Start your adventure in Sengoku Dynasty with the Tent. It's easy to build and perfect for a traveling lifestyle, just like in feudal Japan. If you want something a little homier, try the Simple House. It's a basic space where you can relax after exploring. Looking for something more? The Standard House might be what you need. It's a calming space that embraces traditional Japanese design. But if you're dreaming big, go for the Large House. It's spacious and offers the most personalization options to show off your creativity. These houses in Sengoku Dynasty aren't just buildings; they're a part of your journey and legacy, representing your Dynasty's Legend.
What's more, houses in Sengoku Dynasty aren't just for show. They also have practical uses. You need them to accommodate villagers, who are key to your progress. Once a villager has a house, you can assign them jobs. Whether it's foraging, crafting, or building special projects, these workers contribute significantly to your economy and development. It's a vital aspect of gameplay, combining resource management with strategic planning. So, a house isn't just a dwelling, it's a stepping stone to building a prosperous and secure settlement.
Pillars Of The Rising Sun - The Bell Tower
Youkoso!
Today starts our new series “Pillars Of The Rising Sun” where we want to cover all essential buildings, their functions and how you can use them to your advantage.
So let us begin with the bell tower:
As you traverse the sprawling landscapes, your gaze is drawn skyward to the heavens, where the melodies of fate intermingle with the whispers of destiny. Amidst this symphony, an ethereal chime beckons, carrying with it the promise of progress and prosperity. The Bell Tower, a foundation rooted deep in the soil of ancient wisdom, emerges as a beacon of hope amidst the wild and untamed wilderness.
Its majestic form, adorned with intricately carved symbols, it stands as a testament to the resilience and ingenuity of those who have come before and those who will follow. Within its hallowed confines, secrets of construction and expansion lie in wait, eager to be unraveled by those worthy of their profound knowledge. For it is here, within the embrace of the Bell Tower, that the realm of possibilities expands, and your humble encampment begins its transformation into a thriving bastion of power and influence.
The Sengoku Dynasty Steam Playtest is concluded!
Youkoso!
We would like to say thank you to all participants! Also, for the very lively interest that was shown in the playtest. If you didn’t get access, you can still watch hours of footage done by playtesters on YouTube and Twitch.
It was a new experience for us on this scale and we are grateful for the feedback received regarding the playtest.
The collected feedback we obtained for Sengoku Dynasty is valuable as well. We are now prioritizing the QOL changes that need to be available on start and will begin implementing them soon. Still, we don’t want to make you wait for the launch too long, so some of the features that are important for you will be added at the beginning of the EA Roadmap that we will announce after launch.
Although some of the playtesters were already able to play over 20 hours in the playtest build so far, we want to remind you that it was only a fraction of the map that will be available on launch, as well as around 30% of quests and other content. And we plan to add even more (much, much more) during our EA phase. We are grateful for your time and will be honored if you will join us in the very beginning of our journey at launch.
We hope that we will be able to welcome you at the start of Early Access.
Teams at Superkami and Toplitz Productions
Customization, Combat, and Cultural Accuracy - Developer Q&A Session Part 3"
Youkoso!
Delve deeper into the world of Sengoku Dynasty with Part 3 of our Developer Q&A series! From exploring the rich customization options to uncovering the inspirations behind the choice of the Sengoku era as the game's setting, we're giving you a closer look at what makes our game stand out. Also, discover our commitment to historical accuracy, the possibility of exciting future additions like dojos, and more. Whether you're a fan of Dynasty games or simply intrigued by our unique take on this historical period, this Q&A has something for everyone. Enjoy this insightful behind-the-scenes journey into the creation of Sengoku Dynasty.
"Is it possible for us to personalize objects and residential structures?"
Yes, there are plenty of customization options in the game. First of all, you will have a lot of freedom when choosing locations of your villages. Then you can place a lot of buildings and small architecture in any spatial arrangement that can fit the landscape. All buildings can have their exteriors customized almost freely - so you can choose where to place a door, or a window, and change the wood type of the wall. And finally, you have furniture and decorative items like lamps, wall banners, and other elements that you can use to adorn your living and workspaces. There will be a lot of objects available right from the start, and we plan to add more customization options on the roadmap - like different building foundations and walls, more decorative items, and such.
“What specifically made you choose the Sengoku period as the focus of the game?”
