Kato Katsuro is boring: Discuss

[spiteofthedice]

I want to be clear about why I started this thread:

This is not meant to be a "Kato sucks" thread. I do not think Kato sucks. In fact, I think he will be very effective and make a more cohesive army out of the samurai. I even think his point-value is fair.

I hate him and here's why:

1) He, himself, is a wasted sculpt, a great figure with no use whatsoever in battle (not talking about his influence, just about a turn actually taken with him). He is nothing more than the 200-pt symbol of the freedom to play without order markers. There is no situation in which placing him in combat is a good idea. In fact, the best way you can play Kato Katsuro is never to take a turn with him at all. He has no thematic abilities that affect himself, and I can't stand a figure whose only job is to not get killed.

2) He only works with one army, and that army is relatively limited in whom it may include. There are 4 samurai squads, 2 heroes, and the ashigaru (I am unimpressed with the Harquebus, but that's a different issue). The only real variation in multiple uses of Katsuro is going to be dice luck. I think that after . . . maybe twice . . . building a Kato army, its going to get extremely repetitive. I'm not saying there aren't enough samurai. I'm saying there are few enough that using Katsuro is going to start to feel the same every time before too long.

Here's what I really wish they had given Kato Katsuro:

Same stats, same points

Katsuro's command:
At the start of the game, choose:
1 samurai squad, OR
1 samurai hero, OR
the Ashigaru Yari/Harquebus

Whichever you choose has Bonding with Kato Katsuro for the duration of the game.

Master's Counterstrike
When rolling defense dice against a normal attack from an adjacent figure, all excess shields count as TWO unblockable hits on the attacking figure. Master's Counterstrike does not work against other samurai.

Now you have an amazing looking figure, who slackens the Order Marker structure for a samurai army, and can operate in an army other than an army of all samurai. Best of all, he actually belongs in battle.

I think Katsuro would be more fun this way, but still maintain the spirit in which Katsuro was originally designed. And I'm a little upset that Hasbro didn't design him this way.

Let the violent opposition commence!

[tyguy94920]

Not to dump on your thread, but haven't we had this argument before?

[Jexik]

I think he's cool thematically actually. Is the Hive boring too? I still think the first thing I'm going to do when wave 8 hits is play a 1000 point face-off between a Samurai army and a Marro army. Then maybe a third player will have the Airborne Elite, Cyprien, and a ton of Ninja to try assassinate the other guys' leaders, just to wreak havoc.

[robbdaman]

Nothing says you have to choose at the start of the game, you can choose at will. Essentially you get to use order markers on him and instead use any of the chosen figures whenever you like. Probably not that spectacular at that cost but definately fun.

R~

[Shades fan]

I would have to disagree with you on a lot of counts.
Firstly,there is a reason to use him outside of a Cheerleader,and that is to be a clean-up unit,with a band of Tagawa's or another Samurai squad! Plus as a bonus you get a guy who can move 6 and can attack with 4,which in itself is pretty good.

I find that he works well with several armies. Think about it,Ashigaru Yari/Harquebus-then Samurai,the Ashigaru can be broken up to the different squads.

I would say that Kato is very Thematic,for a commander,which leads me to believe he is a strategist more than anything else.

I would say that timing is everything,with Kato,when to attack, or when to move units into place. This has a big effect on the outcome of the game and makes a far more Strategic game.

Think about splitting the Yari up and then you have a pretty deadly fighting force.
Think about this
Kato-200
3xYari-120
Kaemon Awa-120
Izumi-60
or this
Kato-200
3xHarquebus-180
Kaemon Awa-120
or
Kato-200
3xYari-120
Major Q9-180

There are many possibilities to use Kato,you just have to use him right!

And Robbdaman,he said that it is what he wished he was,not what the card actually said.

[Nadom]

You make some good points, Spite. I think there are a few things that are interesting about Kato. For instance, on most maps, it will be difficult to keep the figures you would want to use within clear sight of a guy that will most likely stay in or near your starting zone the whole game. Secondly, the strategy of Kato's opponent will change greatly. When Kato's on the board, it's a game of assassinating him, then dismantling the rest of the army.

[gamjuven]

I think the success with kato will have a lot to do with someone finding a good way to use the yari and harquebus. I have heard some rare stories about them being used right, but I personally wouldn't have much of a problem going against them at the moment. Perhaps if someone find a better way of using them, Kato (and the yari and harquebus) will be much better. Surely moving and attacking with 8 figures will do some good. Those squads can be killed too easily at the moment. But time will see.

[Metaknight]

I don't like him either. They wasted a figure that could have really helped Einar. He is limited, and a huge chunk of points. How can you build a competitive Japanese (Samurai + Ashigaru) army if you have only a little more than half your army?

He is not useless in combat with his 4 def/attk and 5 life, but why use him unless he's the last figure?

I agree he should have been better, but disagree he's useless except for his ability.

[ParaGoomba Slayer]

Originally Posted by Metaknight

I don't like him either. They wasted a figure that could have really helped Einar. He is limited, and a huge chunk of points. How can you build a competitive Japanese (Samurai + Ashigaru) army if you have only a little more than half your army?

He is not useless in combat with his 4 def/attk and 5 life, but why use him unless he's the last figure?

I agree he should have been better, but disagree he's useless except for his ability.

WHAT?! He totally helps Einar, especially the various Ashigaru.

Limited? Hell no. You can take a turn with ANY samurai squad/hero or Ashigaru.

He's meant for bigger games. Not EVERY figure is good for small point games, just like Saylind is not good for small maps.

[Rifier_Ace]

Useless post that needed to be deleted sorry.

[Rifier_Ace]

I concur. Kato gives Samurai and Ashigaru the flexibility that they desperately needed. I for one am really looking forward to my Samurai and Ashigaru armies being a bit more competitive and not being slaughtered so quickly.

[robbdaman]

Originally Posted by Shades fan

And Robbdaman,he said that it is what he wished he was,not what the card actually said.

Ah I guess I didn't get that from his post because what he proposes is less useful.

R~