Here's some pointers
1. DO NOT CONQUER IGA EARLY ON. I cannot stress this enough, and yet several people make the same mistake.

2. SAT is important. Probably the best bonus you can get in your first game is the "Request Reinforcements" bonus. Use it as often as possible. Rance Attack is quite good as well. Elite Troops is better to be saved until Rance has 6+ in most of his stats.

3. DO NOT CONQUER IGA

3. At 50 SAT, you are able to get a third fan(action). If you want to get that 3rd fan ASAP, follow this guide
alicesoft.wikia.com/wiki/Sengoku_Rance:First_Game_three_moves_in_thirteen_turns

4. DO NOT CONQUER IGA

5. "Generic" Units (aka units without a unique portrait) are usually shit and should not be bothered with. The only exceptions I can think of are Goemon from the Miko Institute, and the Generic Musketeer from Shimazu.

(kyo dungeon) Keep retreating after the third level, then go back in and you'll start at a level higher than before. Also, for Satisfaction bonuses, call in reinforcements, then at 50 Satisfaction, make sure all of Rance Stats are 6, then make his unit elites. Change Yamamoto's attack to Sweeping Fire. MOST Monks are useless (besides the special monk you can get at the start on second games, dousan, and the leader of tenshi sect). Try to beef up all the commander's before the 5th gourd is broken.

After defeating Hara, take down Ashiage, then the Miko Institute and work East.

An important thing in Rance is unit composition. The majority of units that you're going to need are footsoldiers, on higher difficulties or late into the game anything that isn't a well stocked high defense footsoldier will melt in one hit. The next important units are your " artillery ", these are units like Maria, Natori, and the various Diviners you get. Most of them can hit every enemy unit for a lot of damage or deal a heavy amount of damage to a single unit. Ninjas you want mostly for their assassination, against certain factions like Hojo who field a lot of diviners you need someone who can take out them out before they can lay a strong Shikigami barrage. Assassination can also be used to take out units with large numbers or footsoldiers like the 9999 ones you might see in the harder modes. Tacticians, Warriors, Archers, and various other offensivex x  or support units you only use if they're unique units that have high stats or some kind of unique skill like Kenshin. Sometimes these units can actually be detrimental to you winning depending on enemy composition and who they field.

One thing I've never seen explained in these threads: How the Reinforcements bonuses work.

Basically, you can Request Reinforcements from Leazaus or Zeth up to 3 times each from satisfaction bonuses. You can't do this after the demon army comes into play. Each time you get a unique unit who arrives roughly 3-5 turns after requesting them. This is the only way you can get anyone of the Cannoneer, Knight, or Mage unit type.


Here's who you get:

Lezaus:
First time: Kenami. Ninja. She has high speed. She sucks otherwise.
Second: Maria. Cannoneer. She's amazing. Basically an Archer but with a fuckload more firepower.
Third: Lelia. Knight. Basically she's a cross between a Warrior and a Foot Soldier. She can Guard, and she has a unique attack that does more damage the more troops the target has. She's very useful.

Zeth:
First Time: Rizina. Mage. She's decent. Nothing special, really. Can learn a special attack called A Cutter where she attacks all enemy units for half damage. Apparently it does triple damage to monsters, but i've never seen it.

Second: Uzura. Tactician. GET HER GET HER GET HER. Best tactican in the game, bar none. This is because of her unique ability, Accurate Shots. It does a tiny ammount of damage to all enemies, but more importantly it causes them to all loose one action point.

Third: Magic. Mage. She's better then Rizina. Has a special attack where she shoots a huge white laser beam that hits all enemies in one row. Ignores guard, so it's useful.

>Recruit Mino Three from Mamushi Oil Field
>Use SAT bonus to recruit Abarako Dousen
Your army is now Overpowered (for now).
Also recruit that Miko from Owari so you can get her hot H-Scenes.

Ganko Ittetsu (Tactician), Andou Kyuuri (Diviner) and Takuwan-sama (Bushi), these three captains may join Ashikaga after a given amount of time. If Mamushi Oil Field is conquered beforehand, they can be recruited with 3 Negotiation each.

http://www.gamefaqs.com/pc/936089-sengoku-rance/faqs/58210


Best first game options:
- Follow the 13 turn guide
- Conquer Miko Institute (Recruit Natori)
- Conquer Tokugawa (Recruit Senhime)
- Conquer Hannies (Keep secret)

At this point, you should be getting uprisings. Save one unit in each battle for these.
- Conquer Asai-Asakura (Don't bother with panda man)
- Go west, declare war on Uesugi and Houjou at the same time. Ignore Takeda.
- Conquer Uesugi, keep Houjou at bay. Recruit Kenshin and Ai.
- At this point, Yukihime might've turned a country against you. If it's Takeda, keep an eye out for their zerg rush.
- Go west, conquer Naniwa. Do not attack Mikan.
- Declare war on Akashi and Tanegashima. Conquer Tanegashima, recruit musketeers.
- Declare war on Mouri. Conquer Izumo, then declare war on Takuga.
- Conquer Takuga, then reduce all warring houses' territory to at least one location.
- Conquer Takeda, then declare war on Iga.
- Conquer Houjou, save Souun.
- Showdown at Honnou Temple.
- Conquer Mouri, Akashi, Iga. Go north, declare war on Dokuganryuu.
- Demon army shows up, so finish off Dokuganryuu.
- Waste time doing character clears and Orochi while defending against Demon Army. Recruit Agireda and clear her too while you're at it.
- Beat down Oda's ass then go attempt 5 star and get your butt raped