The Book of Kato Katsuro

[killercactus]

I'm either with Aldin, or a fan of Izumi / Harq. Throwing those Izumi out there early to screen or grab glyphs might have some benefit over another squad of Yari. I'll confess though that the only time I've played KK it was 2x Ash + Kaemon Awa and it rocked....

[rednax]

I think I'll go with either Izumi/Harq or Kaemon. For each build should I start with the Ashigaru or Samurai? I know that if I start off with the Izumi, I might lose a chance to claim height with the Ashigaru, although Izumis hold glyphs a whole lot better than Ashigaru. However, there's a big difference between activating 8 figures a turn and 3.

So should I start off with Izumi/Kaemon or Ashigaru?

@BIV - I love the Kozuke, but at a tournament, I'm not sure if the Kozuke would be able to kill as much as more Ashigaru/Izumi or Kaemon. I'll be sure to try it out at home though.

~Rednax

[The B.I.V.]

I'd move out the Ashigaru, first. Save the Izumi/Kaemon for cleanup/guarding Kato...

Brandon

[Brewster]

Map favors you: Ashigaru first. Always.

[songbird]

I just played a mini-tournament with my sons and friends this week, and chose a 600 pt samurai/Ashigaru army almost on a lark, since I've never fielded Kato before. Wow, was I impressed! Here's what I had:

Kato
Kaemon Awa
Yari x2
Harq x2
Samurai archers x1
Isamu

Out of 3 games I played, I never activated anything but 2 Ashigaru squads per marker, except at the end of one game when I needed KA's ranged special attack to counter an approaching Sgt Drake. And I never lost more than 100 points in any battle! Granted, I didn't have to face Q9 or Nilfheim or Braxis... but I did take down Charos with the Yari.

As others have already said, activating 8 units per turn is amazing! Kato was worth every bit of 200 points even though he never rolled attack or defense (I did move him a couple times, however). Would be fun to try this army against a Marro Drone swarm.

[Toad Rocket]

I have to agree with the sentiments.

A Kato army seems scary to play because you think 'Wow, I spent 200 points on kato and my squadies only have 1 defense each'.

However, all those attacks sure wear down your opponent. Plus, if you wiff you attack die you dont mind to much because you have up to seven more tries.

[Fen_Hydra]

I already have Kato, but I'm ordering 3x of the Riflemen and Spearmen pack.

Would it be better just to go with Kato and 3x of each, or are there better combinations for 500 points?

[Toad Rocket]

It really depends on point size of armies.

I have played kato plus 3 each of the squads and it is very effective. It isnt super easy to change out squads because of how the points work out depending on the point limit of the armies.

Sometimes it is nice to have a unit or two that isnt reliant on Kato. A common addition is Kozuke samurai (at the cost of 1 each of the squads) or the Izumi samurai (at the cost of the riflemen).

Kaemon is nice to have, but his 120 points is painful in this case.

[Frylock]

Originally Posted by Fen_Hydra

I already have Kato, but I'm ordering 3x of the Riflemen and Spearmen pack.

Would it be better just to go with Kato and 3x of each, or are there better combinations for 500 points?

At 500, I'd just go for 3x each. You also could swap out on Harq squad for the Izumi, and you won't have to drop any figures for 24 hexes. At 520, add in Raelin for the 3rd squad of Harqs. I find you always want more Yari than Harqs, just because they are closer to the battle.

[Good Pig]

Kato + 3 of each Ashigaru is really fun. It can be really tough to play though on a map with a lot of sight blockers. So make sure you pick the map

[gorthan313]

I played an army of Kato+3x each Ashigaru versus Myst9's army(I remember he had Jotun and several other pretty powerful units). LOTS of Ashigaru died, but at the end it was Kato with about 1 squad of Harquebus left versus Myst's Kelda. Kelda was gunned down to finish the game.

I vastly enjoy the Ashigaru army.

[Good Pig]

Originally Posted by gorthan313

I played an army of Kato+3x each Ashigaru versus Myst9's army(I remember he had Jotun and several other pretty powerful units). LOTS of Ashigaru died, but at the end it was Kato with about 1 squad of Harquebus left versus Myst's Kelda. Kelda was gunned down to finish the game.

I vastly enjoy the Ashigaru army.

The firing squad corners the nurse of Heroscape.

We barely knew ye.