For similar units and agents, see Ninja.
Shinobi are a type of agent in Fall of the Samurai.
Description[]
In Fall of the Samurai the shinobi acts as an assassin, spy, saboteur and scout, and is recruited via the traditional military building chain. In addition to their subterfuge skills, shinobi also increase the action points and line of sight of your armies when placed inside them. They can also establish spy networks within your cities, which in turn increase a province's line of sight. Shinobi are invisible to the enemy until detected. They are vulnerable to detection by shinsengumi and ishin shishi, and are exceptionally dangerous to geisha.
General Information[]
- Assassination: Shinobi can attempt to assassinate generals and other agents, wounding or killing them outright. Shinobi are especially effective against geisha, but have a lower success rate against Ishin Shishi and Shinsengumi.
- Spying: Shinobi passively reveal the map when travelling through it. They reveal more information than other agents, and can do so while remaining undetected.
- Sabotage: Shinobi can sabotage buildings, damaging them and preventing them from fulfilling their functions. Shinobi can also sabotage armies, decreasing their numbers and preventing them from moving for a turn.
- Scouting: Shinobi can be planted inside friendly armies, increasing their line of sight and movement rate, as well as detecting hidden armies and agents nearby.
- Establishing Spy Networks: Shinobi can increase the line of sight of provinces if they are stationed in the province capital.
Shinobi have many functions that overlap with other agents. Geisha can distract armies, a skill that's functionally similar to sabotaging them. Foreign agents can challenge generals and other agents to single combat, as well as harassing enemies and sabotaging buildings, which are all familiar to the shinobi and their assassination ability. Ishin Shishi and Shinsengumi can both assassinate other characters. However, shinobi can accomplish the same tasks while being undetected by other factions. They are superior to foreign agents and geisha when sabotaging armies, as they effectively combine both the movement-removal of geisha with the troop damage inflicted by foreign agents into a single action. Finally, shinobis' movement increase helps both offensive and defensive forces move into position more quickly. As they have no direct benefits to the economy, shinobi can perform subterfuge that can spare other agents from having to do them, leaving them free to increase wealth or repression.