Senjutsu: Battle For Japan

Update #4 Solo Campaigns and a goodnight!
over 2 years ago – Sat, Oct 23, 2021 at 03:12:27 AM

Good morning, afternoon and evening Backers!

The Solo Campaigns: 

I like being totally upfront with Backers, so I will be. 

Our wonderful artist Raben White is currently in hospital suffering the serious effects of Coronavirus, this happened two days before we went live and he is in our thoughts constantly- it has cast a dark spell over Paul and myself that will only be solved with his return to good health and cheer.

We wish him a speedy recovery and it really sucks that he can't be with us now to enjoy this fantastic ride. Because of his absence, this will be a text heavy update regarding the awesome mechanics of the Solo Campaigns!

Who do I play as?  And Why?

Each Solo and Co-op Campaign released will feature the story of one of our four "Core" game protagonists- the Student, the Master, the Ronin and the Warrior. 

You will be given their opening deck of 40 Ability Cards, which will be set depending on the difficulty rating you choose to play. Throughout the adventure, this deck will evolve and change until you confront their final, closing story arc. We want it to be a beautiful and evocative experience- and with our cultural consultants- we will pay a huge homage to the time period- expressed through the pages of the Campaign books.

The Campaign Books will answer:

Where did the Student's drive come from?

Who does the Master mourn for?

Why does the Ronin wander?

What caused the hatred that burns in the Warrior's last remaining eye?

Difficulty? So it gets harder?

Each Campaign will have three difficulty ratings:

Novice: You start with a strong first deck and the AI Enemies are weaker.

Samurai: You start with a so-so first deck and the AI Enemies are on par.

Grandmaster: You start with a terrible first deck and the AI Enemies will show no mercy. 

This is just one element that we feel adds dozens of hours of gameplay to the game.

How does it play? Is there a fixed plot?

No, not quite. 

So the genius of our dear friend Raben's artwork is that it is folded into each and every page of the Solo / Co-op Campaigns. First, you read it like a graphic novel with a single story told from page to page, then suddenly you are plunged into the fabric of the world and forced to make choices - determining the evolving path for your Samurai. 

Similar to a classic choose your own adventure book - each chosen action will have consequences and also give you, the player, a chance to add new Ability Cards to your deck and to avoid or engage in combat!

Here is an example:

Wandering through the village, your Samurai passes by a house filled with raucous laughter. A peasant stumbles out of a doorway to vomit on your Geta (footwear). 

Choose to cut him down? Maybe you can swap a Pommel Smash Ability Card for a Severing Cut?

Spare his life- and later in the Campaign he returns to warn you of an ambush up beyond the crest of the hill!

Through a carefully plotted nexus of choices, Paul and I are ensuring that many of your Solo and Co-op games will feel completely different!

Choices have real consequences that feel weighty - and not to spoil anything- but not all combat takes place on the Battlefield, Village, Riverbank or Bridge maps you have been provided! Some Combat will take place in the very Campaign Book you read- as you continue to write your own legend!

Please ask me anything in the comments below and if it isn't too spoilery- I'll answer it!

Do all the Samurai / Characters make an Appearance? 

Yes! The second Solo and Co-op Campaign Books feature all the Samurai / Characters from the Add-Ons but don't require their miniatures or cards to be owned in order to tell the story. Picking these Samurai / Characters up will give you the 'enhanced' version of whatever alliances or rivalries you forge throughout the Campaign Book, as well as making the duels that much more different than if you were using the given combination of the core AI cards to represent them.

Goodnight;

I think it is about time we went to bed for the night- please enjoy the content released so far! Watch Paul's new solo Battle Report right here for a taste of Senjutsu's clever AI system.

Goodnight Backers! More fun stuff to come soon.

Kind regards,

James (and Paul!)

Mini-Update: Sleeves are now available as an Add-On
over 2 years ago – Sat, Oct 23, 2021 at 03:10:46 AM

Hello all, our sleeve price has been confirmed by our manufacturer panel. Added to the Add-On selection. 

The Early Pledge Sleeve Pack will cover all Miniatures in the Early Bird Deluxe / Core Pledges- grab a second pack if you want to be able to sleeve the 3 Add-On Miniature double-packs. 

