View Full Version : Creative Assembly Hattori Clan and blood pack DLC, also new patch available
frogbeastegg
11-30-2011, 15:05
Good afternoon,
Hot off the back of yesterday’s announcement of the Fall of the Samurai standalone expansion, we are thrilled to announce more brand new Downloadable Content for Total War: Shogun 2.
For years, fans have been requesting blood and gore in our games. We’ve decided to rise to that challenge. We’re therefore today announcing the Blood Pack for Shogun 2 – an exhibition of cinematic blood and gore - bringing decapitations, limb-removal and all kinds of splatters to the battlefield. We’ve put a lot of effort into new particle effects, unit animations and visual tweaks to introduce a really visceral experience.
We’re not fans of doing things by half-measures so we’ve gone all-out in our depiction of battlefield violence. Expect to see buckets of the red stuff!
Please note, that this content has a higher age rating than Total War: Shogun 2. In PEGI regions, it’s 18+ and rated M in North America. Unfortunately the Blood Pack is not available in Germany, Austria and Switzerland.
We’re also thrilled to announce the release of the Hattori Clan for Shogun 2. Originally available as part of the Limited Edition, we’ve taken the decision to release this clan to a wider audience in response to keen customer demand.
If you opt to purchase the Hattori pack, you’ll get the most powerful battlefield ninja available, an extra historical battle scenario, extra armour and an XP injection for your Avatar. The Hattori Clan can be played in single and multiplayer campaigns and in online battles.
That’s not everything as far as Shogun 2 goes, either. We’re expecting to be able to bring you some more news soon about what we’re working on next. All I can say is this: you won’t be disappointed.
The content is available on Steam right now from the following links:
Blood Pack
Hattori Clan DLC
Enjoy!
The Creative Assembly
****
We’re also releasing a title update for Total War: Shogun 2 alongside this DLC, tweaking both the core game and the Rise of the Samurai downloadable campaign:
Rise of the Samurai
• Fixed forum issue enabling players to exceed the maximum veteran slot limit
• Fixed bug where Chosokabe Daikyu Samurai could be recruited
• Fixed bug where Realism mode wasn’t being saved
• Fixed bug where players had to add an extra unit to ready up after a classic MP battle
• Fixed bug where replay battle type didn’t update correctly when switching between types
• Fixed issue with Invite Friends and Weather tickboxes
• Fixed bug where duplicate experienced and veteran units displayed incorrect cost
• State Academy entry in Encylopaedia now displays correctly
• Fixed bug where remaining funds did not update when player switches sides in a siege battle
• Fixed crash bug when starting a 1v3 on a 2v2 map
• Fixed bug where grouped units could not be given orders after rallying from a rout
• Fixed issue where players with a full unit roster could still click ‘add to army’
• Fixed bug where the cutscene after the Nagashino historical battle caused a lockup
• Fixed bug where clearing then loading an army containing Hero units prevented Hero units from appearing as selectable units on the unit selection group
Retainers
• Infantry officer: retainer’s effect is +2 instead of +1
• Yari master: Reduce spear defence from 3 to 2
• Unabalanced spears: reduced effect from -3 to -2 (the counter to yari master)
• Stricken unholy forge: tweaked to affect all monk units
• World weary: morale penalty removed
• European gun smith: Tweaked to affect reload
• Way of the Ikko-Ikki: +10% now affects monks and ashigaru, with +2 melee defence rather than +3
• Rennyo’s teachings: Morale boost now +1 rather than +2 and +3 melee defence rather than +4
Unit categories
Spear and naginata units are now distinct so that spear retainers do not benefit naginata units. This affects a number of overpowered army/retainer combinations to reduce their effectiveness.
Units
• Samurai Archers reduced in cost by 50 koku
• Great Guard cap raised to 2
• Matchlocks reduced in cost as they are now less effective with previous friendly fire fixes
• Naginata Warrior Monk Cavalry capped to 3 max to reduce potency
Original announcement plus pictures can be found here (http://forums.totalwar.com/showthread.php/28461-Blood-Pack-and-Hattori-Clan-DLC-announced-and-released-today!?p=271437#post271437).
Hmm, already had access to the Hattori, thus I only have the Blood Pack to toy with.
