Fall of the Samurai

[salty mud]

Announced very recently, the next expansion to the great Shogun 2: Total War:

http://www.pcgamer.com/2011/11/28/total-war-shogun-2-fall-of-the-samurai-announced/

It will be set in the period leading up to the Boshin War, in which European and American forces introduce a new wave of military technology that threatens to wipe out the Samurai.

Fall of the Samurai will add six new factions. Some, like the Nagaoka, sill support the might of the Shogun. Others, like the Satsuma clan, want to embrace Imperial power. Externally, British, French and American forces are vying for influence in the Land of the Rising Sun. Over the course of the campaign, you’ll get to decide Japan’s fate.

New tech trees will reflect the evolving technology of a country adapting to the influx of devastating new weaponry from the west. That technology includes new naval units like “steamers, torpedo boats and mighty Ironclad battleships.” For the first time in Total War, these will be able to launch artillery attack on land units from the safety of the sea.

This seems the logical progression of the series, and if this is any logic to by then this will be the last expansion for Shogun 2. It will be interesting to dabble with foreign powers too.

 

[SalmonSoil]

I find it incredibly interesting because this is the latest time period ever explored in a Total War game. We get railroads, gatling guns, steamships, I am excited.

Also seeing some European style units will be interesting too, seeing as Shogun is kind of stale on cultural variation.

 

[salty mud]

Alarm bells are ringing however. They are creeping closer and closer to a modern day Total War, or at least a World War: Total War.

 

[GoodGame]

Just play RUSE or whatnot.

 

[GoodSarmatian]

I'm sceptical. Medieval 2 and Empire showed me that guns are far less fun than swords and spears.
But then again Shogun 2 is the best TW game so far and does everything better than Empire, so I might check it out if I hear enough recommendations that don't come from professional reviewers.

 

[West 36]

Sounds interesting... however seeing it as another stand alone game seems like another ploy to rake in more cash, as Napoleon was with Empire. Either way, my pc is crap and won't run it regardless!

 

[Ajidica]

I'm still waiting for a 'Pike and Shot: Total War'. I don't know why they don't do it. They have experience in handling medieval and musket combat now, and the various upheavals and developments could make better use of the tech tree in Empire while giving plenty of opportunities to bring in some fun campaign mechanics involving the HRE politics.

Also, just think of all the expansion packs they could make! English Civil War: Total War, Great Northern War: Total War, 30 Years War: Total War, War for Spanish Sucession: Total War, and so on.

 

[salty mud]

That's the era I'd love to see most, actually. End of Medieval to beginning of Empire, 2 turns per year as is the old standard - nice long campaign, technological development all over the place, rise of colonisation, imperialism, lots of add ons as you say. It would be tremendous.

 

[Dachs]

and that stuff's not even the really exciting stuff during that time period

I fully expect CA to cock it up anyway but that's what modders are for, so long as they don't destroy ease of moddability like they've been trying to over the past few games for no apparent reason

 

[tonberry]

Alarm bells are ringing however. They are creeping closer and closer to a modern day Total War, or at least a World War: Total War.

Perhaps but it could also be the most modern era Total War will ever go.

Warfare in the 19th century can still be simulated by having multiple battalion moving independanly of each other, engaging either at range or in melee.

Past that however, we're in trench territory and the Total War formula won't support it so I don't think CA will go beyond the 19th century.


By the way, thumbs up to the people who made the trailer, really cool to show the way of the samurai feel almost like a dream... a dream shattered by the brutal arrival of modern technologies. If you show the trailer to your friends, try not tell them what it's about, it give a better surprise effect.

 

[Kan' Sharuminar]

That was a brilliant trailer. Absolutely hilarious.

 

[Joecoolyo]

I'm really looking forward to this; the ironclad naval battles are giving me a hard on, as well as the new port siege battle mode and all the other junk they're adding.

 

[nokmirt]

I'm really looking forward to this; the ironclad naval battles are giving me a hard on, as well as the new port siege battle mode and all the other junk they're adding.

What I was wondering is are there going to be more than one faction that can build ironclad ships though? Otherwise wouldn't it be simply a massacre? Gatling guns etc. vs charging samurai. That would maybe be fun for the first five minutes. Then I'd get bored of gunning them down like so many chickens!

CA is blowing Firaxis out of the water!

 

[GoodGame]

What I was wondering is are there going to be more than one faction that can build ironclad ships though? Otherwise wouldn't it be simply a massacre? Gatling guns etc. vs charging samurai. That would maybe be fun for the first five minutes. Then I'd get bored of gunning them down like so many chickens!

CA is blowing Firaxis out of the water!

It is the fall of the samurai. They did go down challenging rifle-toting soldier people while armed with swords. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Satsuma_Rebellion


I'd bet that they offer gunpowder weapons to everyone that owns a trading port, but some factions will get the best equipment. That's basically the way Shogun 2 already works.

 

[nokmirt]

It is the fall of the samurai. They did go down challenging rifle-toting soldier people while armed with swords. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Satsuma_Rebellion


I'd bet that they offer gunpowder weapons to everyone that owns a trading port, but some factions will get the best equipment. That's basically the way Shogun 2 already works.

I know the history of it. My point was will it work in game. In real life it was a massacre! Thats my point.

 

[Dachs]

It is the fall of the samurai. They did go down challenging rifle-toting soldier people while armed with swords. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Satsuma_Rebellion

They had wayyyy more firearms than swords.

 

[GoodGame]

They had wayyyy more firearms than swords.

Well watever----they fell. The guns also were nicer than those darn arkiebuss thingies.

 

[Dachs]

Well watever----they fell. The guns also were nicer than those darn arkiebuss thingies.

The important factor against the Satsuma rebels wasn't troop/equipment quality, it was troop quantity. They were horribly outnumbered even before the blockade.

CAN'T LET THAT STAND IN THE WAY OF THE TECHNOLOGICAL DETERMINISM GRAND NARRATIVE THOUGH LOLOLOLOLOL

 

[nokmirt]

They had wayyyy more firearms than swords.

Right, they did not disregard Western military technology and used rifles and cannon. Probably using family heirlooms in the form of Arquebuses, which had been outlawed, but handed down nevertheless from father to son. Only when supplies dwindled did the samurai have to revert to close quarters combat using the sword, bow and arrows.

The important factor against the Satsuma rebels wasn't troop/equipment quality, it was troop quantity. They were horribly outnumbered even before the blockade.

CAN'T LET THAT STAND IN THE WAY OF THE TECHNOLOGICAL DETERMINISM GRAND NARRATIVE THOUGH LOLOLOLOLOL

The imperial army numbered some 300,000-350,000 men against 20,000-30,000 rebels.

 

[Joecoolyo]

What I was wondering is are there going to be more than one faction that can build ironclad ships though? Otherwise wouldn't it be simply a massacre? Gatling guns etc. vs charging samurai. That would maybe be fun for the first five minutes. Then I'd get bored of gunning them down like so many chickens!

CA is blowing Firaxis out of the water!

Yes, all sides can recruit all modern weapons. In fact, I'm pretty sure the Shogun starts off with a more modern navy than the Imperials do.

The archaic troops will probably just be a cheap units that can be used as a fallback or something.