What are the ashigaru armed only with swords supposed to represent?

[pompeytheflatulent]

Anyone know what the units of ashigaru with only swordsmen capability are supposed to represent? I refer to them as trashigaru in my head. It's kind of messed up if you think about it. Send someone out onto the battlefield armed only with a sword is kind of like sending a modern soldier out with only a pistol: 'You can have a rifle when you kill an enemy and take it off of his corpse!' Why would anyone actually do that when there's probably half a dozen types of modified farming tools that would serve as better battlefield weapons?

[SnuggleBunnies]

Like a lot of armies of the era, Samurai armies had many various attendants, servants, poorly armed followers etc. etc. I think that's what they are. TBH, I think their 33 armor and full Swordsmen capability is rather generous - 16 armor and 50% Swords would more realistic, although maybe making them cheaper would make them better.

[pompeytheflatulent]

Hmmm... So they are borderline non-combatants? Why is swordsmen capability priced the same as yari or naginata anyway?

[SnuggleBunnies]

Is it priced the same? I thought it was a little cheaper... Swords aren't Severely Disordered in Forest. But then again neither are HW.

[kvnrthr]

Swordsmen is a pretty bad capability, no clue why it's priced the same as Heavy Weapon. No melee POA against Spearmen, no impact POA at all. Doesn't negate armor POA like Heavy Weapon.

The only advantage, if I recall correctly, was that Swordsmen POA would kick in against disrupted Pike and Shot while HW wouldn't. But there's no Pike and Shot to be seen around anyway.