, Akamatsu to the South, and Hatano & Isshiki to the East. Of these clans, Ukita is probably the strongest. We will be looking to establish ties with them. Further West lies the Mori; probably the most dangerous of all clans nearby. To the East beyond our neighbours lay the most vicious clans of all - the Takeda/Oda/Imagawa/Uesugi et al. They are some ways off causing us trouble. In terms of our province of Inaba, we start out fairly strongly. Inaba has a sturdy castle, plentiful fields and a decent market: Our army is 7,000 strong, though our generals are not known for their military prowess. We also have 1,500 rifles available, which will come in handy should anyone attempt to invade our borders. Our first objectives are to expand our military and form some alliances. We are in a dangerous position and need to prevent the likely chance of an invasion. The Yamana clan's power may have diminished from it's historical heights, but all warriors would love to claim the head of a Yamana general... __________________ Politics, n. Strife of interests masquerading as a contest of principles. --Ambrose Bierce

06-27-2006, 03:22 AM	#5
Groundhog Coordinator Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Sydney, Australia	1555 We start 1555 by sending a message out to all villages requesting young men for military service. We promise rewards for exceptional service, and manage to recruit and equip 500 soldiers to our ranks, bringing our army to 7,500. In April our daimyo's personal retainers travel to Izumo province, to the North-West border of our province, with 50 gold in a hope to increase relations. We had intended to see the Ukita instead, though the mountain range that lays on our borders makes travel difficult (ie. it's not actually counted as an adjacent province). Unfortunately, we are rebuked. The Amago daimyo pleads sickness and will not receive our messengers nor our gold. As April draws to a close we hear tidings from the Eastern side of the country. The powerful Hojo clan send an army 6,800 strong against their Satomi neighbours of Awa province, located on the South-Eastern point of the map. The Satomi army numbers just 5,400 men, and in the naval battle that takes place on the first day of fighting they are handled roughly. Both Satomi clan heirs are captured, and the Hojo easily move their way past the Satomi naval blockade and on to the shore, advancing on the castle in haste. Just the daimyo and his 1,500 remaining foot soldiers defend the keep against the 5,200 Hojo that survived the naval battle. In pouring rain the Hojo rapidly reduce the castle, and the daimyo, Satomi Yoshitaka, takes his own life. His two sons join with the Hojo clan, who now control two provinces. And thus the Satomi clan fades in to history. The news is also not good for us. Just as our villages were preparing for the harvest, a typhoon hits us in June. The damage is considerable. Our fields are reduced from 274 to 254, our markets from 271 to 252, and our flood protection falls from 59 to 33. Not what we needed at this point of the game. We can expect a poor harvest at the end of the month. Food is very important not only to feed our people and civilians, but excess rice can be sold. This was my plan to gain gold to be used both political maneuverings and further additions to our military, and it's now taken a big hit. June also brings more violence. The Miyoshi - a powerful clan based on the island of Shikoku, though now with a foothold on the main island too - invade the shogun's own province! The Miyoshi have an army of 6,000 to the shogun's 4,400, and the battle goes as could be expected; a loss to the shogun. With the shogun's defeat, the Ashikaga bakufu, established in 1333, comes to a finish. Miyoshi's success is shortlived however as the Kitabatake invade the shogun's former province. The Miyoshi had been in the process of requesting supplies and men to the newly-stolen province, and they were caught well off-guard. The former shogun's immense castle saw to it that the allied Kitabatake army, numbering 8,000, took it's time to reach the 1,400 strong Miyoshi army, but once the inner-keep was breached it was a massacre. Not long after the Miyoshi face yet another assault, this time from out neighbours, the Hatano. They invade Yamashiro, heavily outnumbering the Miyoshi. The battle is swift and decisive; the Miyoshi now hold just one province on the mainland, and we breath a sigh of relief. While this was going on we send another messenger to the Amago clan, this time with 100 gold. The Amago don't feign sickness this time, and our relations improve. We try to hammer out a formal alliance and a marriage of one of our daimyo's daughters to their daimyo, but no luck as yet. Still, positive progress. As the year draws to a close we spend the remaining 68 gold in our treasury to repair damage done to our markets in the typhoon earlier this year. We tax the gold at the end of this month, so the repairs will hopefully bring us enough cash to improve our military some more. __________________ Politics, n. Strife of interests masquerading as a contest of principles. --Ambrose Bierce Last edited by Groundhog : 06-27-2006 at 03:28 AM.

07-17-2006, 04:37 AM	#6
Groundhog Coordinator Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Sydney, Australia	1556 As January rolls around we set our taxation rate at "6 parts to the Prince, 4 to the people", or 60%. This is about 5% higher than usual, but unfortunately is neccessary at this stage for us to continue to develop our lands. We expect outrage, but the initial signs are promising, and the taxes arrive at our castle with little fuss. Our department of treasury reports a gold stock of 162. We use 56 gold to continue to improve our fields after the devestation of last year's flooding, and it jumps up 9 points to 276. February begins with the Miyoshi clan, fresh from licking their wounds, re-invade the Hatano's lands of Tanba province. The Miyoshi army is far stronger now than when the Hatano last attacked, numbering 6,300 men to the 3,400 Hatano defenders. Fighting rages for several days, but the Hatano are driven back to their castle. Early morning on the 3rd day of combat the Miyoshi forces storm the castle and capture Hatano Naomasa, heir to the Hatano, who enters the service of the Miyoshi. Most alarmingly - the Miyoshi now lie on our borders! The Miyoshi are by far our greatest threat, and we straight away send our daimyo's personal retainers to offer tribute to the Miyoshi by means of 100 gold. Unfortunately, they are refused. Our situation just got a lot more dangerous. In response to this we send men back to the Amago clan with 75 gold in an attempt to improve our relations with this clan and work towards and alliance that would help us should the Miyoshi invade. The Miyoshi thank us for our generosity, but think it would be "improper" to accept the gift. It appears that they do not wish to anger the Miyoshi should the invade our lands. In response to the increased threat of invasion, we summon all ashigaru footsoldiers and run through basic training, improving their skill from 56 to 77. We also improve our farm land in anticipation of the harvest to come, bumping it up to 281. As June begins, Takeda general Yamamato Kansuke invades the Uesugi province of Musashi. The Hojo clan, from a neighbouring province, assist by sending an infantry squad, giving the Takeda army a total troop number 9,600 while the Uesugi forces just 6,600 - mostly cavalry. Despite an aggressive charge from the Uesugi men - under the leadership of a former Satomi heir - the Takeda are too powerful, and the battle does not enter a third day before the Takeda storm the castle and kill the Uesugi daimyo. __________________ Politics, n. Strife of interests masquerading as a contest of principles. --Ambrose Bierce

06-27-2006, 01:38 AM	#2
Franklinnoble Banned Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Placerville, CA	Dude... I LOVED the original NES version of this game. This is the game that got me hooked on TBS games in the first place.

07-17-2006, 11:22 PM	#7
aran High School Varsity Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: New Jersey, USA	Hmm... Reading this makes me want to start a Romance of the Three Kingdoms X dynasty.

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