The Map

[Kagemusha]

Here is the first draw map made by BDH:
https://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a323/bdhh/terrainplusplus.jpg
the second possible drawing:
https://img361.imageshack.us/img361/6828/14ew1.jpg

And an map of the areas in the game.(This is not the final version).Made by Forgotten Immortal:
http://chaosrealms.org/forgottenimmortal/MapTemplate.jpg

[Myrddraal]

That map is looking seriously detailed already....

I thought you hadn't done that much work on it. I stand corrected :smile:

[Kagemusha]

New updated map,with factions coloured.~:)
http://chaosrealms.org/forgottenimmortal/ShogunMap.jpg

[Hôjô Ujimara]

I think you should use the second one. I mean, you don't need all of Hokkaido. And as for the map with the faction colours, assuming that's going to be the startign provinces and such, Uesugi have a lot of land......

But then again, what do I know? Great work guys.

[Kraxis]

New updated map,with factions coloured.~:)
http://chaosrealms.org/forgottenimmortal/ShogunMap.jpg
Excellent work, though it certainly has great potential for a najor unbalanced game. Uesugi is perhaps too strong, while the Hosokawa and Mioshi are basically at war already.

[Kagemusha]

Hello Hojo Ujimara those are not the final maps,just the work on progress.The starting areas for campaign start date 1524.So yes Uesugi has lots of land but i promise you that the Uesugi will have problems holding those.~:)

[al'Callaendor]

will the map be large?

[Kraxis]

I have noticed that quitea few provinces have the name of their primary castles. Hammamatsu, Edo, Sendai ect ect...
At least the first, wouldn't it be better to call it by the old STW name?

[Kagemusha]

These are districts and most districts were named after the castle that ruled those districts but not all.~:)

[Drisos]

I like the one with faction colours added... but please post one which you will really see while in the game as soon as it's done~;) ~:)

[HahnHolio]

this looks awesome !!!
i guess i´ll have to watch this mod closely now :)

greetz

HahnHolio

[Myrddraal]

Can I ask, was that map drawn by him manually?

[Kagemusha]

Sorry Myrdraal. I have to ask that i dont know.:phonecall:

[Lanfire]

Question: Did you already start with actually making the campaign map, or is it already in progress.. ???

[Kagemusha]

Its in progress.:bow:

[BDH]

https://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a323/bdhh/japane2.jpg

[Kagemusha]

Oh yeah!!!:jumping:

[Alexander the Pretty Good]

Um, that land next to Japan won't have any settlements or anything, right?

[Kagemusha]

Um, that land next to Japan won't have any settlements or anything, right?

I think that the BDH would be a right man to answer this, but you are right.The mainland is there because we need to have certain water land mass ratio to avoid CDT.

[WTFM-GzZ]

I think that the BDH would be a right man to answer this, but you are right.The mainland is there because we need to have certain water land mass ratio to avoid CDT.

can u make japan"TAIKOU Invasion MOD"
fight with china&korea


TAIKOU Invasion MOD
https://img377.imageshack.us/img377/8165/hachidochizu7iq.jpg

[antisocialmunky]

We really could if we wanted to. I think that if we did mini campaigns that's be the top one followed by Shingen vs Kenshin and the Mongol Invasion in no particular order.

[Sun Tzui]

Great!

The Samurai strike again in the improved engine of RTW!

:charge: :charge: :charge: :charge:

~:cheers:

[Wild Bill Kelso]

The map is well on its way to completion thanks to the hard work and ingenuity of bdh! His new method of integrating GIS into the map making process is truely remarkable. Here are a few peaks of where the map is:

campaign mode:
https://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a323/bdhh/centraljapan3.jpg
lots of valleys to be ambushed from!

Mountain Valley:
https://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a323/bdhh/japanb4.jpg
Steep valleys very similiar to reality

Ground type:
https://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a323/bdhh/map_ground_typesjapan.jpg
the dark areas are impassible, med green is sparse trees, light green is plains

Height map:
https://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a323/bdhh/map_heightscopy.jpg
adapted directly from real satellite data. cant get more realistic than this!

some other notes:

The sea had to be filled for testing purposes, and the Korean peninsula had to be removed due to unexpected fatal water issues.

great job bdh!

[Geoffrey S]

Remarkably detailed, should present plenty of fun playing.

[Zenith Darksea]

Wow, that's good stuff.

[Alexander the Pretty Good]

That is a ridiculous amount of trees.

Me want. :san_cool:

[Samurai Fanatic]

well there were alot of ambushes in that time.

[BDH]

https://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a323/bdhh/map_ground_typesnippon2.jpg
I did some upgrades on the valley system. The mountains will be covered by trees instead of the standard mountainous terrain (as in Japan)
My goal is to make it one of the most complicated valley systems in rtw, its especially nice since its based off the actual valley systems in Japan :happy: If all goes well this will come out to be a fun map with lots of chokepoints and multiple routes leading to the same place. Hopefully there will be too many entrances to block with a single fort :cool: . Just don't get lost!

[Helgi]

After seeing the screenshot of the valley, battles are going to be fun, depending on the type and size of forces going head to head, This is good:san_cool:

[Kagemusha]

Great Job BDH! The map looks great! The landscape will be exellent.:san_wink:

[Kagemusha]

We would like to introduce to you all Hubert!~;)

https://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a323/bdhh/hubert.jpg

here is an Avatar version of Hubert the friendly land dragon:

https://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a323/bdhh/hubert2.jpg

[al'Callaendor]

it is great!!!:san_cheesy:

[Ilsamir Lord]

Fantastic! Absolutely spectacular! The earlier shot of the forests didn't even look like R:TW to me! Such vibrancy and detail!

I kinda wish my mod was historical now - just so I could take advantage of these massive strides in detail!

Does anyone know of plans to make a European map for R:TW like this?

[Kagemusha]

Fantastic! Absolutely spectacular! The earlier shot of the forests didn't even look like R:TW to me! Such vibrancy and detail!

I kinda wish my mod was historical now - just so I could take advantage of these massive strides in detail!

Does anyone know of plans to make a European map for R:TW like this?

Thanks Ilsamir Lord!:bow: Its all bdh´s magig!:2thumbsup:

[BDH]

Fantastic! Absolutely spectacular! The earlier shot of the forests didn't even look like R:TW to me! Such vibrancy and detail!

I kinda wish my mod was historical now - just so I could take advantage of these massive strides in detail!

Does anyone know of plans to make a European map for R:TW like this?

https://forums.totalwar.org/vb/showthread.php?t=57828
That tutorial explains how to import digital elevation data into RTW

Actually there are numberous mods that are going to use digital elevation models!
Caius Britannicus's "The Crusades," Hegemonia, Arthurian/Britannia, Zhanguo, RTR, Jidai (of course), and a few other mods are looking at it. More mods are looking since that tutorial helps explain it. Hegemonia and Zhanguo were using it even before it was released though, they have some very talented people.

I bet you could work it into your own mod by patching in different data or by having an artist study how the world's digital elevation models actually look.

[Ilsamir Lord]

Cool! I'll have to check those out, though this mod is at the top of my list :bow:

[Ilsamir Lord]

Sorry, double post.

[Lord_Morningstar]

I can't access the faction map - http://chaosrealms.org/forgottenimmortal/ShogunMap.jpg - which is a shame, because this mod has really caught my interest. Is it up anywhere else?

[BDH]

I can't access the faction map - http://chaosrealms.org/forgottenimmortal/ShogunMap.jpg - which is a shame, because this mod has really caught my interest. Is it up anywhere else?

There you go.:2thumbsup:
https://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a323/bdhh/ShogunMap.jpg

[Ilsamir Lord]

Lovely! Gotta love high production values ~:) .

[Lord_Morningstar]

Very nice - from what I've seen, the mod is well underway.

