Basic Unit Statistics (can be modified by difficulty level, arts, skills, traits and retainers)
| Recruitment Cost | 100 | |
| Upkeep Cost | 45 | |
| Marines | 30 | 25% |
| Seamen | 10 | 5% |
| Hull Strength | 150 | 1% |
| Morale | 11 | 22% |
Strengths & Weaknesses
- Small, average speed vessel.
- Low quality crew with low morale.
- Weak in ranged combat.
- Weak in boarding battles.
Requires
- Buildings:
Description
Trade ships are built to carry cargo; in combat they are often more of a liability than an asset.
Trade ships are not intended to get involved in any kind of battle. They exist to make a profit carrying cargoes, and crews should only be expected to fight only in defence of their own lives and their masters' goods. At need, trade ships could be used in battle to board enemies, but against any but the weakest of opposition the prospects of success would be very slim. Japan is a land of rugged, difficult terrain and roads were few and far between. During the medieval period, the easiest way of moving any kind of goods over any distance was by water. A few men with a ship could move cargoes that would have required hundreds of loads on land. The ever-present risk of pirate attack meant that no trade ship could ever be completely defenceless, but the best protection against pirates was always to see them coming and sail in the opposite direction as speedily as possible!