I play with everything on Ultra currently, so now I worry the blood spatters might be the type of resource hog to finally cause me to adjust here and there hmpff; that's not CA's fault in any way though and they do allow us to adjust it of course.
In fact, eventhough you can hardly call it content, this feature becoming available is a pretty important milestone, definitely merits /Applause
Spear and naginata units are now distinct so that spear retainers do not benefit naginata units. This affects a number of overpowered army/retainer combinations to reduce their effectiveness.
This particular bit hits the spot. Bravo!
the idea of blood in a total war game scares me although i've bought the limited addition so i all ready can play as the hattori. but anyways thanks for the patch.
KLAssurbanipal
11-30-2011, 16:42
CA's Blog:
http://blogs.sega.com/totalwar/2011/11/30/blood-guts-and-no-shortage-of-gore-its-the-blood-pack-dlc/
Trailer:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7YMos621dGQ
Steam:
http://store.steampowered.com/app/201272/
Rofl, this blood thing is bloody hilarious =p
frogbeastegg
11-30-2011, 18:09
While I already have the Hattori and am not bothered about adding blood, it's nice to see them as options. A lot of people have been requesting them for a long time. It's particularly good that everyone now has the same range of campaign clan options.
The main part of interest for me is this: "That’s not everything as far as Shogun 2 goes, either. We’re expecting to be able to bring you some more news soon about what we’re working on next. All I can say is this: you won’t be disappointed." I do hope that's not a bit of timing gone awry, and it refers to Monday's announcement of FotS. More feudal era singleplayer content would be great.
Didn't M2TW have blood already? Granted, not on this level lol. I just watched some battle replays with the new blood effects and it is uhm.. messy.
I love the way they handled the blood. They could have went with a boring realistic approach, but thankfully they opted for the stylized samurai movie approach.
frogbeastegg
11-30-2011, 18:23
Didn't M2TW have blood already? Granted, not on this level lol. I just watched some battle replays with the new blood effects and it is uhm.. messy.
Yes. Men got covered with blood during combat, although you never saw any blood fly or spill on the ground. STW's sprites had little pools of blood around dead men. None of the other games featured any blood IIRC.
Quickening
11-30-2011, 18:41
The only blood that has been in a Total War game before now came from modders. I'm liking the blood mod. Nice little touch. Would have bought the other one as well if only I'd been ******* paid today.
I have to say Creative Assembly have really won me round again with this whole Shogun 2 saga. I gave up with the awfulness of Empire and the subsequent support, but I think they've done everything right this time.
Here's hoping for Rome 2 soon.
As far as I know, there used to be little splashes of blood when missiles hit infantry but that was it.
In M2TW*
Veho Nex
11-30-2011, 20:37
As far as I know, there used to be little splashes of blood when missiles hit infantry but that was it.
In M2TW*
It was kinda silly to see Cannons tearing units to shreds with no blood in ETW.
I like the trailer when the samurai says "it is said that victory can be obtained without shedding blood...HAHA! yeah right!"
Wait, so we have to pay for blood? I would like this blood but making us pay for it is stupid
easytarget
12-01-2011, 03:08
It's a buck fity, i mean really...
It is nothing, yes but it is stupid. Shows you the direction in which the whole industry is going. Just wait until you have to pay to change your resolution. =p
easytarget
12-01-2011, 04:28
I suppose, but in the scheme of things, I tend to pick my battles.
And when I compare the DLC trend to the morons with guns (read MW series and its influence) I view the latter as a MUCH bigger problem, one that sucks the ogygen out of the room and apparently destroys all creative brain cells that ever lurked in any game developers head across the world, resulting in waves of games that all look like MW.
As I was commenting in another thread about NOLF, there's more originality in the credits of that game than anyone will ever witness in all of MW.
feelotraveller
12-01-2011, 04:31
They just don't want the whole game to cop a higher classification rating.
Got to blame the authorities for this one - killing people is fine but showing blood isn't. :dizzy2:
I couldn't even buy the blood pack in this country (Germany). I had to ask a friend of mine who lives in England to give it to me as a Steam present lol.
feelotraveller
12-01-2011, 23:24
I suspect it is banned in Australia too. Doesn't mean we won't get hold of it though.