[Duke John]

I don't like the map. And I got a reason too :grin: The geography of the campaignmap is 1:1 with real life geopgraphy. May look good in strategic view but the tactical part is not 1:1. 3 tiles of the campaign map may represent 30 km but it will be just 3 km on the battlefield. And that will make valleys and such way too small as can be seen on the screenshot. When I made the map for Sengoku Jidai I created the campaign map in such a way that the battlemap would look good. And I think the height differences are too big resulting in unrealistic steep slopes. A slope made of something else than rock is rarely more than 45 degrees and from I gather from the campaign map there will be alot of slopes steeper than that.

Just my 2 cents.

[BDH]

I don't like the map. And I got a reason too :grin: The geography of the campaignmap is 1:1 with real life geopgraphy. May look good in strategic view but the tactical part is not 1:1. 3 tiles of the campaign map may represent 30 km but it will be just 3 km on the battlefield. And that will make valleys and such way too small as can be seen on the screenshot. When I made the map for Sengoku Jidai I created the campaign map in such a way that the battlemap would look good. And I think the height differences are too big resulting in unrealistic steep slopes. A slope made of something else than rock is rarely more than 45 degrees and from I gather from the campaign map there will be alot of slopes steeper than that.

Just my 2 cents.

Those are fairly good points but I am afraid that I will have to disagree. Even if the battle map is not 1:1, we have to keep in mind that units aren't 1:1 either. In some mods, they are abstracted to be as much as 1:10. The valleys are fairly narrow, but, as I have been told by the historians, Japanese vallyes are fairly narrow and incredibly steep. Since they will always be incredibly steep and always on the sides, it ruins their tactical advantage somewhat. It is too difficult to get troops up there to even bother and generally worthless since the enemy is right in front off you. This will give great bonuses to the defender, but thats why you shouldn't fight in valleys. Its generally moot though since most valleys are just wide enough to only have a little bit of the steepest slopes in them (as in the picture shown) and the movement points will be modified to disfavor movement in the forests. Moving through valleys will generally be a bold move since it is confusing, slow going, and defender favored. Generaly, battles will be geared to fight in the open and along roads as was intended by the Samurai. Only the player or a smart/forced AI will make the move into forests. Of course, if the slopes are deemed to sleep, its only a matter of changing a single value in the text files to make the max height lower and thus the steepness less.

Also, The map you made for Sengoku Jidai sounds interesting and I would love to see it:2thumbsup:

[Wild Bill Kelso]

Older photos of Japanese river valleys:
https://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y263/Champon/old%20Japanese%20houses/Hida1.jpg
https://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y263/Champon/old%20Japanese%20houses/chubu1.jpg
https://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y263/Champon/old%20Japanese%20houses/shikoku5.jpg

Japanese hillsides are very steep.. This is why landslides are such a problem after heavy rains!

[NSG]

Is there a map that shows where all the factions will be located?
It would be intresting to see how they are spread out over the map..:coffeenews:

[Revolting Friendship]

NSG:

See post 39 in this thread.

[NSG]

Ah sweet, missed that one.
Thanks

[Duke John]

Since you are using a map that has lots of mountains and deep forests you should have a look at this thread:
https://forums.totalwar.org/vb/showthread.php?p=1122996#post1122996

[Kagemusha]

Thanks DJ!We will look into it.:bow:

[Shamo]

first,best luck for the RNJD team-modders
japan is really mountainous, so there'll be a lot of mountains (^-^), but can we'll be able to pass by these moutains ?, i mean pass by climbing, if not, it'll be too easy to defend, u just built a fort in a valley, put several hundreds soldiers there, and...
SM

[Myrddraal]

Any pics yet :grin:

[Kagemusha]

Soon, my friend,soon.:bow:

[Kagemusha]

Here is RNJ strat map enhanced with M2TW ground textures.What do you guys think?Opinions?

https://img169.imageshack.us/img169/179/untitledhg8.jpg

[Ossie The Great]

very good:duel: :duel: :duel:

[Aturus]

its very nicely done Kage. Does that mean you guys have kicked it up to M2TW, or is it still BI 1.6.

[Kagemusha]

its very nicely done Kage. Does that mean you guys have kicked it up to M2TW, or is it still BI 1.6.

Nope.We just ported the ground textures from M2TW to BI 1.6.Thanks to Taneda we got the information how to do that.:bow:

[Vorian]

Have you done anything with the trees to make them less annoying?? Cause with so many trees, battles are going to be very difficult (I hate RTW forests, totally unrealistic)

[Kagemusha]

Im sorry but that time there were lots of forests in Japan.And those will not be eradicated becouse its annoying to fight in forest.Ofcourse its annoying to fight in forest,becouse you cant see much.You just have to be carefull or choose your ground so you dont have to fight in forest.

[Atterdag]

It looks great anyways.

[Myrddraal]

Looks smashing! Great work...

[Bava]

Wow, looks terrific!

[Vorian]

Im sorry but that time there were lots of forests in Japan.And those will not be eradicated becouse its annoying to fight in forest.Ofcourse its annoying to fight in forest,becouse you cant see much.You just have to be carefull or choose your ground so you dont have to fight in forest.

I wasn't thinking about eradicating them, more like doing something about the trees and make them more realistic. I think there are some mods that have achieved this. (Not sure though)

[Taneda Santôka]

As Duffman says : "OH YEA!" https://youtube.com/watch?v=gmqBDydEG5s&mode=related&search=

[Atterdag]

I wasn't thinking about eradicating them, more like doing something about the trees and make them more realistic. I think there are some mods that have achieved this. (Not sure though)

You mean like removing the insanely high trees?

[Nakamura Lobato]

Taneda-sama,

Adding treacherous peaks and numerous trees makes the battles far more exciting, interesting, and historically accurate. We can always fight battles on barren plains if we so desire, but it is far more challenging to pick our battles carefully based upon terrain, weather, and risk. I like it!

Nakamura

[Vorian]

You mean like removing the insanely high trees?

Not removing them just making them smaller. I remember how much I liked the forests in MTW. RTW forests are just too...alien. Of course if Japan was covered by forests etc, I wouldn't want it to change...I just wonder if the team has made any thoughts on this subject. Maybe a tiny-mod that allows trees to be more realistic.

[Ludens]

Nope.We just ported the ground textures from M2TW to BI 1.6.Thanks to Taneda we got the information how to do that.:bow:
Sorry for asking, but is this legal? It's one thing to use material from R:TW, since to play the mod you have to own the game, but it's quite another to use material from a different game.

[Taneda Santôka]

Thanks for support (sorry)buddy!

[Kagemusha]

Sorry for asking, but is this legal? It's one thing to use material from R:TW, since to play the mod you have to own the game, but it's quite another to use material from a different game.

As far as i know it should be completely legal. Same game company and same publisher. Just as we are using some stuff from STW.Im sure CA will tell us if they have problem with this.

[Taneda Santôka]

And then, if its a problem, I think I'll just have to work on a genuine new set of ground textures, but since Ive been playing alot of M2TW lately, I guess Ill be quite inspired by its beautyfull ground textures... ;)

[Ossie The Great]

I Think the map looks realy good:cowboy: :pleased:

can not wait untill it is released :japan: :viking: :juggle2: :juggle2: :juggle2: :duel: :duel: :duel:


:bow: :bow: :bow: :bow: :bow: :bow: :bow: :bow:

[Ludens]

As far as i know it should be completely legal. Same game company and same publisher. Just as we are using some stuff from STW.
But's that's not the point, is it? It's from a different game. People who play your mod will have bought R:TW, but they don't need to have bought S:TW or M2:TW. In other words, you are distributing elements of SEGA's products without their permission.

[Kagemusha]

But's that's not the point, is it? It's from a different game. People who play your mod will have bought R:TW, but they don't need to have bought S:TW or M2:TW. In other words, you are distributing elements of SEGA's products without their permission.

