The Book of Kato Katsuro

[The B.I.V.]

Originally Posted by Elf Archer

Yeah, you'd need to take out about 3.5 squads Ashi. Squads (14 figures) in order to make him worth it.

Well, since you can't draft half-units, how about 4 (2 of Yari and two of Harqs)? That leaves you 100 points for the Kozuke or the Tagawa (assuming a 500 point army).

Random observation: If WotC ever comes up with some "ronin" units, they will be incompatible with Kato's Command (unless, of course, they "class" them as samurai, which is entirely feasible (as ronin are just masterless samurai, anyway)).

Brandon

[NecroBlade]

200 Kato Katsuro
120 Ashigaru Harquebus x2
100 Kozuke Samurai
080 Ashigaru Yari x2

is a pretty good 500pt army. Kozuke make fine bodyguards for KK.

Not sure how you're fitting the Tagawa Samurai in there, though...

[simonfrank]

Kato is great, I use him in a 550 point army.

Kato 200
2x Harq 120
2x Yari 80
Tag samari team 120 ( or a K Awa 120)
Guilty Mcreech 30

Using 8 player a turn is a great benefit.

I do have one question. when Kato becomes engaged. Can you command another squad to attack or must Kato attack the engaged character?

[Elf_Archer]

Originally Posted by simonfrank

Kato is great, I use him in a 550 point army.

Kato 200
2x Harq 120
2x Yari 80
Tag samari team 120 ( or a K Awa 120)
Guilty Mcreech 30

Using 8 player a turn is a great benefit.

I do have one question. when Kato becomes engaged. Can you command another squad to attack or must Kato attack the engaged character?

No, Damiyo's Command is not a special attack, it is a special power, ergo, it can be used with no restrictions while engaged.

[chispito]

Originally Posted by The B.I.V.

Well, since you can't draft half-units, how about 4 (2 of Yari and two of Harqs)? That leaves you 100 points for the Kozuke or the Tagawa (assuming a 500 point army).

Brandon

I believe he meant that an opposing player, who drafted Zelrig, would need to take out that many squads of Ashigaru to make Zelrig earn his points back.

I always thought Zelrig would be overkill versus low-cost, low-defense swarms like the Ashigaru. Against squads with 1 Defense, you hardly need Majestic Fires to kill what you are targeting, and if there's one thing Kato excells at, it's clearing out the start zone in a hurry. If the player with Kato were playing carefully--and map permitting--there should be clusters no bigger than ~2 units by the end of his second activation of Kato, and likely no Harquebus adjacent to any other figures at all (even with three squads of each Ashigaru).

[Elf_Archer]

Originally Posted by chispito

I believe he meant that an opposing player, who drafted Zelrig, would need to take out that many squads of Ashigaru to make Zelrig earn his points back.

I always thought Zelrig would be overkill versus low-cost, low-defense swarms like the Ashigaru. Against squads with 1 Defense, you hardly need Majestic Fires to kill what you are targeting, and if there's one thing Kato excells at, it's clearing out the start zone in a hurry. If the player with Kato were playing carefully--and map permitting--there should be clusters no bigger than ~2 units by the end of his second activation of Kato, and likely no Harquebus adjacent to any other figures at all (even with three squads of each Ashigaru).

Chispito, you understood me exactly. Good for you! I'd have to agree that Zelrig is overkill vs Ashi. squads. Deathwalker 8k could do so much more in most situations (No need for them to clump to be effective.)

[goaliescaper]

Originally Posted by myrealnameisjon

Perhaps, but all one needs to counter this is a set of Kozuke Samurai (which are quite possibly in the army already). Let's say Zelrig does get in first shot and takes out even 6 Harqs (90 pts). Then the Kozuke come to the rescue, engage Zelrig, and run 3x5 attack dice on him, engaging him, and preventing him from using his special attack (well, effectively, anyway). In future turns, the Harq can rail on him, and Zelrig at BEST gets 100 + 90 points, barely what he's worth. And this is a best case situation for him. Personally, if I played Zelrig, I wouldn't want to charge a waiting trap.

couldn't he just blast the kozuke with fire in 1 turn( they're common) and then continue to destroy your kato army, imo zelrig would totally devistate. ps If I was wrong about this feel free to neg rep me into oblivion.

[Xn F M]

Originally Posted by goaliescaper

couldn't he just blast the kozuke with fire in 1 turn( they're common) and then continue to destroy your kato army, imo zelrig would totally devistate. ps If I was wrong about this feel free to neg rep me into oblivion.

The Kozuke Samurai are unique.

Now I always thought the Kato/Ashigaru army countered Zelrig by moving eight gusy, and then moving eight guys again. But then I've never played that army against Zelrig.

[killercactus]

You guys have to remember something about Zelrig vs. Kato - without Ashigaru/Samurai, Kato isn't worth 200 points. In fact, I'd wager to say he isn't worth even 100 points. I'd take Crixus over him anyday.

Against Kato, Ash x2, Kozuke, if Zelrig kills 6 Harqs, he's done a lot more than 90 points worth of damage. I'd say 6 Harqs is AT LEAST 160-170 points considering how much he has just neutered Kato. It's probably more than that, since the Harqs are representing most of the offense and all of the range.

[Simpsons Scaper]

Originally Posted by killercactus

You guys have to remember something about Zelrig vs. Kato - without Ashigaru/Samurai, Kato isn't worth 200 points. In fact, I'd wager to say he isn't worth even 100 points. I'd take Crixus over him anyday.

Against Kato, Ash x2, Kozuke, if Zelrig kills 6 Harqs, he's done a lot more than 90 points worth of damage. I'd say 6 Harqs is AT LEAST 160-170 points considering how much he has just neutered Kato. It's probably more than that, since the Harqs are representing most of the offense and all of the range.

Yeah, Zelrig seems designed to ruin an opponent's strategy then kill 185 points.

[Snotwalker 8000]

Unless it's a tiny map, I'll take a Kato, 2xHarq/Yari, Kozuke army against Zelrig any day. With just two turns, you're rapidly spreading out 16 figures to negate Zelrig's multi-figure threat. And with 4-8 attacks/turn against the dragon, he falls fast.

Essentially, Zelrig has to go on the defensive early in a game like this. He's lucky to get in one semi-effective blast before he has to start retreating, allowing the Ashigaru to begin seizing ground, highpoints, chokepoints, glyphs, etc...

Nilfheim is a much bigger threat against a Kato/Ashigaru army.



SW8K

[ElvenEnvy]

Well the main point of Kato was to sell some more Spearman and Rilfemen. The Spearman aren't half bad if you can work the special, but the Rilfemen are watered down 4th Line to me.