The Sengoku-era, being a time of social upheaval, makes for a great setting for the rags-to-riches premise of a Dynasty game. The later Edo era had much stricter class divides, which would make a rags-to-riches story of a peasant claiming land and rising to legendary status seem rather implausible. However, the Sengoku-era already featured nascent forms of some of the traditions we now associate with Japan, like tea ceremonies or an early form of haiku. It’s a world both familiar and strange – providing a wealth of inspiration for an interesting setting to the game.
“Can we open a dojo and establish a Ryuha of Samuraidou?”
That will not be possible at the early access launch, but dojos are a possible addition in later stages of development.
"Will it be possible to select Japanese as the language for the game's audio?"
We're giving serious thought to adding Japanese audio. Please remember that adding voice acting is very costly and time consuming (and requires all quests and dialogues to be finalized) and we most probably won’t be able to add them before leaving the Early Access phase.
“Can we name our characters?”
Yes, you'll be able to name your characters and villages. We have planned for village naming first, and player character naming later.
“Will there be a Photomode?”
It’s on our Roadmap.
"With respect to the user interface and gameplay mechanics, will there be similarities to Medieval Dynasty? Could you detail the parallels or differences, particularly in relation to the game settings, options, and construction mechanics, when compared to Medieval Dynasty?"
Since it is a game from the Dynasty series, there are some obvious similarities between Medieval Dynasty and Sengoku Dynasty in terms of interface and character control for example. We suspect that a lot of Medieval Dynasty fans are going to be interested in our game, so we wanted the basics to feel familiar. There are some important differences though, mostly because of our unique spin on some popular features and some completely new features. Sengoku Dynasty allows for more building customization and handles dynasty production significantly differently – mostly because the production is seasonal. We have also included features and quality of life improvements most requested by fans, like both first-person perspective and third-person perspective camera options right from the start.
"Will the game feature an option to establish a family, similar to what we see in Medieval Dynasty? If such an option exists, will it also include the possibility of adopting orphaned children?"
Dynasty features, including marriages and having children, are on our development roadmap. We planned them to be integral features of the game, but since they affect almost all other systems, we need more time to test them. For instance, we want to include the aging of all members of the dynasty, including player characters, where each age group will provide you with different challenges. Adoption of children is certainly something to consider, but first, we need to focus on implementing children at all.
"Could you provide some insights into the combat mechanics of the game? How frequently will players be expected to engage in battle?"
From the beginning, our objective was to craft a gaming experience that allows for the possibility of a pacifist run, where you could feasibly avoid combat and complete the majority, if not all, of the game without resorting to fighting. As such, while there will indeed be opportunities for conflict against both human and animal adversaries, evasion is a viable strategy.
The combat system in our game is designed to incorporate a variety of melee and ranged weapons. Players can choose between swift or powerful attacks, providing a broad range of tactics to consider when engaging with opponents. Initially, even skirmishes with small bands of bandits could be lethal, but through clever utilization of the game's features and mechanics, you'll find ways to tip the scales in your favor.
It's crucial to mention that, at launch, the game is not heavily combat-focused but instead leans more towards building, management, and exploration aspects. There will be some degree of fighting, but a more substantial combat system, encompassing additional enemies, weapons, and systems, is planned for inclusion in our future roadmap.
This structure is intimately tied to the game's narrative progression. Players will enjoy a relatively relaxed early game, with increasing challenges and threats emerging as they progress through the story.
More invitations to the Playtest!
Youkoso!
First of all, we would like to thank you for your great interest in the Steam Playtest for Sengoku Dynasty.
Yesterday we sent out a first round of invitations. First round?!
Yes, that's right. We are inviting another group to the playtest today. Another opportunity to join the test!
Good luck!
The Steam Playtest for Sengoku Dynasty begins today!
Youkoso!
First of all, we want to thank you for the enormous interest in the Steam Playtest! We have doubled the capacity, but as it seems right now, unfortunately not everyone will be able to participate. As a small consolation, however, it won't be too much longer before the game goes into Early Access.
For the lucky participants, we still have some important information:
First and foremost, we are interested in the performance and functionality of the co-op mode at this stage. Feel free to report bugs, but these two things are among the most important in this phase of development and as part of the playtest.
The Playtest is currently only available in English. Other languages are expected to be added at the start or during the course of Early Access.
We will temporarily set up a small Discord server next to the Steam forum in case we need savegames, screenshots, videos, or technical data (dxdiags). The link can be found in the Steam Playtest forum.
