How to secure your clanīs financial future or Where does a Daimyo get the biggest bang for his hard earned koku.

by Rune Kramer

 

This article basicly keeps itīs focus on the economical return of invested koku and not on the overall strategic picture (when to invest in a provinceīs economic return and when to buy troops etc.), so consider it a tool to aid your investment strategy. 

 

The numbers in the columns of the tables are the annual return on the initial investment in percent under the assumtion of an average harvest. (Beware: if you play on the Expert level there is a greater probabillity for poor and terrible havest-years.  Therefore making the numbers on Farmland-investments too optimistic.) With regards to ports and mine complexs which requires a minimum level of fortification (Port: Castle and Mine Complex: Fortress) the cost of building the proper level of fortification has been included even though there may be other reasons for building fortifications in that province. I know that conquered provinces can include buildings etc. that reduces these extra costs. Basicly use the formulars below to calculate the best investments in the conquered province.

 If you can build both a Mine Complex and a Port in a province, the Port includes the cost of the Castle and the Mine Complex includes the cost of the Large Castle and Fortress (all mineral rich provinces except Kai and Shimotsuke). The 25 % benefit for Clan Hojo in building castles is included. The number in brackets.

 

Investments	Cost in koku
Improved Farmland	500
Superior Farmland	700
Exceptional Farmland	900
Lengendary Farmland	1000
Mine	1000
Mine Complex (Clan Hojo)	3500 (2875)
Mine Complex in Kai and Shimotsuke province (Clan Hojo)	4000 (3250)
Port  (Natural harbor)	2000 (1625)
Clan Hojo: Port (Natural Harbor)	1875 (1500)

 

 

The calculations are simple.

 

Annual return on investment in Farmland = (Koku at Start x Annual percentage Increase in Income)/100= Increase in annual koku, (Increase in annual koku  x 100)/Invested Koku  = Annual return on Investment

 

Annual return on investment = Annual Increase in Income x 100/ Investment cost  = Annual return on Investment

 

Example 1:  Investment in Farmland

Osumi province (Koku at Start)= 175 koku, Invested koku = Improved Farmland =500 koku,  Annual Increase in Income =20%

Annual return on investment = (175 x 20)/100 = 35 koku, (35 x 100)/500 = 7.00 %

 

Next level: Superior Farmland

Osumi province (Koku at Start)= 175 koku, Invested koku = Superior Farmland =700 koku,  Annual Increase in Income = 20% ( Superior Farmland +40% less Improved Farmland +20% = 40% - 20% = 20%)

 

Annual return on investment = (175 x 20)/100= 35 koku, (35 x 100)/700 = 5.00 %

 

and so forth.

Example 2: Annual return on building a port in Osumi province. Annual return on investment = 200 koku

Investment Cost = Port and Castle = 2000 koku

 

Annual return on investment = 200 x 100/2000 =  10.00 %

 

if Clan Hojo then  

 Annual return on investment = 200 koku, Investment Cost = Port and Castle = 1875 koku

 

Annual return on investment = 200 x 100/1875 =  10.66 %

 

Example 3: Annual return on building a port in conquered Osumi province with conquered Castle. Annual return on investment = 200 koku,  Investment Cost = Port  = 1500 koku

 

Annual return on investment = 200 x 100/1500 =  13.33 %

 

 

The Clans:

 

Clan Shimazu

Province	Koku at Start	Improved Farmland	Superior Farmland	Exceptional Farmland	Legendary Farmland	Mine	Mine Complex	Port (Hojo)
Bungo	120	4.80	3.43	2.67	4.80	-	-	10.00 (10.66)
Buzen	228	9.20	6.43	5.11	9.10	-	-	10.00 (10.66)
Higo	178	7.20	5.00	4.00	7.10	-	-	10.00 (10.66)
Hyuga	174	7.00	5.00	3.78	7.00	-	-	10.00 (10.66)
Nagato	139	5.60	4.00	3.00	5.60	-	-	10.00 (10.66)
Osumi	175	7.00	5.00	3.89	7.00	-	-	10.00 (10.66)
Satsuma	180	7.20	5.14	4.00	7.20	-	-	13.33[1] (13.33)[RS1] [RS2]