Well. When we originally started this project. CA had a problem with the original name of the mod and we chanced it. I can assure you that we will not distribute anything without their aproval. For example the Samurai Warlords of MTW have also used elements of STW and they have already made an release of their Mod more then once, without CA having anykind of problems with it.:bow:About the map textures themselves.These are hardly more complicated then for example the MTW avatar you are wearing,so is Org also distributing CA´s game material without Orgahs necessarily bying MTW or RTW for example?

[Ludens]

I can assure you that we will not distribute anything without their aproval. For example the Samurai Warlords of MTW have also used elements of STW and they have already made an release of their Mod more then once, without CA having anykind of problems with it.:bow:About the map textures themselves.These are hardly more complicated then for example the MTW avatar you are wearing,so is Org also distributing CA´s game material without Orgahs necessarily bying MTW or RTW for example?
That makes sense. I am probably being overcautious here.

[Ossie The Great]

Does this mean everything is all right conserning the map and things.
:bow: can not wait untill ran no jidai is realesd:japan:

I know this has been asked a thousand time but do you have any idea when it will bee relesed

[Atterdag]

I guess it has.

Now I'm just waiting for Kage to post more pics of that gorgeous map :2thumbsup:

hinthint

[Ossie The Great]

Kagemusha have you got any more pictures of the map u could post

sorry it is just a beautiful map :bow: :bow: :bow: :bow:

[Kagemusha]

There will be more pics later.Sorry i have been awfully busy in real life.:embarassed:

[Ossie The Great]

There will be more pics later.Sorry i have been awfully busy in real life.:embarassed:

can not wait
:pleased:

[Ossie The Great]

any more pics yet :grin:

[Taneda Santôka]

:bow:

Here are two screenshots, first the layout of the 20 clans in the 86 provinces. Then a quick view of the Shimazu starting territory in Kyushu, giving an idea of the movement range for every 3 month as well as view of finished city and army banners.

https://img412.imageshack.us/img412/7183/factionmapbq0.th.jpg (https://img412.imageshack.us/my.php?image=factionmapbq0.jpg)

https://img83.imageshack.us/img83/7241/kyushuwq3.th.jpg (https://img83.imageshack.us/my.php?image=kyushuwq3.jpg)

[Ossie The Great]

:bow:

Here are two screenshots, first the layout of the 20 clans in the 86 provinces. Then a quick view of the Shimazu starting territory in Kyushu, giving an idea of the movement range for every 3 month as well as view of finished city and army banners.

https://img412.imageshack.us/img412/7183/factionmapbq0.th.jpg (https://img412.imageshack.us/my.php?image=factionmapbq0.jpg)

https://img83.imageshack.us/img83/7241/kyushuwq3.th.jpg (https://img83.imageshack.us/my.php?image=kyushuwq3.jpg)

looking amazing . keep the good work up guys :grin:

[Atterdag]

The running monkey pays tribute to you Taneda

[Kagemusha]

Little sneakpeak on the central Japan:

https://img485.imageshack.us/img485/5971/picwn8.jpg

[Ossie The Great]

The map is looking amazing, one quick question how long did it take to make such and amazing map :bow:
and is the 4 turn a year script working alright ,
Is there anything ( that i am capable to do ) for Ran No Jadai
for I think you will find me a bit more skilled in modding now then 2 months ago :thumbsup:

p.s my 250th post

[Kagemusha]

Thabks Oscar.:bow: To put it short.Long time.:sweatdrop: The map is a result of hard work from multiple people,but the bulk of work goes to BDH,who made the initial map based mostly on satellite photographs of Japan.

[Ossie The Great]

oh, I contacted bdh to see if he wanted to do a map for my narnia total war mod but he said he is retired from modding whitch is a big shame i think he was like the best map maker around,

(off topic question ) hay Kage have u seen my Narnia total war mod i am progressing quite fast

[Kagemusha]

Yep.Ive seen Narnia. :yes: Im happy to see it developing well.My advice is to keep the aims under control at the start and then you can build the mod up with ease later as you get on certain stage with development.So one bit at the time.:bow:

[Ossie The Great]

Yep.Ive seen Narnia. :yes: Im happy to see it developing well.My advice is to keep the aims under control at the start and then you can build the mod up with ease later as you get on certain stage with development.So one bit at the time.:bow:

thanks for your advice , i am doing what you said my main aim at the momement is the campain map and faction symbols .
anyway sorry for the off topic question

[Taneda Santôka]

New map, new pawns, new faction icons, new advisor (or very old..), new interface, new, new, new, here it is, the new look of RTW with the RNJ effect!
NEW
https://img69.imageshack.us/img69/61/uivfv7.jpg

[Dermeister]

Dudes seriusly , looking good im havign freakign dreams of playign this lol hope everything is going good even if its slowly,cant wait to get me hands on this master peice :) you guys planing to do 1 for M2tw after your done with this?

[Dexter]

Whis To Play Play Play Play Play Play Play Play Play Play Play Play Play Play Play Play Play Play Play Play Play Play Play Play Play Play Play Play Play Play Play Play Play Play Play Play Play Play Play Play Play Play Play Play Play Play Play Play Play Play Play Play Play Play Play Play Play Play Play Play Play Play Play Play Play Play Play Play Play Play Play Play Play Play Play Play Play Play Play Play Play Play Play Play Play Play Play Play Play Play Play Play Play Play Play Play Play Play Play Play Play Play Play Play Play Play Play Play Play Play Play Play Play Play Play Play Play Play Play Play Play Play Play Play Play Play Play Play Play Play Play Play Play Play Play Play Play Play Play Play Play Play Play Play Play Play Play Play Play Play Play Play Play Play Play Play Play Play Play Play Play Play Play Play Play Play Play Play This Mod !!!

[Ossie The Great]

I must truly amit this mod looks the best mod ever.


p.s any chance of getting it released before my birthday ( 12th may )

sorry i know that is a stupid question

[Dermeister]

i got a funny feelign it be b4 that looks pretty finished i might be rong i dunno just a gut feeling

[Csargo]

Looks very good!

[Atterdag]

B e a u tiful!

[Myrddraal]

I'm really glad to see this map working well.

Have you considered using climates to get the mountain texture working under the trees?

[Ijontichy Watanabe]

Looks really greaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaatttt!!!

Can't wait toplay it, thank you all

[Kagemusha]

Just a small sneak peak of the map,to show the snow line of the map. Big thanks to Myrddraal for helping us out once again.:smash:

https://img237.imageshack.us/img237/5162/80746576yb9.gif

[Wundai]

Life! Life! There is life in the guild :D!

[Eufarius]

Good lord there is!

[Myrddraal]

:grin:

[Arioh]

A thousand years have passed,
Armageddon hasn't come...
Only the cries of a child,
echoes in the dark...:thrasher:
(Candlemass)
keep up or i will summon Thee

[Eufarius]

ehhh what^ ? and good Lord life its like you know...

[Kazuma]

Just a small sneak peak of the map,to show the snow line of the map.


What's all the snow doing there?

[Flaxmac]

Hello,
I want to say thank you for the effort that has gone into making this mod.
I am a shogun fanatic, almost to the point of Divorce, Ahhh.... Why cant she understand that I have to unite Japan as one?

Anyway, I tried MTW, not really impressed, maybe because there were no Samurais there. But it did give the option to play Samurai Warlords, which was great, but I still felt something lacking.

I read about Ran No Jidai and decided I must buy RTW, after playing this, I am filled with optimism at what you are going to deliver for the MOD.

What would make the game more interesting for me would be to have it always be something different. With Shogun, it did start to get boring, after you knew how to just slaughter everyone completely.

ie: In an Iron Province, build up the Armourer then produce Heavy Cav, whilst also producing Geisha in another Province. Who could stand against me? No one thats who.... So even switching the families each game and then the year period that I was playing, still made it easy to win.

