Subscribe to download
Shogun 2: With Fire and Steel (PRE-RELEASE info, please do not download)

Japan is a country in turmoil.

The feudal daimyo bicker and fight for their own personal gain, their short-sighted ambition blissfully ignoring the dawn of a new era. The Portuguese have shown the east their style of warfare, and now a new opportunity presents itself…

It is time to claim your rightful destiny and bring honour to your clan, with fire and steel!

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Welcome fellow daimyo to Shogun 2: With Fire and Steel. This is the first mod release from Jake4595 and Fez_, and we hope that you enjoy it!

This mod is inspired by the 16th Century pike and shot period of Europe, but set in Sengoku Jidai Japan. This is an alternative history mod, but strives to be as authentic, polished, competitively balanced, and immersive as possible.

This project incorporates many different mods (listed at the end of this description, as well as their creators) to bring you the greatest sense of pike and shot warfare in a Total War title to date. While a heavy overhaul, this mod aims to be as veteran-friendly as possible. All new unit cards adhere to the pre-established style, and any changes have been made as seamless as possible.

Veterans of Shogun 2 should feel right at home, able to jump into a brand-new campaign with a unique but familiar experience.

Main Features

• New style of warfare focusing on the use of artillery, matchlock, and pike units. Ashigaru can be formed into professional infantry units which will form the core of many armies.
  
  
• Battle mode complete revamped. AI is very dynamic and chaotic for both the player and the AI. Battle lines will be constantly shifting with units routing and falling back to a safe location, but will regroup and attack from another direction. You have to be careful not to spread you units too far and thin and need to watch out for enemy units that regrouped.
  
  
• Pike units will only fight with pikes. No more katana duels for those units. This makes pike blocks fearsome from the front, but more vulnerable to flanking infantry.
  
  
• Lesser samurai also join the pike line as elite soldiers, or focus on the mastery of their chosen art. Many adapt to the shifting landscape, taking up firearms and leaving the yumi behind.
  
  
• Pre-existing but rarely used units have been completely changed. For example, the Ronin units have been changed into heavier versions of default samurai, and retainer units have been updated to be elite samurai.
  
  
• Revamped projectiles stats, melee mechanics, and combat speed. Additionally, all DLC units have been updated and given to all clans.
  
  
• New music and High Quality loading screens.

Game Guide
The backbone of the army is now pike units. While slow moving, these units are cheap and easily replaceable, and can be decisive on the battlefield if used correctly.

Matchlock units have reduced accuracy at longer ranges, but are more deadly than ever before in shorter distances. As in the base game, matchlock ashigaru are more numerous but of a lower quality than their samurai variant. You must use these each type wisely to achieve the best results.

The mod also introduces a wide array of other gunpowder units, from firebomb to blunderbuss, hand mortors to hand cannons and some more. Use these in conjunction with your pike units to bolster the unstoppable marching columns of your army.

Ashigaru units, especially formed into professional infantry blocks, are cheap and reliable. Despite being outclassed one-for-one by samurai, the new style of warfare can make them terrifying to face.

Samurai units, while proud, have to keep up with the arms race and adopt pike as one of their primary weapons. As dedicated warriors, they train more rigorously and can devote their time to the perfection of pike warfare. They are however, exceedingly more expensive than the ashigaru and professional infantry counterpart.

Pike units will be divided into different sub-classes based on their merit status. Samurai and Professional pike units can maneuver and change directions faster than Ashigaru units. Likewise, heavy samurai pike units will be clumsier.

Regarding Samurai:
Samurai/Heavy Samurai -> Elite Samurai -> Samurai Hero

Heavy Samurai Units have bulletproof armour (like Date bulletproof samurai), but have slightly reduced stats and lower speed.

In general, samurai and non-pike units can run faster and are intended as flanking units during and after the initial push of pike.

All bow units are more expensive and take longer to train than their matchlock counterparts. This was a huge reason for bows being phased out in reality, and is reflected here better than the core game.

Cavalry charges can no longer win the battle immediately. Cavalry in general are more expensive and easily killed by pike units or continued gunfire.

New Units
Features several new units, including, but not limited to:

Professional Pike Infantry
The pike block is becoming a familiar sight on the battlefield, and these troops lead the way.

Professional Teppo Infantry
The matchlock, or ‘teppo’, when massed with pike support, can lay waste to even the most heroic of samurai.

Heavy Pike Samurai
Wielding the sturdiest arms and armour available, these samurai form an iron wall to beat back the enemy advance.

Elite Yumi Samurai
The yumi is the traditional weapon of the samurai, and these archers’ arrows soar with dedication and resolve.

Release Date:
Currently the 25th of October (USA). Subject to change due to school/work commitments.

Progress: 98% complete. Polishing and quality testing mechanics and other changes.

NOTE: Currently, the units from the Saints and Heroes DLC have not had any changes with regards to this mod. This will be patched with an update after the initial release. They should still be usable, but will be updated after this mod is live.

Credits:
Jake4595 – The Lion’s Share. Most of what you will experience has been his tireless efforts. Directly responsible for the Technology Changes, Pike Combat, and Music & Loading Screens mods.

Fez_ – Writing/Story, Steam description and new unit descriptions.

Mod Credits (* indicates that it has been edited):

1. *Weierstrass Unit packs – Engineer Weierstrass
2. Bullgod Daimyo – Bullgod
3. *Sengoku Jidai cannon mod – The_Yogi
4. *Vastador Unit Styles – +Vastator+
5. Expanded Japan mod – Uanime5
6. Three Skill point per general – The Mall of America
7. Ashina Extra Character Names – Ashina
8. Campaign map retexture mod – Engineer Weierstrass
9. *S2 Early Gunnery – The_Yogi
10. Ancient Colors: Shogun 2 Edition – Epaminondas
11. *Technology changes – Jake4595
12. *Pike combat mod – Jake4595
13. *Music and Loading screens – Jake4595