 

 

Clan Mori

Province	Koku at Start	Improved Farmland	Superior Farmland	Exceptional Farmland	Legendary Farmland	Mine	Mine Complex (Hojo)	Port (Hojo)
Bizen	190	7.60	5.45	4.20	7.60	-	-	12.31 (13.33)
Harima	220	8.80	6.29	4.89	8.80	20.00	5.71 (7.62)	12.31 (13.33)
Hoki	103	4.20	2.86	2.33	4.10	-	-	10.00 (10.66)
Inaba	125	5.00	3.57	2.78	5.00	-	-	10.00 (10.66)
Iwami	120	4.80	3.43	2.67	4.80	-	-	10.00 (10.66)
Izumo	143	5.80	4.00	3.22	5.70	-	-	10.00 (10.66)
Mimasaka	123	5.00	3.43	2.78	4.90	-	-	-
Sou	139	5.60	4.00	3.11	5.60	-	-	10,00 (10.66)[RS3] [RS4]

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Clan Oda

Province	Koku at Start	Improved Farmland	Superior Farmland	Exceptional Farmland	Legendary Farmland	Mine	Mine Complex	Port (Hojo)
Iga	120	4.80	3.42	2.66	4.80	-	-	-
Kawachi	420	16.80	12.00	9.33	16.80	-	-	10.00 (10.66)
Kii	270	10.80	7.71	6.00	10.80	-	-	10.00 (10.66)
Mino	260	10.40	7.43	5.78	10.40	-	-	-
Omi	235	9.40	6.71	5.22	9.40	-	-	-
Owari	650	26.00	18.57	14.44	26.00	-	-	13.33[2] (13.33)
Tamba	220	8.80	6.29	4.89	8.80	-	-	-
Wakasa	103	4.20	2.86	2.33	4.10	-	-	10.00 (10.66)[RS5] [RS6]
Yamato	202	8.00	5.86	4.44	8.10	-	-	-[RS7] [RS8]

 

 

Clan Imagawa

Province	Koku at Start	Improved Farmland	Superior Farmland	Exceptional Farmland	Legendary Farmland	Mine	Mine Complex	Port (Hojo)
Chikugo	320	12.80	9.14	7.11	12.80	-	-	10.00 (10.66)
Chikuzen	304	9.20	6.43	5.11	9.10	-	-	10.00 (10.66)
Hizen	408	16.40	11.57	9.11	16.30	-	-	Build
Mikawa	260	10.40	7.43	5.78	10.40	-	-	10.00 (10.66)
Suruga	100	4.00	2.86	2.22	4.00	-	-	10.00 (10.66)
Totomi	155	6.20	4.43	3.44	6.20	-	-	Build

 

 

Clan Takeda

Province	Koku at Start	Improved Farmland	Superior Farmland	Exceptional Farmland	Legendary Farmland	Mine	Mine Complex (Hojo)	Port (Hojo)
Aki	153	6.20	4.29	3.44	6.10	40.00	11.43 (15.24)	Build
Bingo	130	5.20	3.71	2.88	5.20	-	-	10.00 (10.66)
Bitchu	114	4.60	3.29	2.44	4.60	-	-	10.00 (10.66)
Izu	70	2.80	2.00	1.56	2.80	-	-	10.00 (10.66)
Kai	200	8.00	5.71	4.44	8.00	60.00	17.14 (22.86)	-
Sagami	460	18.40	13.14	10.22	18.40	-	-	Build

 

 

