(→Trivia) Tag: Source edit |
(“Terco” should be changed to “terço”. The word may be misspelled in the game, but this excerpt references the actual historical terços.) Tag: Visual edit |
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These troops are easily recognisable on any Japanese battlefield thanks to their European armour. They wear iron breastplates and morions: helmets often seen as being of a “Spanish” style. They are well trained with their matchlock muskets and can lay a withering fire upon their enemies. In melee, they can give a reasonable account of themselves if attacked. It is, however, a foolish and wasteful commander who throws them into close combat as assault troops against samurai. |
These troops are easily recognisable on any Japanese battlefield thanks to their European armour. They wear iron breastplates and morions: helmets often seen as being of a “Spanish” style. They are well trained with their matchlock muskets and can lay a withering fire upon their enemies. In melee, they can give a reasonable account of themselves if attacked. It is, however, a foolish and wasteful commander who throws them into close combat as assault troops against samurai. |
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| − | The Portuguese |
+ | The Portuguese “terço” was a direct copy of the Spanish “tercio”, a powerful battle formation divided into “thirds” armed with, respectively, matchlocks, pikes and swords. Within each tercio, these troops acted to support each other and shield weaknesses, making them battle-winning units in Spain’s many wars. Spanish tercios dominated European battlefields for many years in the 16th Century. Other powers, as is always the case with military fashions, rushed to copy the style of winners. The Portuguese were no different, and their tercos included the romantically named “Terco of Adventurers” recruited from among the sons of the nobility and gentry. It is not unreasonable to assume that these well-regarded soldiers, and particularly matchlock gunners, would have been sent out, if requested, to aid Portuguese allies. |
'''Strengths & Weaknesses''' |
'''Strengths & Weaknesses''' |
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Revision as of 19:39, 21 September 2021
Portuguese Tercos are a type of matchlock infantry in Total War: Shogun 2. They are available only to the Otomo Clan with their Clan DLC.
Description
Armed with matchlocks and swords and armoured in European style, these Portuguese soldiers are dangerous foes.
These troops are easily recognisable on any Japanese battlefield thanks to their European armour. They wear iron breastplates and morions: helmets often seen as being of a “Spanish” style. They are well trained with their matchlock muskets and can lay a withering fire upon their enemies. In melee, they can give a reasonable account of themselves if attacked. It is, however, a foolish and wasteful commander who throws them into close combat as assault troops against samurai.
The Portuguese “terço” was a direct copy of the Spanish “tercio”, a powerful battle formation divided into “thirds” armed with, respectively, matchlocks, pikes and swords. Within each tercio, these troops acted to support each other and shield weaknesses, making them battle-winning units in Spain’s many wars. Spanish tercios dominated European battlefields for many years in the 16th Century. Other powers, as is always the case with military fashions, rushed to copy the style of winners. The Portuguese were no different, and their tercos included the romantically named “Terco of Adventurers” recruited from among the sons of the nobility and gentry. It is not unreasonable to assume that these well-regarded soldiers, and particularly matchlock gunners, would have been sent out, if requested, to aid Portuguese allies.
Strengths & Weaknesses
- Good range but shorter than bow units.
- Devastating damage.
- Good accuracy, reload rate and morale.
- Good in melee.
- Vulnerable to cavalry.
General Information
Unique to the Otomo Clan, Portuguese Tercos are similar to Matchlock Samurai, but with much better accuracy and reloading skill that are akin to the hero-tier Tokitaka’s Tanegashima. They also have better melee stats and far better armor, allowing them to fight far better in melee than other matchlock units. While they have fewer men per regiment than melee samurai, they compensate for this in most situations due to their initial volley of gunfire thinning out enemy numbers. Despite their superiority, Portuguese Tercos are also far easier to recruit than Matchlock Samurai, requiring only a Nanban Quarter (which can be obtained with no technological requirements), and a powder maker, a relatively low-tier siege building. In contrast, Matchlock Samurai require the late-game gunsmith building.
Portuguese Tercos are the best matchlock infantry by a considerable margin, easily defeating the likes of other matchlock samurai or Matchlock Warrior Monks. Their armor makes them highly resistant to enemy arrow fire: they can simply march up to within firing range of Bow Ashigaru while barely sustaining any casualties, though more accurate archers may still pose some threat. Because of the powerful effect of their volleys, and their capable melee skill, they generally prevail or at least trade equally to Katana Samurai; defeating them is best accomplished through the use of heavy cavalry, from the flanks if possible. Like all other matchlock infantry, they have some difficulty effectively firing in hilly or broken terrain.
Despite being foreign in origin, the game categorizes Portuguese Tercos as being "samurai". This means that they benefit from all tiers of the smithing line of buildings.
Trivia
- Portuguese Tercos speak British English in-game, using certain lines recycled from Royal Marines in Fall of the Samurai.
- When moving and not running, a unit of Portuguese Tercos will play a selection of fife-and-drum marches taken from Napoleon: Total War.
- The standard bearer for a unit of Portuguese Tercos is a standard Otomo ashigaru.