But what I like in Rome is that you cant attack the other roman families until a certain period, that would be great in Ran No Jidai. Based on close family ties, alliances etc... But lets say that those 2 or 3 clans that you can't attack are different each Game you play, which would force you in certain circumstances to direct your movements on the campaign map in a completely new direction.

Anyway, Why am I writing in this thread?
I want to know when the mod will be ready?
I want to play.

[Dogon]

Are we there yet?

[Ferret]

wow nice, how close are you to finishing now?

[Hound of Ulster]

I am waiting for this one with baited breath.

[Ossie The Great]

wow nice, how close are you to finishing now?

that marks the 10000th time this question has been asked...lol

Sorry for begin harsh but i guess kagemusha must get a little anyoed about this question getting asked so much,

P.S I Will give u what i can guess the answer will be is
when it is done.

unless kage suprises us all and says the 25 december : hint, hint

[Shautora]

so i have a question, a real one. when the map is finished will it include the korean peninsula? bc that could make for some interesting diplomatic realtions. and also, if not, will hokkaidou b included? bc in the last map i saw it wasnt, which is understandable bc it wasnt fully annexed till the 19th century or o, but it gives a nice completeness to the map.

[Eufarius]

@ above poster nope, I'm pretty sure Kage just wants the Japanese Islands.

(maybe and expansion?):inquisitive:

[Shautora]

that makes sense. but will hokkaidou be included? because it give the map a nice completeness to it. also, iirc there was a great deal of trade between the japanese and the ainu, as well as skirmishing. plus the ainu are really cool^^

[Myrddraal]

Sorry Shautora, but the map is limited by an unfortunate bug that occurs with large expanses of sea. If you look at the current map you'll see that the northernmost parts of Japan (sorry my Japanese geography is non-existent) are not included in the map.

This isn't by choice but necessary to have the map working. There won't be any changes to the basic layout of the map to my knowledge.

[Shautora]

bug lame!:thumbsdown:

[Taneda Santôka]

https://img521.imageshack.us/img521/1707/clansmonsqd2.png

https://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y263/Champon/ShogunMapwithlandbridges.jpg

https://img373.imageshack.us/img373/9377/15er1.jpg



Kyushu

Shimazu
Otomo


Shikoku



Chosokabe

Shikoku is a spiritual heartland to some but it is an ambition to the twenty year old Chosokabe Kunichika. His family claims decendancy from Qin Shi Huang the first emperor of China. The family has been on Shikoku for centuries, rulling from their magnificient mountain stronghold Okatoyo.

Okatoyo is already a defensive legend, having never fallen to a besieging enemy despite numerous attempts in history. Tragically it was also where the Chosokabe clan nearly met its end in 1509 Chosokabe Kanetsugu won a heroic victory only to perish with his entire family in a fire. Kunichika his son is already a living legend in an attempt to recreat his clan.

In the custody of Ichijô Fusaie since he was 4 years old, Kunichika was the only male survivor of his once proud clan. Fusaie was a good man who liked a drink, and once he offered the young Kunichika help in taking back Okatoyo if the youngster leaped of the side of his castle. Kunichika has flown of the ramparts by the time the old man could even react, an act which was to become legendary and earn the affection of his men who considered his survival an omen. By 1518 the castle was his, and was rebuilt into an even more magnificient fortress than before.
Now the young Kunichika wants to avenge the death of his father and exterminate the Motoyama. Shikoku is divided with he Ichijyo clan on the west coast, the Motoyama clan on the north coast, Chosokabe clan and Yamada clan in the centre and Aki clan on the east coast.
First the unity of Tosa must be achieved. The Ichijyo deserve his unbending gratitude and the Aki should be little more than a nuisance. The situation on Honshu is insecure, but it also ensures that it will be some time before anyone interferes in affairs on Shikoku. In the meantime a clean and ruthless revenge can be planned against the Motoyama and anyone that would stand in the way. Or perhaps forgiveness is in order and harmony should prove the superior road?



Miyoshi

Times are changing. The Miyoshi have long served the Hosokawa family as vassals. However their overlord’s greed and internal division have presented opportunities. Opportunities never present before, and unthinkable before…. Now in times of chaos, where the strong have shown pitiful weakness, the lord Buddha’s teachings must be followed, it is finally time to make the family the most outward circle!

The Hosokawa’s ambitions have cost the life of Miyoshi Yukinaga. He had capture Imperial Kyoto three times for the Hosokawa, who could not stay unified to consolidate his brilliant victories. The third time, when the rat Hosokawa Takakuni retreated from Kyoto without informing Yukinaga, the family’s beloved father was forced upon pain of honor to commit suicide. It is not the first time that the Hosokawa used the Miyoshi as human shields!

The opportunity is now! One of the most magnificent fortresses in Japan was completed under the close eye of Yukinaga in 1521. Built for the Hosokawa’s ambitions, the magnificent fortress of Saki in Settsu, nicknamed the "Mandokoro," commands access to Hokkaido and the Miyoshi’s native land of Awa across the strait. More strategically, it also commands all eastern approaches to Kyoto, giving the Miyoshi a very solid position indeed.

The Hosokawa and their puppets Ashikaga don’t suspect anything. Choose the right moment, and your loyal retainers, which include graduates of the famous archery school in Awa, which was original built by the Minamoto to train bird hunters. The Miyoshi’s famous Ashigaru Archers, capable of firing accurately up to twelve arrows in ten seconds to cut down any audacious enemies foolish enough to charge them in the open.

The Miyoshi, on the verge of rupturing their vassalage to Hosokawa, have been training a sizeable army in Awa, under the personal supervision of Miyoshi Motonaga, ready to put authority to the imminent split. Long-term followers of the ways of Lord Buddha, tracing the family back to the original Buddhist patrons of Japan, the Miyoshi have always invested their Awa profits in support of the monasteries. Now, in this new immoral era, when many see the monasteries as pawns in a larger political game, Miyoshi Motonaga has vowed not to abandon the sacred temples, as without them Japan will never preserve its golden traditions through this bloody era!



Southern Honshu


Amako

Mori
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Ôe Hiromoto (1148-1225) was a reputed Minamoto hero, who commanded armies to establish the institution of Shogun. He also founded the Mori clan, and their birthright is the protection of the bushido, of the teachings of the lord Buddha and of the cultivation of Japanese tradition. The Mori have great honour, being the hereditary overlords of most of Eastern Japan from their traditional home of Aki and their second home of Hiroshima. In the 15th Century before the outbreak of the Onin Wars the Mori family served as Jito, or Marshals of the Shogunate, with the unquestionable duty of protecting the Shogun and Kyoto.

When the Onin war broke out they reluctantly supported the Ouchi only to have the Ouchi use the Mori as shields against their rival Amako. For the last 50 years this issue has been a point of bitterness in the noble hearts of the Mori, although the Mori family is the strongest in the region the Ouchi and Amako cannot be absorbed at the same time, although both clans should be made vassals of the Mori.

The times are dark, ambitious peasants title themselves daymio, commanding large peasant armies in an attempt to march on Kyoto and declare themselves Shogun for a day. Emissaries claiming to be from the Shogun have appeared re-appointing the Mori as Jito, but every time it became obvious that the Shogun does not have any word in his appointments.

What will these ambitious upstarts resort to in their quest for power? What new ways of plotting and assassination will they attempt in their drive for cheap self-glorification? What new weapons will they give their honour-less peasantry to kill the Mori samurai from a distance safe from legendary reputations and skill. The Mori must make it a priority to uphold tradition, and to not let the necessities of war ravage all that is sacred. The Sohei must be aided, already the Onin war tried to spill into the temples, and the Mori were the first to help. Motonari is young for a Daymio, but he already helped his father drive the Takeda out of the East when he was only 15. His trials have resulted in early maturity, and he has already acquired the reputation of a legendary lord and remains an undefeated warrior. In the house of Mori is embedded the honour of carrying the banner of tradition, and this banner must never fall especially to the masses of honour-less sheriffs calling themselves daymio, who would even ally with foreigners if it would allow them to control Japan.


