Topic: Dynasty Warriors 8 Empires new improvements and expanded features

[affinity]

Ever since playing DW7 Empires, I discovered "Empires" really brings out the series greater capabilities of DW immersion,
player driven story/lifestyle, deep conquest elements, vast customization, more freedom, and quality entertainment
with more replay value. 
(so I skip all DW games until the next Empires)   
Now DW8 Empires is around the corner in Japan, and localization looks certain.

http://www.siliconera.com/2014/07/08/dynasty-warriors-8-empires-wages-war-september-25/

http://www.famitsu.com/news/201407/08056722.html

http://www.neoseeker.com/forums/60085/t2029437-dynasty-warriors-8-empires/

http://www.gamecity.ne.jp/smusou7e/gallery-screenshot.html

http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2014-06-04/dynasty-warriors-8-empires-game-announced-for-ps3-ps4/.75202

here's a quick summary of some info fans found:

Gameplay Features
大規模秘計 Large-Scale Stratagems
* These are new kinds of stratagems added to further enhance the Stratagem system that was introduced in DW7E
* Large-Scale Stratagems are more difficult to carry out; some soldiers will temporarily leave the battlefield to prepare for the stratagem and it will also take more time until complete
* The payoff is very big, however, that these stratagem effects can even turn the tide of battle very easily
* Examples of Large-Scale Stratagems:
火計 Fire Ploy - Unleashes fire to gradually damage enemies
豪雨 Heavy Rain - Calls forth a torrential rain that can be used to put off fire from the above ploy

簡易拠点 Simple Bases
* Other than the default preset bases on battlefields, forces will now be able to set up their own simple bases
* These simple bases can be set up anywhere on the map
* There will be a new gauge related to constructing simple bases; this gauge can be filled and a portion of it will have to be used in order to set up a base
* Once these bases have been set up, features like Recovery Pillar (which heals nearby allies) and Catapult can be placed on them

Misc. Battle Features
* Normal bases (the preset ones) now have levels, which will affect the base's strength among others
* For example, the base's defense tower: at low level it only reduces enemy HP at a slow rate, but at high level it can almost instantly swipe out enemies
* Player characters will be able to give specific orders to other generals as they increase their ranks
* Battlefield environments will change depending on the seasons; not only the graphical looks, but weather possibilities may also change
* Weather will play bigger roles in battles now; other than the above seasonal changes, there are also some stratagems that can change weather
* Some stratagems will have different grade of effectiveness depending on the weather
* Time will also actually affect the battlefield; some stratagems can be only used at a certain time of day such as Night Raid

Playstyle Features
* The ways of life and fame features from DW7E are returning as well but has been modified a bit
Some of the playstyles introduced are:
正道 Path of Righteousness - Do things well and be yearned by the people in return
邪道 Path of Heresy - Live by allowing any means including wicked ones
* Fame statuses are no longer shown in numbers; they will be now calculated and stored internally
* Events and reactions from these playstyles will be made even more prominent than in DW7E
* Rulers can now retire and abdicate their thrones to someone else

Marriage and Children
* The relationship system also returns, including marriage
* In this game, some time after marriage, the couple will be able to give birth to their own children
* Children can be used to continue the legacy of their parents the next turn after they become available, rather than having to restart the game with another character
* Children characters generated will be always original, even if both of their parents are unique
* Not only stats will be inherited from their parents, but the children's looks will also be based on their parents by gene-mixing with CAW parts
* (What the last 2 points might imply: Marrying Sima Yi with Zhang Chunhua will not result in Sima Shi nor Zhao, but another original child with resemblance to Yi and Chunhua will be created)

Edit Mode Enhancements
* It is now also possible to modify own force's flag, soldiers and horses
* Soldiers can be freely modified including their body postures; it is even possible to make midget or dwarf-like soldiers. Their weapons can also be determined
* Creating own horse is also possible while modifying its size and hair color among others
* Currently known information suggests that custom pictures from hard disk might be able to be used in flags (90% certainty)
* Edit characters (CAWs) will also have more detailed size sliders for each body parts
* There are also more base faces and models for CAWs
* More added body feature modifications include like contour, wrinkles and mustache/beard
* As with the past game, CAW data can be shared by uploads and downloads
* It is also even possible to create own-edited scenarios, with CAWs being able to be freely assigned anywhere

DW7E CAW Import
* Those who have played DW7E will be able to import all of their created CAWs to DW8E so they don't have to be created from scratch again
* The following CAW features will be imported:
** CAW Name
** Existing General Replacement settings
** Gender
** Face
** Body Posture
** Costume Parts
** Moveset
** Voice (type only, implying the CAW voices may be voiced quite differently)