The playtest starts now (19:00 CEST – UTC +2) and ends in one week on 29 June 2023, also at 19:00 CEST.
As expected for an Early Access title, not all features are in the game yet. In preparation for the Early Access launch, there will be a roadmap describing the next steps in detail after the launch.
So we release you into the Steam Playtest! Have fun!
Behind the Seams: The Journey of Clothing Creation in Sengoku Dynasty
REFERENCES + CONCEPT
Every journey begins with a single step, and in our quest to create authentic clothing for Sengoku Dynasty, it starts with establishing an extensive reference board. This stage involves collecting an array of concept art, historical and cinematic references, photographs from museum exhibits, and tailoring patterns. Our priority here is to ensure a realistic and faithful representation of the historical context. We even learn how these clothes are worn as it is often a form of ritual, different from what we are used to in our culture. This step helps us make sure our clothes not only look real but also match the historical period.
HIGH-POLY SCULPTING
Once we've simulated the cloth physics to give the garment its life-like folds, we delve into the sculpting of details on the high-poly model. The process involves smoothing the clothing, making shape adjustments in specific areas, and meticulously refining the folds by hand. If the result matches our vision, we further accentuate the model by adding signs of wear and tear, protruding threads, and memory folds - the distinctive creases that form from the regular use of the garment.
RETOPOLOGY (LOW-POLY MODEL)
Post-sculpting, we transition into creating the low-poly mesh. Proper optimization of this mesh is key to ensuring fluid gameplay. The retopology is conducted manually, poly by poly, as we lay out vertices, edges, and polygons on top of the high-poly mesh. This meticulous approach allows for smooth deformation of the mesh when the clothes are animated. Once the low-poly model is complete, we unwrap the UV maps and generate maps to carry over all the meticulously sculpted details onto the model.
TEXTURING
Now we're ready to breathe life into our models through texturing. Using the previously baked maps, we add fabric textures and patterns. The textures are then enriched with details indicative of everyday use, such as dirt, wear, and tear, and signs of usage. To enhance realism, we also hand-draw protruding threads and tears. It's worth noting that in ancient Japan, only the wealthiest could afford the elegance of silk garments, whereas the common folk donned attire made from linen and cotton.
FINAL TOUCHES
Finally, our completed model takes the stage in the game engine. Here, we transform our prepared textures into materials and add appropriate shaders. These shaders work their magic, altering how light dances on the material. The outcome? A virtual piece of clothing that promises to immerse you into the heart of the Sengoku Dynasty.
Sengoku Dynasty: Join the playtest starting next week!
Youkoso!
Soon it's time. Sengoku Dynasty will enter Early Access in the near future. But before it does, we want to give you a special opportunity to take a look at the game.
There is nothing less than a Steam Playtest, for which you can apply now!
The playtest is accessible via the shop page of Sengoku Dynasty. You need a Steam account to participate. Participation is free of charge. But the number of participants will be limited. If there are more applications than places available, the participants will be randomly selected by Steam.
Visit the Sengoku Dynasty Store page now and click Request Access. The playtest will be available for a week, starting 6/22/2023 and ending 6/29/2023 at 7:00pm.
During this week you can take a look at Sengoku Dynasty and give it a try. Don't forget to send us plenty of feedback on the forum. Since the playtest is public, you are also allowed to show Let's Plays or videos, but we would be very happy if you would note that they are from the playtest. But be advised, that not all features will be enabled and you will not have the full map available for exploration and building. We focus our attention on performance and co-op functionality.
We look forward to welcoming you to this playtest and send you our best wishes until then!
Q&A - Part two
Youkoso!
Today we will continue our Q&A session with the next load of questions. So here we go:
8. Will there be "spirits" or other supernatural influences, or will it be historical based? Spirituality plays a big role in Sengoku Dynasty. With Shinto shrines offering boosts and a prominent Buddhist temple on the map, the game creates a unique atmosphere. Characters and quests even reference supernatural beings. But, it's important to remember - this game is rooted in reality. All events can be understood in real-world terms, ensuring a balanced and immersive gameplay experience."
9. Will we be able to make/play musical instruments? As of now, there's no feature for creating or playing musical instruments in the game. However, we recognize the importance of allowing you to 'emote' your characters in various ways. As such, we're thinking of including musical forms of expression in our future development roadmap.
