Re: Japanese Shrines
Posted: Tue Nov 20, 2007 10:29 pm
Well, the Dutch are a poor example since their economy is particularly easy to defend, in fact, almost unraidable.
But if you look at a civ like the Ottomans (again, I think the parallel is a pertinent one to draw to Japan) their economy is very easily raided and quite fragile, since it takes a longer time to replace villagers.
Also, yes, it's true that other civs can just build their houses near their TC but their houses are still very easy to kill, unless you're talking about Britain or Iroquois. The British also are somewhat encouraged to spread out their manors all over the place, though, so it's not a big deal.
The fact that the Japanese economy is difficult to defend just means that the Japanese are forced to be on the offensive and to have mobile units ready to defend their shrines (think fast-moving Naginatas and Ashigaru, etc). It's more an aspect of their civ. as opposed to a glaring weakness, if you ask me.
Overall, I would wholeheartedly disagree with the statement that "no other civ has to defend part of its eco like Japan." Consider that Japanese villagers are always hanging about around their TC collecting berries and then consider the fact that most other civs have to spread their villagers out hunting etc, and things actually seem rather even. Indeed, shrines are actually a bit harder to kill than a group of villagers that dies pretty quickly. So, in that regard, the Japanese economy is actually a bit more difficult to raid since the Japanese rarely if ever have villagers scattered around the map (besides on gold mines).
But if you look at a civ like the Ottomans (again, I think the parallel is a pertinent one to draw to Japan) their economy is very easily raided and quite fragile, since it takes a longer time to replace villagers.
Also, yes, it's true that other civs can just build their houses near their TC but their houses are still very easy to kill, unless you're talking about Britain or Iroquois. The British also are somewhat encouraged to spread out their manors all over the place, though, so it's not a big deal.
The fact that the Japanese economy is difficult to defend just means that the Japanese are forced to be on the offensive and to have mobile units ready to defend their shrines (think fast-moving Naginatas and Ashigaru, etc). It's more an aspect of their civ. as opposed to a glaring weakness, if you ask me.
Overall, I would wholeheartedly disagree with the statement that "no other civ has to defend part of its eco like Japan." Consider that Japanese villagers are always hanging about around their TC collecting berries and then consider the fact that most other civs have to spread their villagers out hunting etc, and things actually seem rather even. Indeed, shrines are actually a bit harder to kill than a group of villagers that dies pretty quickly. So, in that regard, the Japanese economy is actually a bit more difficult to raid since the Japanese rarely if ever have villagers scattered around the map (besides on gold mines).