Update #6 Bumble3ee Interactive, Yojimbo and the Shuriken Stretch Goals
over 2 years ago – Sat, Oct 23, 2021 at 12:09:14 AM

Good morning, afternoon and evening Backers!

Bumble3ee Interactive:

I am very pleased to announce that Bumble3ee Interactive will be publishing a fully-translated Senjutsu in Spain! This wonderful studio has signed titles such as Hidden Leaders, Mantis Falls and Beast, so they definitely know how to pick a winning campaign! Beatriz and her team will do a great job and we can't wait to work with them further. 

Yojimbo:

Incoming double-Samurai Add-On set (£18/$25). Available now or Post-Campaign. Note: You will get this awesome Samurai and his opponent in the discounted All-In Pledges too!

Armed with a very special weapon- the terrifying Nagamaki! Long-wrapping weapon with a Nihonto blade!

Shuriken Stretch Goals:

We are have unlocked the Shuriken Stretch Goals! Paul is just getting these incredible SGs their graphics, they will be posted shortly. (It was all planned but boy have you guys summoned them quickly with this fantastic level of support!)

I will be posting 3 more Updates today, including Gameplay Updates, more Partner and Language News and a Painting Focus Update!

Til later,

James (and Paul)

Mini-Update: Early Bird 45 Mins to go!
over 2 years ago – Fri, Oct 22, 2021 at 06:49:10 PM

Hi Backers, just a short update to say there's 45 mins left on the Early Bird offer.  Come and back £1 to secure your EB if you are on the fence. 

Note: If you can change your pledge after this point, don't worry we still have your pledge time and when you came onboard! The Early Bird is secured and will last all Campaign and into the post-campaign Pledge Manager. 

Gameplay Guide #1 The Making Of A Samurai
over 2 years ago – Fri, Oct 22, 2021 at 06:46:41 PM

Welcome to the first gameplay guide for Senjutsu: Battle For Japan!

Base and Signature Ability Cards:

In Senjutsu, you choose from a pre-set deck or craft a deck of 40 Ability Cards. These Ability Cards control your Samurai on the battlefield and vary wildly, covering everything from devastating attacks to whip-fast blocks!

Ability Cards can be divided into two main groups: Base Ability Cards and Signature Ability Cards. 

Base Ability Cards are available to every Samurai whilst Signature Ability Cards can only be taken by that specific Samurai! 

Unique mechanics will feature in the Signature Ability Cards, specific to a Samurai's weapons, skills and special mechanics (such as the Sohei Monk's Bonsho Bell!)

In the above graphic, you can see the Student's Serpent Breath, a powerful Signature Ability Card that attacks 3 Hexes on their left side, allows them to change Kamae and then to move forwards and draw a card from the Ability Card deck. 

Kamae Trees: 

Each Samurai has a unique Kamae Tree which shapes their deck's optimum builds.

 Looking above, the Ronin shifts into the red Aggression Kamae very quickly but struggles to get to Balance (Green Kamae).

Looking at the Warrior, she can move into any Kamae from the starting Shinto Gate position but then needs to rely on Ability Cards to move Kamae efficiently as she will drop back through the Gate using her default Kamae Branches (the black lines that connect the stances).

Jade Ability Cards:

Each fighter has a Jade Ability Card and 2 Jade Base Ability Cards to choose from. Jade Cards are incredibly powerful but require specific amounts of Focus and the right Kamae position to pull off. The Ronin's Crimson Whirlwind attack strikes every 'Hex-spaced-1' in a ring around him for 2 Wounds! And then allows a follow-up forwards movement and strike at Initiative Speed 5!

This Jade Card can be blocked or avoided in so many cool ways too- adding to the complexity of Senjutsu's seemingly simple system! You could;

• Hug the Ronin's position and stop him from creating distance, or...
• You could try to stay in his flanks! Or create space between your fighter and his position! Or...
• You could keep a fast Block on hand and try to second-guess the opponent's timings!

We cannot over-egg the tactical depth of this game once you start mixing-up the included Ability Cards! Tomorrow we will be showing off the Warrior and some of the neat tricks she can do to defeat her enemies! (Including her instant-kill Jade Ability Card!).