10. Is the game open world? Absolutely, the game features an open-world setting. From the get-go, you'll have the freedom to explore the entirety of Region 1. The complete map spans around 4x4 kilometers, divided into 3 distinct regions. Initially, only Region 1 will be accessible, but we plan to unlock the remaining two regions as we progress. During the Steam networking tests, players will have a sneak peek into a small portion of Region 1. The game's world is a fictionally inspired representation, rich with diverse Japanese landscapes and iconic landmarks.
11. Will there be bigger structures that can be made? Certainly! The game offers the opportunity to construct large structures. In your village, you can build sizeable facilities like Breweries, Papermaker workshops, and Taverns. But the truly large-scale projects are unique features found on the map. These ambitious tasks require hefty resources and time to complete, but their payoff is a permanent transformation of the surrounding landscape, adding strategic elements like bridges and watchtowers. A majority of these will be accessible from the start of the Early Access stage. Remember, these large projects are key to boosting your Dynasty's Legend.
12. Are we able to serve a Daimyo/Shogun/Emperor or something of the like? The setting of our game is unique, it's in the Peasant Kingdom, a province where the local daimyo was overthrown by a popular rebellion. Now, the land isn't ruled by a traditional warrior clan but is under the influence of a Hongan-ji temple. As a player, your primary interactions and quests will come from the temple. Moreover, as you perform actions and help others, your influence within the Peasant Kingdom will grow, positioning you as a true leader among the people.
13. Can we grow and farm crops? If so, how does it work? Certainly, farming is an integral part of the medieval Japanese setting we've created. We're dedicated to getting it right and have numerous farming features planned. At the Early Access launch, the farming mechanics will be fairly simple, with only a few crop options available. However, we're excited to share that we've scheduled a substantial farming update in our development roadmap to further enrich this aspect of gameplay.
14. Can we build a Zen Garden for our inhabitants? You will have a lot of freedom to designate areas in your villages and decorate them. You will have access to a lot of decorative structures for the launch of EA. Some of them can be found in Zen Gardens, allowing you to emulate them in the game. Later, on a roadmap, we have planned to add a feature to plant plants, which will allow you to further customize your gardens.
15. Can we still keep our own thing going in co-op as we play with our friends or are we forced to help them with their village? Sengoku Dynasty allows you to build multiple villages, even while playing alone. While all of the players are part of the same dynasty, and share a lot of features, like global dynasty production management, when you achieve a higher Dynasty Legend level, you will be able to fund new villages. All players will have the exact same feature in the game, so you can freely decide if you want to work together, or split up and focus on your own projects. However, all of the villages are part of the same dynasty, and share resources with each other through storage buildings, so there will be no trade option between villages for now.
16. How much is it going to teach us about Japanese culture? It’s not an explicit goal of the game to teach history or culture, but it is based on extensive research into the realities of 16h century Japan, and therefore it should provide plenty of inspiration to anyone interested in Japanese craftsmanship, spirituality, social structure or economy of that time. We sure learned a lot ourselves while making the game!
17. Which wild animal encounter can we expect? For the launch of EA, you can expect to encounter Japanese Hares and Boars, Sika Deer, and Red Foxes. We plan to add much more wildlife to the game on the roadmap.
New Gameplay Trailer
Youkoso!
Today is one of those days, where we offer you a fresh new glimpse at our next highly anticipated gameplay trailer. Immerse yourself in vibrant visuals, exquisitely designed environments and more deeper building insights that breathe life into your imagination of the game. Witness Sengoku Dynasty's true beauty, discover hidden treasures in uncharted territories, and learn more about the secrets of ancient traditions to prosper in this captivating world.
Mark your calendars for summer 2023, where we will mark the official launch of Sengoku Dynasty on Steam. The wait is almost over, and soon you'll be able to experience the ultimate survival simulation set against the backdrop of one of Japan's most intriguing historical periods.
As gamers ourselves, we understand how frustrating it is to wait for a game you want to play. But we know that it’s even worse to finally get it only to be disappointed by its quality. Thank you for your patience - we promise it will be worth the wait.
Stay tuned for more updates, developer insights, and behind-the-scenes sneak peeks as we count down the days to the grand release. Prepare to embark on an unforgettable journey of discovery, legacy, and ambition in Sengoku Dynasty. Remember, your dynasty awaits!