Ouchi

Everyone in Japan knows the Ouchi and their honour and there is no need to defend its reputation. Their holdings are extensive stretching the six provinces of Aki, Chikuzen, Buzen, Nagato, Suo and Ishimi. Their enemies in this time of chaos and severance with the past are even more numerous.

Since the first Ouchi holding were established in Suo and Nagato over 5 centuries before by Ouchi Morifusa, loyal service and clever management have continued to expand the clan’s honour and influence. These expansions from the capital of Yamaguchi, especially into Honshu have created determined enemies in the Amako.

Now the venerable Ouchi Yoshioki, a Kanrei who successfully marched on Kyoto in 1508 to uphold the Shogunate, has exploited his formal office successfully in expanding the Ouchi holdings in Kyushu and Honshu. Now he is waiting for an opportunity to finish the business he started and reduce the fortress of Gosan-Toda that keeps the Amako as a significant regional power. Amako Tsunehisa has undeservedly become known as a classic rival to him, managing to challenge the Ouchi expansions successfully. The business with them would have been concluded were it not for the rebellion of the Mori and their siding with Amako in the decisive hour.
Meanwhile he has managed to make enemies with the Otomo who wait for the Ouchi daimyo to make his final trip to the west before they challenge the Ouchi’s Kyushu influence. The holdings are extensive, but the forces are overcommitted. The Ouchi have a strong position, but it requires an exceptional leader willing to sacrifice to consolidate their position and survive the current crisis.
Can Yoshioki or his son Yoshitaka manage to defeat simultaneously these numerous enemies and establish themselves as the unchallenged masters of Western Japan ? Will they fail and join many other families fading into oblivion? Or perhaps the support of old institutions is no longer wise and their ambitions should be greater?


Urakami


Central Honshu


Asakura

Asai

The massive cast iron gates of Odani castle first opened just three years ago. Behind them, the Asai, descendant from noble family of Ôgimachi, famous heroes of the Minamoto era, plan strategies to regain their former honour which they owe to their venerated ancestors, while overlooking the Omi heartland of Japan and keeping a watchful eye on all movement in Kyoto. Nothing less is expected of this large and talented family.

Already in 1516, Asai Sukemasa broke his link with the Kyôgoku, an underclass family they had been forced to serve after unjustly falling suspect to the Shogun during the Onin wars. The same year the Rokkaku land-merchant dogs tried to raise an army to stop the Asai’s independence, only to flee from the field at the mere site of the proficiency of Asai’s new model army.

From their impregnable lair of Odani the Asai control the heartland of Japan. In the best position to guard Kyoto from the ambitious, they can also guard the weak Shogun’s willpower before it falls to the greedy likes of the Hosokawa.

The Asai are reputed for the beauty of their daughters, with frequent suitors knocking at the gates of Odani, diplomacy forgotten, eager to negotiate terms of marriage. A refined and traditional family, Sukemasa himself is famous from East to West for his poetry and flower arrangement, as is clear from the respect which his fellow lords accord him. As he is artistic, he is innovative in war, the new model army which he created is an emblem of discipline and trained tenacity, but other daymio have understood the value of trained ashigaru and are preparing to repave an even ground.

Despite a desire for peace, and honourable defense of the status quo, the Asai cannot exclude total war as an option. Their Omi home has many ambitious eyes fixed on it, and its central location guarantees many over-eager neighbors. The extensive military alliance with the Asakura is conditional on the protection of Kyoto, and their actions have seemed to show that they can be trusted. If both of the Asakura and Asai armies remain the strongest in the region, then the balance should be sufficient to maintain peace, despite a clear, crimson history of blood between several of the allies’ retainer families. With every day that goes Japan’s unity becomes only a hazier memory, which is the way that the Asai wind should blow? Strike first, or wait to be struck? Seize Kyoto and witness a sea of enemies, or pick off one-by-one the ones that attempt to control the capital?



Ashikaga

Dogs make better retainers. The Shogun is always chosen by a conspiracy of nature therefore any force that challenges the Shogun’s authority is unnatural and must be removed without a trace. The Ashikaga, descendants of the great and talented Minamoto Yoshiie, filled the void of the Hojo’s weakness when Ashikaga Takauji became Shogun in 1336. But the weakness of Japan, where the ambitious fail to understand the absolute authority of the Shogun continued to find its way between the cracks. Dishonourable, disloyal insolence brought about the Onin wars. So much personal ambition in the provinces made the Ashikaga more and more distant in their Kyoto capital. Even the noble and honourable generals they appointed, like the Takeda or the Mori eventually stopped attending the councils.

Now it is 1524. The situation is dire. Many vie for a power they cannot have. Only the Ashikaga have been chosen by nature, only their name was conspired to rule. Loyal retainers like the Mori or the Hosokawa can be trusted to never look away. The Asai can be trusted to protect the gates of Kyoto. The Ashikaga’s military is mediocre comparing to some of the upstarts, and the taxes reaching Kyoto are negligible. There are many that understand that only the Shogun can be at the center. They can be trusted. Now it is necessary to marshal all trustable retainers and to eradicate the ambitious. The Hojo, although distant, must be terminated, their ambitions to plunder Japan again must be checked. The Hosokawa are still Kanrei. They can marshal the shogun’s decree to raise armies. They have, however, an unbecoming attitude. Just because the Ashikaga’s decree raised them from mere servitude does not mean that they can act as they please.

In 1521 when Ashikaga Yoshizumi became Shogun it was the Hosokawa, which nominated him. His brothers however are ambitious. They have more of a right than others to question an appointment, but they should still bow to the waist in his majesty’s presence. It is unfortunate that the annual councils are now empty, and only the Hosokawa can still be relied upon. Such good families as the Mori, Date or Uesugi would be welcome to camp a summer in Kyoto. They follow the bushido; they can understand the authority of the Ashikaga, and join the Shogun in his fight to preserve his right to rule.


Hosokawa

Some would call it profit made from war. They are themselves ambitious vultures. The Hosokawa have brought stability to Central Japan, they have protected the weak and incompetent Ashikaga. Ashikaga Shogun? It is the Hosokawa who have more lineage than them anyways. The title Kanrei is a necessary lie. It is only the Hosokawa who are able to command the will of the Shogun, a will the last few Shogun have not even paused to determine for themselves. How can a will-less lord rule the country in time of crisis?

It is, delicate, even very delicate politically to depose a Shogun for another. The Hosokawa have used their status of Kanrei to thrice depose the weak offspring of the Ashikaga sheep. There is only one principle that must be followed in such circumstances, use all means, any means to demolish any snaring opposition and bend it to the “will of the Shogun.” Those who pretend to believe in it always have an unclear agenda. All must again bow to the Shogun, and it is only the Hosokawa that are able to wield the authority, and it is only they that know what will and command is.

The taxes of Kyoto, Shinano and taxes from the highways to Kyoto can furnish the Hosokawa’s anvil of will. Every victory whether in the enemies’ sight or in their sleep makes the fists stronger. There are many who serve the Hosokawa who must be rewarded for their efforts; this one principle must be kept. But they must never be trusted. The present armies rely on ambitious samurai, they must always be in the front line, and must be kept in constant battle. If they sit in the court the shrines or the gardens they will plot. As Kanrei the imperial standing armies, and the edict of raising them is at Hosokawa Takanuki’s disposal. Should any head stick out in ambition or arrogance it must be cut off, including of the Ashikaga themselves.

When the time is right, the changing climate is appropriate, new ways of thinking must be introduced and old one outlawed. All who refuse to bow must be beaten at the knees until they can no longer stand!