Thank goodness it is a separate download or the entire game would be illegal here.
I suspect it is banned in Australia too. Doesn't mean we won't get hold of it though.
Thank goodness it is a separate download or the entire game would be illegal here.
Which I'm 95% sure is the reason it's DLC and not part of a free patch, something the kids at TWC can't seem to comprehend (or choose not to; hating CA is a way of life for some people there).
The blood DLC is pretty neat. Needs more dismemberments though. Otherwise it is fun to watch. Blood spatters on the camera lense are a nice touch.
I actually find the blood splatters on the camera annoying, everything else is well worth it though lol.
The blood looks over the top to me. If it came with a patch for free I'd be looking to turn it off just like I get rid of the giant throbbing unit ID banners.
Cool beans for those who dig it, though. Giving it to fans who have wanted it for a long time was responsive and smart.
I think it was supposed to be over the top =p Go look at the trailer. If anything, the huge amount of blood spewing out of people's necks after their heads are cut off and all that really does make me laugh sometimes. Reminds me of Kill Bill 1 xD
I just wish besides heads, arms and legs could be cut off as well. I haven't noticed yet, but do blood pools that form on the ground remain, or dissappear? I keep forgetting to check.
I like these over the top type mods, liven the game up a bit after you have played awhile. :)
They stay yeah. Hands can get cut off, I think arms too. Haven't seen legs yet.
I did notice some hands in my last play thru. Not arms yet though. Fun to see dem heads roll though!
Jungle Rhino
12-05-2011, 16:55
The blood pack is a great idea, and I love watching my generals decapitating all the helpless ashigaru as they run down fleeing troops :)
Wait, so we have to pay for blood? I would like this blood but making us pay for it is stupid
The reason you have to pay for it is simply that it is a very easy way to verify the age of the purchaser, to my knowlege Steam accounts must have a credit card ergo the purchaser is of appropriate age or has the cardholders permission. If it were free kids would get it and it would warp their fragile little mind :P
Great way to keep the rating of the game low to help sales but giving those of us with a vicious streak a little hilarity factor :D
Forward Observer
12-08-2011, 21:57
Which I'm 95% sure is the reason it's DLC and not part of a free patch, something the kids at TWC can't seem to comprehend (or choose not to; hating CA is a way of life for some people there).
Amen, brother!. Sometimes, I think many of the threads at the other site make the letters appear to be short for Troll & Wanker Central.
Craig and Jack Lusted have both explained why they had to charge for the blood pack.
1. because of the maturity level ratings change issue.
2. they claim that it actually did represent substantial programming work with the addition of new animations--plus testing.
I find this perfectly reasonable, but it seems that most of the seemingly self-entitled, self-indulgent, petulant, and socialistic paranoid rabid fans at the other site are in a complete uproar about it. (we sometimes forget that "fan" is short for fanatic)
One dolt went so far as to post a totally vacuous poll asking whether people thought they should get the blood pack for free or if they thought they should have to pay for it. Duh!
His next poll was going to ask if one would rather eat a cookie or be whacked on the head with a stick.
Amazingly 45% still answered that they should pay for it. I just wonder how many of this same group would vote for getting whacked with that stick? I'm slightly embarrassed to say that I was one of those who voted to pay.
I actually visit that site daily just for the entertainment value of all the idiotic posts and threads in the Shogun 2 general discussion section. I rarely post there--simply because I wouldn't know where to begin to try to respond to the overwhelming load of self indulged biased pretzel logic. I can only hope most of the wrong-headed goofballs who post there will keep it up for two main reasons.
1. My continued entertainment pleasure.
2. They will have less time to possibly reproduce
Cheers
P.S. I'll get ready for my stick whacking in a minute. Luckily, I think it is still free.:smash:
Let's not bash other sites - TWC is a fine resource. And it's rather like how you can't choose your family: you can't can't choose who posts on your forums. Would that we could. :wink:
Back on topic: I've never seen the attraction of blood and gore in computer games. If wargames were too realistic, I doubt I would be so fond of them. However, it takes all sorts to make a world and it's clear the DLC is welcomed by many.
