Shogun: Total War

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Shogun: Total War was the first game in the Total War Series. It was first released in June 2000.

Features

Shogun: Total War (STW) is the first of Creative Assembly's "Total War" series. It is a history-based grand strategy computer game that combines turn-based provincial development with real-time battles. The player assumes the role of one of seven daimyos (Uesugi, Shimazu, Oda, Mori, Imagawa, Takeda, Hōjō) attempting to unite feudal Japan during the Sengoku period ("The Age of the Country at War") and become Shogun. Sun Tzu's The Art of War is central to the game; its precepts are quoted often and its strategies recommended.

Gameplay

The play involves a strategic phase building up armies and moving them into provinces followed by a real time battle phase. During the strategic phase the players (that is including the AI players) decide where they are going to move their forces and then, when the player commits them, all the ordered movements are executed simultaneously. The three dimensional battles are notable for including aspects such as morale that had up to its publication usually been ignored by computer war games and are more typical of table top gaming. Sieges are played out using the same engine as the battles in the field. The advantage to the defender comes from the narrow gateway to the castles which prevents a larger force attacking with more than a small part of its strength.

Battles

Some of feudal Japan's greatest battles were recreated based on the expertise of some of the period's leading historical authorities.

Factions

The 7 playable factions in Shogun, with their faction colour:

• Hōjō (Purple)
• Imagawa (Light Blue)
• Mori (Red)
• Oda (Gold)
• Takeda (Black)
• Shimazu (Green)
• Uesugi (Dark Blue)

Each of these factions has an identical unit roster, but all recieve a bonus (usually in the form of a discount) in training a particular unit.: For example, the Uesugi faction recruits Samurai Archers at a lower cost then the other factions.

The Mongol Invasion expansion added a new, unique faction, the Mongols.

Units

The unit roster in Shogun Total War is small in comparison to the later games, with all factions in the original game sharing the same unit roster. However each faction recieves a discount on purchasing a particular unit, and furthermore some provinces grant an experience bonus to units of a particular type recruited there.

Japanese Factions

• Infantry Units:
  • Yari Ashigaru (Light Spearmen)
  • Yari Samurai (Heavy Spearmen)
  • Samurai Archers
  • No-Dachi Samurai (Offensive Infantry)
  • Naginata Samurai (Defensive Infantry)
  • Warrior Monks (Elite Infantry, not available to Christians)
  • Arquebusiers (Basic firearm unit, unlocked through trade with Europeans)
  • Musketeers (Superior late-game firearm unit)

• Cavalry Units:
  • Yari Cavalry (Light Lancers)
  • Cavalry Archers
  • Heavy Cavalry (Heavy Melee Cavalry)
  • Hatamoto (as Heavy Cavalry, bodyguard of a general and not recruitable)

• Agents (on the strategic map):
  • Diplomat
  • Shinobi (Spy)
  • Ninja (Assassin)
  • Jesuit Priest (Diplomat for Christian factions)
  • Legendary Geisha (late-game Elite Assassin)

The Mongol Invasione expansion added a new faction:

The Mongols

• Infantry Units:
  • Korean Skirmishers (Light Infantry, javelins)
  • Korean Spearmen (Heavy Spearmen)
  • Korean Guardsmen (Heavy Infantry)
  • Thunder Bombers ("Grenadier" infantry with bombs)

• Cavalry Units:
  • Mongol Light Cavalry (Superior Cavalry Archers)
  • Mongol Heavy Cavalry (Heavy Melee Cavalry)

Additionally, the Japanese factions gained several new units in the expansion:

• Japanese Units in MI:
  • Naginata Cavalry (Medium Cavalry)
  • Battlefield Ninjas (Elite stealth unit)
  • Kensai (Elite Swordsman, extremely powerful 1-man unit)
  • Ashigaru Crossbowmen (MI Campaign only, replaces gunpowder units)