Others
* It is implied that a Free Mode where battle participants could be freely chosen might be available (75% certainty)

Miscellaneous Information
Edit Mode Demo
* Edit Mode demo will be available again
* As with DW7E demo, there will be a mini-stage available to test-play the CAW
* Saved data can be brought over to the full game or the Free Co-Op version, the latter to be explained right below

Free Co-Op Version
* There will be also a Free-to-Play version that will be released to public at the same time of the full game release
* Limitations of the F2P version:
** Cannot start Empire Mode (the main mode of the game)
** Can play Free Mode
** Able to join in Co-Op sessions hosted by full version players
** (Since hosting a session requires the player to be in Empire Mode, that means F2P version players cannot host one)
** Edit Mode basic features are the same
** Available CAW costume parts are restricted; it is implied that parts that need unlocking in full version might be purchasable in F2P version with real money
** Saved CAW slots available will be lesser than full version
** Upcoming DLCs for the full game will be also made compatible with the Free Co-Op version

[Claimh Solais]

*peeks out of lurker status*

I'm really looking forward to this one. One thing I especially appreciate about the Empires subseries of Dynasty Warriors is that it really learns from its mistakes. 4E was a great start, and then 5E definitely improved upon it, despite being a small change. And just as DW6 was a HUGE change from DW5, the same goes for 6E from 5E. All in all, 6E did just as many things right as it did wrong.

The entirety of the Empire mode of 6E was dramatically streamlined. You had dramatically less control over your kingdom than you did in previous entries, and in the end, it boiled down to two things: 1) select policy, and 2) fight a battle. That was it. However, in defense of 6E, just like DW6, this game gave that "battlefield feeling" far better than other games in the franchise. Like, you really FELT like you were in a war. You'd see other soldiers building siege weapons, breaking through gates, placing ladders to climb over walls, and at the same time the enemy forces were firing cannons in defense, and sending down soldiers to fight back. And even enemy officers were on the same level as your player character, and running into more than one really SUCKED. Still, though, the point stands that the entire experience was overall streamlined and freedom was taken away from you.

And in comes 7E, and it gives the entirety of Empire mode a complete overhaul, and you're in COMPLETE control of your empire. Now THAT was fun, despite the fact that armies in battle weren't nearly as interactive as they were in DW6. You were given more freedom in the way you built and ran your kingdom, and even on the creation of your own custom characters. Starting out as a wandering ronin and working your way to becoming the emperor was FUN, not a damn hassle like it was in 6.

8E is showing a LOT of promise, by delivering that, with a LOT more. I mean... they even hinted at you being able to create a story for your character and empire. THAT sounds exciting.

tl;dr, I'm looking forward to Dynasty Warriors 8: Empires a lot.

*looks around, slides back into lurker status*

[Super Waffle]

Does it let you mess around with the story mode so you can make something like this happen?

That would be a neat feature.

[X]

*peeks out of lurker status*

There you are 

Fellow dungeonites were wondering what had become of you.

[affinity]

This is sooo interesting!!   And the new UI font seems to foreshadow that the english font size will be bigger than before.
Getting this for PS3 and also PS4 when PS4 gets some improvements/deals.  I would have to get a new TV, so better
to get a PS4 closer to the localized release, maybe the console will have a sale or better PS4 models released then.

http://www.gamecity.ne.jp/smusou7e/mode-souhamode.html

http://www.gamecity.ne.jp/smusou7e/images/mode/souhamode/img1-1.jpg

[Claimh Solais]

This is sooo interesting!!   And the new UI font seems to foreshadow that the english font size will be bigger than before.
Getting this for PS3 and also PS4 when PS4 gets some improvements/deals.  I would have to get a new TV, so better
to get a PS4 closer to the localized release, maybe the console will have a sale or better PS4 models released then.

http://www.gamecity.ne.jp/smusou7e/mode-souhamode.html

http://www.gamecity.ne.jp/smusou7e/images/mode/souhamode/img1-1.jpg

That interface! Holy cow, that's really nice looking! :O

I really need to know if/when this game's coming here. I'm already picking up Samurai Warriors 4 and Warriors Orochi 3 Ultimate whenever those come out, and I still need to hit up Dynasty Warriors Gundam Reborn (though I'm waiting on this one, since my only experience with that subseries is the first one and it was bleh).

There you are 
Fellow dungeonites were wondering what had become of you.

Yeah, after finishing LoS2 and being hugely let down by it (despite somewhat liking it), I kinda lost interest in the series for a while. Such a shame, since I really liked the first one and MoF.

[affinity]

well it'll be a while.  Japan version releases in two months.  Though localization seems they will move towards that.  The Japan demos should be playable through Japan PSN accounts like the previous one.