I think it is fairly stupid anyways. I can seem the reason behind there being a price, even if it is small, because they put some work hours into it but because of age stuff? I guess it keeps it 12 rated or w/e you say over there but only on paper =S
Over here you do not need to be 18 to pay for stuff online with your own money, you only need a bank account but then again, the blood DLC is not 'legally' downloadable here anyways.
Veho Nex
12-09-2011, 03:44
Let's not bash other sites - TWC is a fine resource. And it's rather like how you can't choose your family: you can't can't choose who posts on your forums. Would that we could. :wink:
Back on topic: I've never seen the attraction of blood and gore in computer games. If wargames were too realistic, I doubt I would be so fond of them. However, it takes all sorts to make a world and it's clear the DLC is welcomed by many.
Econ you should try it out, it's really silly. Quite funny to watch massive fountains form on the battlefield. Its like watching an old samurai flick, or a samurai anime.
Forward Observer
12-11-2011, 00:59
Let's not bash other sites - TWC is a fine resource. And it's rather like how you can't choose your family: you can't can't choose who posts on your forums. Would that we could. :wink:
Back on topic: I've never seen the attraction of blood and gore in computer games. If wargames were too realistic, I doubt I would be so fond of them. However, it takes all sorts to make a world and it's clear the DLC is welcomed by many.
I apologize if what I said came off as bashing, and I know I did go off a bit. I did not intend it that way, but had meant to simply give a personal observation of most of the posts in general discussion forums for the game da jour--of course that being Shogun 2 and in particular the blood pack DLC. Believe it or not I actually edited some of the original vitriol out of my post.
As to the actual blood pack--I had no issues with being charged a token amount for it---after I heard and accepted the reasons given by Dev's.
However, I do agree that the effect is a bit over the top, and I would like to see them add a slider or at a couple of levels of intensity for the effect- -maybe with choices of small, medium, large, or ultra buckets of blood. I'd call the present level "ultra".
For some reason, I am reminded of that scene in "Ran" where the scheming wife is decapitated--followed by what appears to be about 2 gallons of fire engine red paint being thrown on the wall behind her. Come to think of it, CA used a scene from Ran for intro to the Warlord Edition of the original Shogun, so maybe Kurosawa was also their inspiration for this.
Cheers
frogbeastegg
12-11-2011, 14:48
I saw a comment from CA saying that they took Japanese cinema as their inspiration and aimed to make the blood effects as over the top as in Kurasawa etc films. I can't remember where I saw that comment ... it might have been on the blog.
Yeah, they did make them over the top intentionally and I actually like it that way =p Boring old realistic vs rivers and fountains of blood and heads flying around and what not. It is funny. But then I am the type of person who gets told to stop laughing during a Final Destination movie.
So I finally buy the blood pack, fully worth the 3 or 4 bucks I paid(not sure about the exchange rate). It's awesome to see blood everywhere but I was wondering if there's a way to make the blood stains on the ground last longer? I notice that it doesn't really stay that long for me, it would cooler if it lasted longer, that's my only problem, otherwise the blood pack is definitley worth it, I highly recommend.
Claudius the God
12-22-2011, 13:06
Having thoroughly investigated why the Blood Pack is not available in Australia at the moment I have some questions for The Creative Assembly team...
Will CA be appealing the refusal of classification of the blood pack by the Australian Classification Board? - surely there are other games on the Australian market that are far more bloody that have not been refused classification... the Bloodrayne franchise comes to mind... but anyway what the S2TW blood pack does is simply a reflection of the historical reality of the setting of the game. Will (or has) CA attempt(ed) to have the blood pack receive a ratings classification (perhaps MA15+) within Australia so that it becomes available for Australians to purchase from Steam?
If not, then have any Australians legally downloaded the blood pack from Steam at all before it was refused classification? If so, then during exactly what time period was it available for Australians to purchase from Steam?
Is it possible, realistic and legal to take one's computer overseas and purchase the blood pack DLC and return to Australia with the computer without customs interfering?
Is it legal to accept the blood pack as a gift from someone purchasing it from outside of Australia?
If either of the above two options are possible (purchasing the DLC from outside of Australia one way or another), would Steam allow me to keep the Blood Pack DLC while in Australia - or do Australian customers who have already purchased the Blood Pack get their purchase forcibly removed/refunded?
