• Units

Otomo Light Ship

Otomo Matchlock Kobaya

A matchlock ship carries a small detachment of musket-armed soldiers, certainly not enough to fend off a boarding action, although the Otomo’s Christian fervour and familiarity with matchlocks enables them to shoot more accurately and reload at a faster rate than other troops of the same class. Further, because the upper deck has no cover, they are exposed to missile attacks. However, this lack of fighting manpower and protection also makes the ship very light and fast. The matchlock troops can fire at an enemy crew or at the side of an enemy ship in an attempt to hole it. If a heavy enemy vessel gets too close and a boarding attack looks likely, a matchlock ship can use speed to move out of trouble and continue its harassing attacks.

Coming to prominence during the Kamakura Shogunate following the Gempei War, the Otomo clan remained at the forefront of feudal politics for the next four hundred years. Alongside the Shimazu, the Otomo were one of the largest clans on Kyushu, and had early contacts with the Portuguese, soon establishing trade links. Their daimyo, Otomo Sorin, saw the benefits to the clan’s prosperity and wanted the emerging gun technology that European trade could bring. Following the arrival of the Jesuit missionary Francis Xavier in 1549, and his subsequent meeting with the daimyo, Otomo Sorin showed tolerance towards the Jesuit conversion of Japanese subjects to Catholicism, eventually converting himself in 1578. During the Sengoku Jidai, the Otomo fought against both the Shimazu and the Mori clans. They retained control of their lands into the Edo Period by playing a minor role during Tokugawa Ieyasu’s Sekigahara Campaign.

Unit Name Otomo Matchlock Kobaya

Unit Key Light_Ship_Matchlock_Kobaya_Otomo

Soldiers 35

Category Light Ship

Class Light Ship

Multiplayer Cost 950

└ Multiplayer Limit 0

Recruitment Cost 150

├ Recruitment Turns 1

└ Unit Limit 0

Upkeep Cost 100

Marines 30

├ Marines Type matchlock_marine_otomo

├ Missile Range 180

├ Missile Accuracy 40

└ Missile Ammunition 30

Seamen 5

├ Seamen Type spear_seaman

├ Melee Attack 12

└ Melee Defence 2

Hull Strength 100

├ Ship Category Light_Ship_Matchlock_Otomo

├ Manoeuvrability High

└ Top Speed 12

Morale 12

Abilities

• Battle Speed
  This increases a ship's rowing speed for a short period of time.

Strengths & Weaknesses

• Fast moving.
• Matchlocks deadly against crew and can also damage hull.
• Vulnerable if boarded.
• Crew very exposed to missiles.