Oda
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To really learn to trust yourself you should trust and rely on no one else. Look at them! An emperor deposed, betrayal more common loyalty, backstabbing more common than challenges to duels….. despicable. The Shiba thought the Oda weak and now Owari has new masters. Now, not even the family knows trust within. Now Nobuhide, separated by a vow of extermination from the remainder of his family looks out from Shibota castle’s ramparts.

Shibota castle is a small piece of turf to base an empire on. No, the Iwakura are pretentious and have to be removed. The neighbouring Matsudaira need to be kept in check, but the focus should first remain the destruction of the remainder of the family. The Kiyosu and Iwakura factions now compete for dominance without limitation, without restriction. No clemency can be granted, only death and dishonour can
achieve complete domination of Owari. Currently the Kiyosu control the center of the province, but there forces are weaker. The main support of the retainers has gone with the Iwakura. The Kiyosu have been forced to rely on peasants and refugees, an easy task after the Iwakura have raided many villages for supplies.

Such is the state of the heartland that no one really notices this internal feud. The Oda are considered weak, with no family history, therefore they are ignored. Someday they will pay the price, and will be made to realise the weaknesses of their loyalties and traditions. Once you have killed your cousins, brothers, sisters and father, a freedom is found, and no inhibitions remain. Choosing retainers that are drawn to your power and kept close by fear of it is essential. Never let any who consider themselves well born close, as they are likely to have a false complex of supremacy towards you.

Inventing the Taira lineage for the Kiyosu was a good move, in the meantime, the scholar who so well fabricated the ancesty has been executed and his library burned. His killers are now headless. The Kiyosu Oda will ascend like a phoenix on blood and fire. The darker and more intense these elements, the faster their rise will be.

It is essential to concentrate on the elimination of the remaining vestiges of this dysfunctional family, then to use the inertia and the army to look more ambitiously at the local situation. Opportunities for a professional army more afraid of its commander than an enemy are rife, and the plains of the heartland will prove fertile ground for fire, blood and conquest by the Oda!


Imagawa
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Those who live by the sword die by the sword. The Imagawa family has turned Suruga province into one of the largest trade centers outside of Kyoto. Although not descendants of the highest nobility, the Imagawa have acquired great honour from a line of the ablest administrators in the land. Today their power is more modern, rooted in the coin, the trained peasant, and the careful word.

Suruga’s strong merchant class has enjoyed great prosperity under the Imagawa’s openness and fair taxation policies. When permitted to speak, the traders have expressed concern by the current tightening of Japan and the constant increase of taxes, and the constant rise of new daymio adding new tolls, duties and highway fares. These profiteers are willing to invest in the protection of their interests, and will willingly give a long term loan to furnish an army who would march against such policies. Takeda Nobutora the resource rich north, for instance, has began raising the prices on Kai’s minerals and horses, while the despicable Hosokawa are channeling the Imperial taxes into their own coffers.

War however, is a slow method of consolidation. The family’s current head, Imagawa Ujichita has had the privilege of learning from the Power of the Land teachings, having spend much of his youth in the Way of the Land monastery. He has so far used his understanding to enhance the natural benefit of the coast, making the Tokai shore an open port to money, weapons, merchants, and most importantly vital political information.

Politics, as much as the land, is the source of power. Ujichita has known to keep the faith of the monasteries, who are also willing to support him. Suruga’s Sohei consider him their temple walls. The Shogun’s father owes the Imagawa a great debt, as on two occasions he sheltered with them when there was no other shelter, soon should come the time to collect on this debt.

If the shogun cannot unify Japan, then Japan should stay dis-unified! It is dangerous that the ambitious Hojo are gaining an upper hand on the Uesugi. It is time to set them on the Takeda. The Imagawa’s Shinobi are already seeding the necessary rumors to create the favorable atmosphere of strife.

If politics and diplomacy are, as often, insufficient, then the Imagawa should not shun the support of certain other groups which are in their favour. The open minded policies in Suruga, have allowed a favorable harbor to groups of “night diplomats,” who see the Imagawa as worthy patrons. These groups, despite their occult status, can be called upon at any time by the Imagawa to “pass through walls like black poisonous water” and “wash away political logjams.” These masters should be used sparingly, as they are frighteningly effective. The very presence of their schools and training grounds in Suruga should be openly denied, and the accusers should be granted the honour of not waking up to their false accusations.

The Imagawa must create opportunities to expand their influence, at whatever the cost. They are certainly no less deserving than all those that would approach the present chaos and disunity with swords drawn. And when the sword does fall, it should fall on the soft neck of a demoralized and dishonoured enemy, this should make the Imagawa’s blade last longer!



Northern Honshu


Takeda
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Like dogs swarming a tiger. Few families can look the Takeda in the eye, they just look to bite off piece by piece. The established traditional overlords of the ore-rich province of Kai the Takeda trace their ancestry directly to the Minamoto. In their Kofuchu Castle of Maruyama-Jo hangs an inscription from two centuries prior that entrusted the Takeda as the lord-high-protectors of Bushido, charged with keeping pure the way of the Samurai. This is the place of the Takeda family, at the center of the aristocracy and at the center of Japan.

The world is not like a Shogi board, the central position is not always to the greatest advantage. The excessive violence and vulgar transgressions of code and ethics during the Onin Wars have opened the gates of hell. Petty retainers in the mountains North of Kai have turned to aggressive banditry during the last one hundred years, they slandered the Bushido by pronouncing themselves Daymio, and now fail to understand their place and pay regular homage to the Takeda. A service should be paid to them and their heads severed and impaled before they rock the boat further with their blasphemous dishonour.

To the south the family’s old friends, the Imagawa, and the Hojo have broken the traditional balanced coexistence between the clan. The Takeda defended both of them in the last century against against rebellious retainers. Now the Hojo have been pushing their frontiers and war has been forced. A full decisive confrontation of armies must be avoided, lest destructions buries the two most deserved families in the region on the same patch of grass; Both are fully aware that they mutually benefit from the traditional balance of power between them.

The current lord Takeda Nobutora had to fight his uncle when he assumed power in 1507, who was supported by the ambitious Hojo. Only five years ago did he finally manage to unite all of Kai under one banner again. The fight with Hojo has never ceased since this civil war. After their cavalry obliterated the western upstart, self-titled daymio, Fukushima Masahige, Hojo adopted his son and made him a full general.

To the northeast the Takeda’s traditional enemy the Uesugi are consolidating territory and now control a large amount of land. They will never forget that the Takeda stopped their rebellious ambitions in 1415, and the hatred of the families has lasted the length of the century. Nobutara’s grandfather Nobumasa killed three Uesugi family members in battle fifty years ago, and their hair still decorates the banner of the famous red-armoured house bodyguard cavalry.

The situation is dire. Surrounded by hostiles on all sides the Takeda must find trustworthy allies among a pack of wolves. Their armies are the most powerful on the field of battle. The Takeda’s neighbors know this, and will wait behind castle walls until the back is exposed. The forces must be either split to cover the North and the South adequately or they will never have sufficient time to lay sieges and consolidate gains.

Shinano, the most worthy objective, has traditionally bred the heavier horses, which form the core of the Takeda cavalry, and now the minor daymio controlling this important refuse to supply the Takeda clan fresh mounts at a fair price having taken control of stables which traditionally were founded by the overlords of Kai. The ample province of Shinano with its fertile valleys and rich mountains should be a target as it could present an opportunity to raise a sufficient army to defeat multiple opponents.

For centuries the clan has kept a council of the 24 finest samurai retainers. In fromer centuries, these were poets, artists and statesmen. Now they must be warriors and strategists. At their command a divine hammer: The cavalry of Kai is unmatched in open battle, able to break any infantry formation on flat ground, they are also exceptionally adept in maneuvering and fighting in hill country. Artists at showering the opponents with accurate arrow fire, they’re brave charges paralyzes with fear before trampling anyone foolish enough to stand their ground. The Takeda family’s ample host of retainer families provides an army of highly trained samurai, which allow for several division of some of the finest foot and horse units in Japan. Albeit some advisers, including many of the 24 generals of Kai, have pleaded with Takeda Nobutara to start thinking of quantity as superior quality was not enough to defeat the many dogs surrounding the Takeda tiger on all sides.


