I dont like the japanese. I think the use of shrines instead of houses, and the added functionality of resource gain instead of decent villagers that can farm worth a damn early/mid game is kinda lame too. I mean they cant even hunt animals. Thats SUCH a disadvantage on some maps and im willing to argue that shrine food production does not make up for that penalty. Worse off is the idea that shrines should be near animals to boost resource gain. Its SO hard to defend my population cap when the things that sustain it are placed in odd locations to help with resource production.
The land castles are neat early on but only fire a bullet, which is meh. The horse units suck early one for their price. The samurai are great but are REALLY slow. Yes I could build japanese muskets but they are average by all comparisons to some of the euro riflemen.
I guess the Japanese dont really make a lot of sense to me early to mid game. Sure, the roaming fort generals are neat, and are probably great mid-late game when you have home city cards flowing in and lots of resources, but the japanese seem REALLY vulnerable to early attacks.
I went back to french on skirmish last night and felt much more at home, even if their early econ is kinda balls too sometimes, but once you get the later resource cards it isnt nearly as much of an issue.
I also think the skirmish AI needs some work. Easy spaces out, Medium putters around, hard jams your balls down your throat and keys your car.
Then again im a casual play so im doomed to kinda suck
