This Game is Good for Kids Who Need Help With:

Planning

Developing a systematic approach for setting and achieving goals.

Total War: SHOGUN 2 features two different gameplay modes; one with the player acting as a battlefield general and another as a clan leader. While the gameplay differs greatly between these two modes, the player must utilize excellent Planning skills to be successful in both.

As a battlefield general, the player will need to develop a sound strategy to outplay his opponent. This encompasses a wide range of decisions and tactics such as surveying terrain and using it to his advantage, creating mismatches between types of units (certain troops fare better against others), and coordinating multi-pronged plans of attack.

As a clan leader, the game takes a step back and becomes more of a turn-based strategy game. Rather than commanding army units in real-time, the clan leader moves his army across japan and creates new units to add to his forces. The clan leader must play smart, forming strong alliances with other clans and even maintaining a bustling trade flow.

If the player's goal is to conquer a neighboring clan, there are several things he must first consider. First, he'll need to weigh the strength of his army against his enemy's forces. If the enemy possesses a strong cavalry corp, he may decide it is best to train extra spearmen for his army. Next he'll need to consider his other neighbors, as once his army leaves for war, there will be very few forces left to protect his stronghold. Other clan leaders may view this as a perfect time to attack him. However, if he can secure an alliance or trade agreement ahead of time with these would-be attackers, he can march his army away from the hold with some security.

Organization

Arranging and coordinating materials in order to complete a task.

A feature unique to the Total War franchise is the ability to display large numbers of individual fighters on the battlefield. The player will often command armies of over a dozen units, each with 50-200 individual fighters within them. With so many units on the screen at once, it is imperative that the player remain organized. Just like on a real world battlefield, disorder can destroy a player's army in Total War: SHOGUN 2, even if the player has greater numbers than his foe. If a player cannot correctly position his army, his units will become overrun and flee from battle.

Thus, it is essential that the player utilize proper army formations for the task at hand, remaining aware of enemy movements in order to better withstand assaults. Knowing how to counter the attacks of your foe is an essential part of success in Total War: SHOGUN 2. For example, spearmen are great against cavalry units, especially when they face a charge with their "spear wall" ability. However, if the cavalry takes them from behind, they will be much less effective. If the player controls the high ground, he'll want to ensure he does not give up his position, as units on the high ground receive bonuses against those below. By organizing his army around such factors of the battlefield, the player can organize solid formations and lead his troops to victory.