Uesugi
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“More than those who hate you, more than all your enemies, an undisciplined mind does greater harm. One who conquers himself is greater than another who conquers a thousand times a thousand on the battlefield.” These words of the Lord Buddha’s are an ancient family moto of the honourable Uesugi. This ancient family that has for ages served as a banner of the Bushido the Uesugi are now at a fog-covered crossroads between life and death. Commanding an army with tradition, and a people who for centuries have enjoyed their beneficial overlordship, and entitlement and recognition from the Shogun, the Uesugi have too many assets.

Now Hojo has laid siege to Edo, and the family is so divided that they cannot mobilize their fractioned forces or instruct their confused retainers to a satisfactory defense. These timeless rulers of the Kanto region and Echigo province are beginning to be washed away in a shifting tide. A warrior must now rise again from the sinews of the Uesugi and reclaim the clan’s military reputation.

The family is founded on a strong traditional and spiritual foundation. Believing in the balance of nature and ancient Buddhist teachings, they respect their natural link to the Ashikaga and interpret the chaos in Japan as a result of the lack of understanding of Japanese essence and tradition.

Of late animals such as the Hojo or the Takeda have tried to feed on the Uesugi’s disunity. In their Yin-yang of indecision the family has polarized along two branches the Ogigayatsu-Uesugi and Yamanouchi-Uesugi. The internal chaos in the family must be quickly resolved or these traitors will dishonor the lands of the Uesugi’s traditional domain.

How could such disunity have emerged? Has the family been too sensible to these treacherous times? If united the military potential of the Uesugi could unify all of the dissidents under the banner of the Ashikaga. Trusted generals, the service of many exceptional samurai, and a long standing weapons and amour tradition would all serve well to make the Uesugi the most formidable overlords in the region. The question remains, which of the many heirs aspiring can unite the family and take the defense into the Hojo and Takeda domains? And furthermore, can he do it without shedding the sacred blood of his talented kin?


Hojo
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The best offense, is an impenetrable defense. These words are engraved on the hilt of the sword which Ujistuna inherited last year from his dying father.

His father’s deeds are worthy of the Hojo name. Ise Sôun, at the time of his peacefully demise, rose from the rank of an Imagawa retainer to carve an impressive and rich domain around Suruga and Ize. Now, Hojo Ujistsuna having risen to power adopted the name of the legendary Imperial family. The name reflects his father’s life long fascination with the Hojo, and his mother’s direct descendants from this royal line.

The provinces of Ize and Suruga are exceptionally rich, and exceptionally fortified. The family has already become famous for their exceptionally liberal economic policies, and for lowering taxes to record low 40% in their domain. This has attracted many prosperous merchants to make their base in the Hojo lands, further enticed by Suruga and Ize’s exceptional defenses. Their frontiers are lined with forts, most of which are within signaling distances of each other. The forts were expanded in the previous century at the time of the Onin wars and provide exceptional protection in an otherwise featureless landscape.

The economic schemes of Sôun were very successful, and the chance to expand the fortresses is large. Wooden forts are planned to make way for stone castles, and the main interior fortresses of the Hojo will become some of the most formidable in Japan. The key to the region however, is Edo. The Hojo’s forces have been besieging it for 3 months, and the city’s capture would consolidate the Hojo’s power as the most powerful force in the entire region.

The region is filled with powerful rivals, many of them in reputation rather than actual danger. Although they have maintained traditionally good relations with the Imagawa, they have almost outgrown their former retainers. The Takeda have been usually at war with the Hojo over the past 25 years and have proved a difficult enemy in an open field of battle. The Uesugi to the north, like the Imagawa to the West are embroiled in constant infighting. With a powerful domain as a base the Hojo can restore peace to their troubled lands, and from there…..

The limits of the Hojo are boundless, based on an alliance of economy, a fabled patronage of the temples, and an exceptional defensive position the Hojo can rise to surpass even the original Hojo themselves.


Satomi

Terrain is only a major advantage if one can be patient enough to stand their ground as long as is needed. Awa province offers the Satomi a major advantage. A peninsula, it is easily defendable and easy to administer. Easy at first glance perhaps…. Daunting at best as the dark shadow of the upstart Hojo falls on our lands. Already they are mingling in Satomi affairs. A Hojo spy was executed recently; the road to war is inevitable. The clan elders must choose, whether to defend the Satomi lands at the border or whether to defend them in Hojo territory.
Nevertheless, the Boso peninsula has been the domain of the Satomi for two centuries now, this ancient and traditional family tracing their loyal service to the emperor back to heroic deeds of their ancestor Nitta Yoshishige in imperial service. Conservative defenders of imperial Japan they have decided to devote themselves from keeping the chaos out of Awa, and achieving this honourably. The Hojo pretenders therefore can never be considered trustworthy, or even worthy allies. If the Satomi fail to check their territorial expansion, even the narrow passage to Boso will not hold back these ambitious pretenders.
Satomi Sanetaka and his son Yoshitaka are both honourable family men. They want to see Japan restored to the morale and hierarchical order of old. They want peace in the land, and have declared a vendetta against anyone who seeks to disrupt that peace. One advantage that the Satomi exhibit, is the significant economic gain from the maritime trade that they have managed to lure with their administrative successes. For ten years now they have opened their ports to Chinese merchants bringing much needed economic luxuries. The Satomi also possess a navy of 20 ships, which has been granted to their administration by the emperor. The road will be long and dark, but diplomacy, economics and administration could propel the Satomi into a significant strategic position.



Date

Few Daymio are as rooted to their land as the 36 year old Date Tanemune, and from such an ample land can grow the strongest and greatest tree. Sensing the beginning of strife, the Shogun Ashikaga awarded the Date title of Shugo of Mutsu two years ago, giving them rule of one of the greatest and most fertile provinces in all of Japan in the name of the Emperor.

This act justifies the Date with the mandate to be the rulers of all of northern Japan between the Uesugi, their traditional allies, and the sea. Many small and ambitious creatures have declared themselves daymio, and, like those Hatekayama family swine-herders, they must be submitted or eliminated.

The farm income generated from the Date’s large holdings will be needed by most of Japan in this time when trade networks and economic systems begin to fail. Others will seek to augment the depopulation of their farms and towns by purchasing from the Date at an advantage. The land which has been held by the Date for 4 centuries is protected by a large network of powerful castles, and interconnected with a relatively highly developed and sophisticated farming system to exploit the fertility of its valleys.

A poem composed by Tanemune’s reputed grandfather begins “When inner peace is achieved the wind stops blowing unrest, the stream of life no longer renders cold change….” The Date admire peace, but cultivate their ability to destroy all those who would disrupt its natural flow. They believe that they must preserve their region to avoid the man-made tempests, which have begun engulfing the rest of Japan.

The Date’s traditional military machine is famous and feared. Although not large, it was undefeated in the conflicts of the last century. They have unlike other military rulers, a small standing dedicated force. Each retainer family contributes several of their bravest to form a force of crack foot units, depicted in murals as masters of the traditional Naginata, which devote themselves to the art of severing trouble’s head before it rears. The family also has a tradition of an archery school in Misawa, whose art has since the Gempei wars been extended to commoners as well. The Date must use their many attributes, and the exceptional tradition of the pursuit of excellence that runs in the family, to maintain peace, even outside of their domains if necessary!


Mogami

The Shogun no longer has authority, Kyoto no longer matters. All titles and traditions are now political tools of backroom serpents such as the Hosokawa. The Mogami must not recognize these false privileges granted to the arrogant Date or to the self-righteous Uesugi their neighbors. The situation is precarious.