Clan Hojo

Province	Koku at Start	Improved Farmland	Superior Farmland	Exceptional Farmland	Legendary Farmland	Mine	Mine Complex (Hojo)	Port (Hojo)
Hitatchi	620	24.80	17.71	13.78	24.80	-	-	10.00 (10.66)
Kazusa	190	7.60	5.43	4.22	7.60	-	-	10.00 (10.66)
Kosuke	410	16.40	11.71	9.11	16.40	-	-	10.00 (10.66)
Musashi	640	25.60	18.29	14.22	25.60	-	-	10.00 (10.66)
Shimosa	290	11.60	8.29	6.44	11.60	-	-	13.33[3] (13.33)
Shimotsuke	210	8.40	6.00	4.67	8.40	20.00	5.71 (7.62)	10.00 (10.66)

 

Clan Uesugi

Province	Koku at Start	Improved Farmland	Superior Farmland	Exceptional Farmland	Legendary Farmland	Mine	Mine Complex (Hojo)	Port (Hojo)
Dewa	400	16.00	11.43	8.89	16.00	60.00	17.14 (22.86)	10.00 (10.66)
Echigo	420	16.80	12.00	9.33	16.80	40.00	11.43 (15.24)	10.00 (10.66)
Hida	120	4.80	3.43	2.67	4.80	-	-	10.00 (10.66)
Mutsu	600	24.00	17.14	13.33	24.00	-	-	13.33[4] (13.33)
Sado	160	6.40	4.57	3.55	6.40	-	-	10.00 (10.66)
Shinano	340	13.60	9.71	7.55	13.6	-	-	10.00 (10.66)

 

 

Ronin Provinces

Province	Koku at Start	Improved Farmland	Superior Farmland	Exceptional Farmland	Legendary Farmland	Mine	Mine Complex (Hojo)	Port (Hojo)
Awa	180	7.20	5.14	4.00	7.20	-	-	10.00 (10.66)
Awaji	60	2.40	1.71	1.33	2.40	-	-	10.00 (10.66)
Echizen	280	11.20	8.00	6.22	11.20	-	-	10.00 (10.66)
Etchu	220	8.80	6.29	4.89	8.80	-	-	10.00 (10.66)
Ise	440	17.60	12.57	9.78	17.60	-	-	13.33[5] (13.33)
Iyo	220	8.80	6.29	4.89	8.80	20.00	5.71 (7.62)	10.00 (10.66)
Kaga	200	8.00	5.71	4.44	8.00	-	-	13.33[6] (13.33)
Noto	100	4.00	2.86	2.22	4.00	-	-	10.00 (10.66)
Sanuki	380	15.20	10.86	8.44	15.20			10.00 (10.66)
Tajima	95	3.80	2.71	2.11	3.80			13.33[7] (13.33)
Tosa	242	9.60	7.00	5.33	9.70	-	-	13.33[8] (13.33)[RS9] [RS10]
Yamashiro	350	14.00	10.00	7.78	14.00	-	-	-[RS11] [RS12]

 

 

Conclusions:

One can basicly say that nothing but the most productiv farmland beats a mine-investment. A Mine Complex on the other hand can wait but if you build Fortress-level fortifications for other reasons, you might as well build the mine complex.

 Ports are an important investment  especially in the agriculturally poor southern Japan. Only provinces with ca. 250+ koku at the start can beat a port as the initial investment but do take into consideration that a port generates a more stable income plus the strategic mobility. 

 

 

Wellcome, Gaijin. Let trade:

It is expensive to say no to european tradestations. Please note that one can build both a Portuguese and a Dutch Tradestation in a province if they are added to the production pipeline at the same time. So wait if possible until you have that option..

 

	Investment in koku	Annual return on investment in %
Dutch Trading Post	1000	20.00
Portuguese Trading Post	1000	20.00

 

 

The Real Benefits of the Church:

 

	Investment in koku	Annual return on investment in %
Church	800	12.50
Large Castle & Church	1800	5.56

 

I have choosen to disregard the expenses of building a Citadel and Cathedral. The focus is only on the choice of building a church directly vs first having to build a Larger Castle inorder to build a Church.