If all else fails, will Australian gamers who own Shogun 2 Total War (plus any additional content) be given an alternative option to the blood pack as it exists at the moment?
Kind regards.
frogbeastegg
12-22-2011, 13:15
Is it legal to accept the blood pack as a gift from someone purchasing it from outside of Australia?
I'm not from CA and can't answer most of those, but maybe I can help a little with this one. I've seen a lot of German forum members over at .com confirming that a restricted region account can be gifted the blood pack by someone from an unrestricted region, and that the pack installs and works without issue. Legally I would guess that doing this would fall under the same rules as importing a game or film which has been refused classification.
Claudius the God
12-22-2011, 13:45
I'm not from CA and can't answer most of those, but maybe I can help a little with this one. I've seen a lot of German forum members over at .com confirming that a restricted region account can be gifted the blood pack by someone from an unrestricted region, and that the pack installs and works without issue. Legally I would guess that doing this would fall under the same rules as importing a game or film which has been refused classification.
I've heard similar but want to make sure that I know about all legal options available to me and if there are none how long I should expect for the situation as it currently exists to change. Have any German gamers had issues with customs? - for example...
the fine for 'importing' (do DLC gifts from overseas buyers count?) something that has been refused classification is obviously something I don't want to risk. So I'm looking for clear answers if possible. I want to give CA my money in exchange for this product and this censorship bullshit from the Australian Classification Board is an insult to all of us who know better.
frogbeastegg
12-22-2011, 14:08
I've heard similar but want to make sure that I know about all legal options available to me and if there are none how long I should expect for the situation as it currently exists to change. Have any German gamers had issues with customs? - for example...
the fine for 'importing' (do DLC gifts from overseas buyers count?) something that has been refused classification is obviously something I don't want to risk. So I'm looking for clear answers if possible. I want to give CA my money in exchange for this product and this censorship bullshit from the Australian Classification Board is an insult to all of us who know better.
You would need to ask for legal advice from someone who knows your local laws to answer that, I'm afraid. I only know the laws as they apply to the UK. The DLC doesn't pass through customs so I haven't seen any reports of problems.
I doubt CA will appeal the classification since part of the reasoning behind making the pack DLC is to allow some countries to have it and others not, depending on their local classifications. If it was part of the base game it would make the game unmarketable in some countries and subject to a sales-damaging high rating in others.
Sorry if I'm a bit late to the party, but I can confirm for you - owning a game that has been refused classification in Australia is not illegal. It MAY be confiscated during importation, and it is SUPER illegal to sell it, but owning a game that has been refused classification is perfectly okay. Now considering that steam gifting is a digital media and there is no physical importation process, you dont really have to worry about that. I've read up on this because I live in Australia and have made a hobby of gathering Refused Classification games (though I've never heard of any fine for importing). The short of it is, if you get it digitally, you should be fine.
I also suppose the thing here is it's a gift so if someone tries to give you any guff about them you can always shoot back with a "It's a gift, I cant control what other people give me" and honestly, the amount of paper work that would go in to finding out if you asked for it or not just wouldn't be worth it.
Claudius the God
01-02-2012, 10:47
many thanks Humble
Claudius the God
01-09-2012, 12:04
I don't know how or why, but the Blood Pack is now available to buy in Australia. Did it get a ratings classification? - just in case some Australians with S2TW still can't see it on Steam (as was the case before) I was uninstalling and then reinstalling the game through Steam when I checked the DLC to make sure I will still have everything I purchased - and there was the blood pack, which I purchased for $2.99. hopefully in an hour or so when the Steam update finishes I will see it working!
I've heard similar but want to make sure that I know about all legal options available to me and if there are none how long I should expect for the situation as it currently exists to change. Have any German gamers had issues with customs? - for example...
the fine for 'importing' (do DLC gifts from overseas buyers count?) something that has been refused classification is obviously something I don't want to risk. So I'm looking for clear answers if possible. I want to give CA my money in exchange for this product and this censorship bullshit from the Australian Classification Board is an insult to all of us who know better.
I had someone from the UK give it to me as present... the game devs wont do anything about it and uh legal... I own more than one game that's 'outlawed' here, all of them 'smuggled' here from the UK or Netherlands.
I doubt anyone cares.
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