If Giants existed in BC times...

[Wrana]

Actually, Japanese fencing was more offense-oriented relative to both European and Chinese ones. So, it looks like their defense is quite OK. Regarding arrows, I think lack of shields is partly compensated by their own bows - which, of course, leaves you with more resource-intensive troops, but you can use them for both missile combat and shock attacks. Historically, Japanese army suffered greatly in missile combat both during Khubilai-khan's invasion and in their own invasion of Korea in 16th century...

[chrispedersen]

Thematically (perhaps not accurately)

When I think of samurai - I think light amour, made of laminated wood. High moral. Charges (on foot). Ki screams. Experienced, and fast on initiative.

I think my take on Jomon would be:

1. Make the units take fewer resources. Wood and cloth are a lot easier to shape into armor than steel
2. Perhaps give them a paralyze special attack (Ki yell) - good once per combat.

Finally, it would be cool, if on the death of their leader they routed from combat (or commited sepuku). Aka, they route if the leader they serve on dies or routes.

Finally, since they were a professional combat force, perhaps make it easier for them to gain experience, or some of them with experience. Or, let a Jomon fort GIVE experience to any units garrisoned there.

[JimMorrison]

Hmmm, I'd say just simulate the particularly intensive martial training, by boosting both Att and Def by +1.

Small resource drop (maybe reduction of 3 or 4?) to all infantry would make it easier to field armies of useful size (and greatly help with initial expansion).

Also, while you may come up with convincing arguments why samurai armors should be AS encumbering as metal plate, I'm hard pressed to understand why they should be moreso.

[Endoperez]

Here's some comparisons between Samurai armors and others (prot, def, enc, res):

Samurai Armor: 14; -2; 3; 10
Full Scale Mail: 14; -3; 3; 12

Heavy Samurai Armor: 17; -3; 4; 14
Plate Hauberk: 17; -3; 4; 20

Kabuto (Helmet): 16; 0; 0; 6
Half Helmet: 17; 0; 0; 3

The helmet takes way too many resources, but
the basic Samurai armor is actually resource-cheap, and Samurai Armor allows mapmove 2 (unlike Full Scale).

Just lower Kabuto cost to 3, and Samurai Archers are 23, Samurai without bows 18 and 20 resources, Samurai in heavy armor 23.

[Sombre]

Kabuto are significantly more ornate, which I guess is where the res cost comes from.

They could still be 4 or 5 though, rather than 6.

[Endoperez]

I just did a little test on one of my existing mods-under-construction, and I'd like to say that the following changes make for Samurai with very different feel from other heavy infantries:

Kabuto: rcost 3, def 1
Samurai Armor: def 0
Heavy Samurai Armor: def -1

Samurai with naginata (18 res): prot 14 def 12
Samurai with katana (21): prot 14 def 14
In heavy samurai armor (25): prot 16 def 14
Aka-oni (red devil) (21): prot 14 def 16

Opinions on if this would actually help them, or just make them different without really affecting the balance?

[Endoperez]

Originally Posted by Sombre

Kabuto are significantly more ornate, which I guess is where the res cost comes from.

They could still be 4 or 5 though, rather than 6.

Wikipedia claims that they were done by riveting lots of small metal plates together. Then during a spesific period of civil war (had to make lots of helmets quickly, I guess) they simplified the design so that they were made from just few plates. At that point, the helmet-makers started adding paper-and-wood ornaments () on top of them.
That shouldn't matter though, because samurai in Dominions need a boost, and having to pay for a tower shield (3 res) without getting the benefit doesn't help.

[Agema]

Edit: removed

Sorry, I forgot to go to the end of the file, bit redundant.

[rdonj]

Originally Posted by Endoperez

I just did a little test on one of my existing mods-under-construction, and I'd like to say that the following changes make for Samurai with very different feel from other heavy infantries:

Kabuto: rcost 3, def 1
Samurai Armor: def 0
Heavy Samurai Armor: def -1

Samurai with naginata (18 res): prot 14 def 12
Samurai with katana (21): prot 14 def 14
In heavy samurai armor (25): prot 16 def 14
Aka-oni (red devil) (21): prot 14 def 16

Opinions on if this would actually help them, or just make them different without really affecting the balance?

It would definitely help them. As they are samurai have only mediocre defense and prot, though admittedly higher defense than most heavy infantry. But they have no good way of avoiding damage. At least with 14 defense they're avoiding more hits, which would definitely increase their survivability.

[Sombre]

How would you explain something not restricting movement much (hence low or no def penalty) but still encumbering considerably?