The Daymio Yoshimori is three years old, appointed when Mogami Yoshiharu died without and heir. Some would take this as a pretext to strip the Mogami of their holdings for personal gain, or to annex their lands to enhance their fiefs.

The Mogami’s lands are more remote to the rest of Japan, and therefore populated with many independent farmers of a more rugged nature then their western cousins. These men, of the East are not as familiar with fear as other central farmers in Japan, and they train themselves in self defense to a level where they are skilled Bushi. Too good at military craft to be titled mere Ashigaru, the Mogami Militia are ready to defend the laissez-faire attitude of their Mogami overlords.

Independence is an unrecognized term in modern Japan, but to the Mogami in their remote territories it’s a political reality worth defending. Optimally, it is important to co-operate with other Daymio who would not influence this sphere of non-dependence that the Mogami have recently come to enjoy. It is therefore imperative to sever the head from the body of any who would have an idea to impose limits. Japan is changing, and the Mogami are ready more than anybody to embrace change and use it to their full advantage.

[Myrddraal]

Wow, nice stuff.

[Squid]

Awesome stuff, really looking to being able to play it.

[thebigbossnahhh]

Here is RNJ strat map enhanced with M2TW ground textures.What do you guys think?Opinions?

https://img169.imageshack.us/img169/179/untitledhg8.jpg

Gnad pumping stuff, I can't wait! :2thumbsup:

[antisocialmunky]

Neat, RNJ would look so good in M2TW. ^_^

Any strategic icons?

[Taneda Santôka]

It's only still M2TW-inspired textures............ What do you mean by strat icons?

[antisocialmunky]

O, the FM, general, spy, diplomat, or assassin.

[aimlesswanderer]

Oh yeah, it looks gooood! It's gonna be abushes r us unless you have piles of spies!

[Myrddraal]

It looks that way. It'll give some real use to watchtowers and spies.

[Taneda Santôka]

O, the FM, general, spy, diplomat, or assassin.

Those?:sweatdrop:
https://img242.imageshack.us/img242/8168/diplomatzg2.jpg
https://img79.imageshack.us/img79/6296/ninjadoql6.jpg
https://img216.imageshack.us/img216/4162/kusalc9.jpg

For UI, captain and flags........... :bow:
https://img69.imageshack.us/img69/61/uivfv7.jpg

[antisocialmunky]

Neat. I bet it was tempting to make Kaiju stratmap icons liked we joked about back in the day. ^_^

[Wundai]

lol that diplomat still has my created pose :laugh4: I thought Seiji turned it into something else

[Taneda Santôka]

Hmmmmmmm..... no, that's mine poor soul! Muwahahahaha, created long before the idea of you existing ever existed,Muwahahahaha.
Seriously, it's my first diplomat pose, posted august 2006 (http://www.twcenter.net/forums/showthread.php?t=33722&page=34)

[thebigbossnahhh]

Hello,

But what I like in Rome is that you cant attack the other roman families until a certain period, that would be great in Ran No Jidai. Based on close family ties, alliances etc... But lets say that those 2 or 3 clans that you can't attack are different each Game you play, which would force you in certain circumstances to direct your movements on the campaign map in a completely new direction.


I asked this question in the Idea Bank and apparently there is no SPQR Faction at Kyoto, so the answer of the Roman Families is no i'm afraid, plus they've reached the Faction Limit of 20.

But still this game promises to be a Mod award winner. :yes: :2thumbsup:

[thebigbossnahhh]

https://img216.imageshack.us/img216/4162/kusalc9.jpg

Madonna's Strike a Pose! Comes into my head all the time seeing this. :laugh4: :clown:

[antisocialmunky]

"I put on my robe and wizard hat."

[Cyril Bianco]

Hi everybody,:2thumbsup:

I don't Know about you, but the map doesn't appear anywhere, it alway says it has been removed.

Could you please fix it when you have a moment?

Thanks in advance,

best regards,

cyril.

[Kagemusha]

Hi everybody,:2thumbsup:

I don't Know about you, but the map doesn't appear anywhere, it alway says it has been removed.

Could you please fix it when you have a moment?

Thanks in advance,

best regards,

cyril.

You can see the map in post 125, by Taneda Santoka.

[Taneda Santôka]

Here are some images for simplicity's sake :bow:





UESUGI
https://img401.imageshack.us/img401/6817/uesugimb5.png

HOJO
https://img297.imageshack.us/img297/2152/hojopj5.png

TAKEDA
https://img401.imageshack.us/img401/2687/takedajy3.png

IMAGAWA
https://img246.imageshack.us/img246/7407/imagawapv7.png

ODA
https://img401.imageshack.us/img401/6826/odasz5.png

MORI
https://img165.imageshack.us/img165/2605/morinj7.png

SHIMAZU
https://img135.imageshack.us/img135/7703/shimazuch0xh4.png




https://img412.imageshack.us/img412/7183/factionmapbq0.th.jpg (https://img412.imageshack.us/my.php?image=factionmapbq0.jpg)

https://img69.imageshack.us/img69/61/uivfv7.jpg

https://img223.imageshack.us/img223/7296/morilandkh2.png

https://img485.imageshack.us/img485/5971/picwn8.jpg

https://img83.imageshack.us/img83/7241/kyushuwq3.jpg

[Thermal]

THIS LOOKS AWESOME!

this is clearly going 2 b brillant at release, however (dont mean 2 b rude) u've been working on it 4 years now right? mayb we'll all of decayed and rotted 2 death by release? it looks stunning, which makes the wait all the more painful! sure after years of work it MUST b dam near 2 finished? some of the post from ages ago looked like it was ready so i cant understand the wait, but im useless at modding so i guess i wouldnt no...

[Seijitai]

Hello Aries, thanks for your interest and you kind words ! :2thumbsup:
Here's a small explanation about the time it take... (Well a part of it, as I like to quote myself... :laugh4:)


The most common answer we use when we talk of the mod release is "we're getting closer"... And we do, as each time we progress or finish something, there is less to do...

There is some departments with no workers at this time. Why ? Simply because either they left, they did not produce what they were supposed to do or there was no workers at all to fill some departments...

Here's two examples :

Unit cards (1000) were done by myself, with some help from other members, last year, in around two months and a half... After that, I started to work on Generals portraits... Then I was dragged out of the mod by real life business an so... I headed back a month and a half ago, and finished the portraits a week ago... So, how long did these 90 cards took ? 1 year...

Another example is music. I coded and tested it a month ago, works well, fine... Guess what ? I'm the fourth worker of that department... First one had to quit for personal reasons, second one stated "music is ready" then never went online again, third was a big liar...


Well, as we had new members joining recently, we... are getting closer. :smash: :beam:

[Thermal]

gddddddddd....like i said i dont no the length and stuff tht needs to be done, my limits editing a notepad lol, but if there are certain aspects of the game like the music thts takin ages, i think ppl could make do orginal shogun music, any thing to make it quicker lol

[Seijitai]

Lol, that's Shogun Music ingame... :laugh4:
Be sure that we work as fast as we can... We may have good news soon, But sh... I'll speak of it when I'll be sure...

[Khazar_Dahvos]

that is excellent news guys I have not posted in the Ran no Jidai forum yet but I have been following it since november of 2005 and have seen a lot of improvement in the mod. I know what kind of work it involves to do a total conversion exspecially when you have to start from scratch. I can do some scripting and stuff and I do beta testing for a mini-mod for europa barbarum. And its a pain just to work on and figure out ctds with a team, let alone yourself. So you guys have my upmost respect. And please continue to do a great job!!!!!! I look forward to playing your work WHEN it is ready!!!!:bow::beam:

[Thermal]

yh same good luck, i no you do this for free, i didnt want to seem rude on my first post, anyway happy modding:balloon2:

[Seijitai]

No problem Aries, you're welcome ! :beam:

[aimlesswanderer]

Gee, the Uesugi look like they start off with a nice hunk of land. If they can hold onto it they're looking good.