The Tsu domain is a faction in Fall of the Samurai.
Description[]
The Emperor's Cunning
The Todo clan, rulers of the Tsu domain, cannot claim a proud samurai lineage like many of the other great clans of Japan. Their beginnings are actually rather humble: Todo Takatora was an ashigaru, a peasant footsoldier, during the great wars of the Sengoku Jidai. So what? So too was the mighty general Toyotomi Hideyoshi, revered as one of the three great unifiers of Japan! Todo Takatora was wise enough to side with the Tokugawa clan at Sekigahara, and he was rewarded with the fief of Tsu, comprising a good part of the provinces of Iga and Ise.
Historically, the Tsu chose to play a “long game”, apparently supporting the Shogunate until the very last moment. At the Battle of Toba-Fushimi they sided with the Choshu and Satsuma domains, and therefore with the Imperial forces. They then provided the Imperialists with a strategic position to continue the drive towards Kyoto. Their central position on the mainland, in what is now Mie Prefecture, lay between Edo and Kyoto, and this allowed them enviable flexibility and options in their loyalties. Such flexibility goes some way to explain why they have such excellent shinobi at their command.
General Information[]
- Persuasion (+2% to allegiance conversion)
- Furtiveness (+3 to the number of kisho ninja units available)
- Fortitude (+1 to unit melee defence)
- Artifice (-10% to the cost of shinobi actions)
Much like the Hattori Clan before it, the Tsu begin the game in the middle of Japan, in Iga province. As Western Japan is usually dominated by pro-Imperial factions while Eastern Japan usually comes under the control of pro-Shogunate factions, the Tsu are in a critical position, and are equally likely to be the forefront of a successful Imperial offensive or to be the first major Imperial faction to fall to the Shogunate. The Tsu can best survive by being careful with who they invade or ally with. Becoming pro-Shogunate is also an option.
Tsu faction traits aren't powerful. Persuasion marginally increases the rate at which provinces are converted to the Tsu domain's allegiance, which can occasionally save a little money on stationing garrison troops in towns. The extra kisho ninja units likely don't play a major factor until the late game thanks to the steep building requirements kisho ninja have. The extra melee defense make Tsu units the best of all Imperial factions at melee fighting, but only by a marginal amount; this advantage lessens as the game progresses and more factions transition to modern, rifle-armed units. The final Tsu trait encourages the use of Shinobi agents, which is useful for saving money throughout the campaign.
The combination of the increased number of kisho ninja, the improved defence, and the fact that Iga is close to provinces with Buddhist traditions, give Tsu plenty of incentives to stick to traditional armies. Tsu often struggles maintaining a large economy due to its central starting position so the cheapness of traditional armies can help it stay afloat financially.
Tsu domain is the only faction that begins the campaign with a unit of kisho ninja. This gives it an advantage in melee fighting and ambushing.
Victory Conditions[]
Short Campaign[]
Capture and hold 14 provinces. In addition, ensure at least 35 provinces are held by forces loyal to the Emperor, including the following: Musashi, Yamashiro
Complete by the end of your turn in: Late December 1870
Long Campaign[]
Capture and hold 26 provinces. In addition, ensure at least 50 provinces are held by forces loyal to the Emperor, including the following: Musashi, Yamashiro
Complete by the end of your turn in: Late December 1876
Domination Campaign[]
Capture and hold 38 provinces. In addition, ensure at least 65 provinces are held by forces loyal to the Emperor, including the following: Musashi, Yamashiro
Complete by the end of your turn in: Late December 1876