Radious Interview by DannyTh3Man
Ok Radious, you are a well know modder for Shogun 2. When did you begin modding games?
I started with TW games since Rome Total War and thats the same time when i start with moding. But at this time i was total beginner and i made mods only for myself. Didnt know i can share them here on TWC and i would never thought that somebody would like them anyway. It was much easier to mod in older TW games, CA was different at that time.
So was Rome your first Total War game or no?
Yes, Rome was my first TW i played and modded. I had chance to play later Shogun and Medieval 1, but this was after and on Rome i really spend crazy amount of time (Rome 2 hurry)
Ah so you're in the Rome 2 boat? I'm in the China: Total War crowd. Anyway, when did you first visit/join the TWC?
I would not say i am on Rome 2 board, but Rome era is lovely and i spend probably most of the time in Rome from all TW games. I joined TWC after ETW release, but i knew this page and was around few years earlier.
What are your current modding plans for Shogun2?
Constant support and improving all my mods, sofar doing it regularly and i am not planning to stop until i think its finished, its ready and there is nothing else what i would like to add or change. Then i finished my complete overhaul mod build from most of my mods and i can say right now its huge one Plus i have additional 3 projects started, but all those require much time and patience so i will reveal something when i will closer to release, but i believe all of them can be interesting for many people.
How do you find the community's response and opinions to your mods?
Its same as in real life, some people do like my work, some dont. I am always open to polite disscussion so if person is able to express himself more then just say "Your mods suck" i will be pleased to listen him. I understand everyone likes something else and i never liked to tell people how exactly they should play their own game. This was one of the reasons why I had chose split my mods from start and offer them in many versions so people have the freedom of choice and can choose what it fits them most.
You mentioned you were working on projects. Details? Or are they a secret?
Not really secret, but its pretty hard part of a modding so i do not want to reveal much info until i am sure they will work as i want them. I can say that one of the projects is Unique faction garrisons, where i am trying to create unique garrisons for all 10 main clans, so it wont be same for all clans as it is now, but i run into some small troubles & as you probably know it requires about 50 new custom units, which is time killing :-) Also some of those files are supported in our current modding tool - PFM, so it must be converted and edited manualy, etc, another time consumption
Sounds interesting, best of luck for them. Now have you ever used another modders mod (Such as DarthMod, Total Realism, or TROM)?
I tried them, for sure, they are huge. But I am not using them, since I think I am able to change the game how I like I dont need mods from others, but all respect to them, the mods are fantastic. But they are bit different from my work, I see there many "realistic" parts which I do not really think they belong to game if they kill gameplay and fun. At least for me, everyone has different taste, so its great those mods are here, their fan base is huge.
Whats your opinion of the moddability of STW2?
It's the same as it is in ETW and NTW so from one site it's not worse (thank god) But compared to RTW or M2TW its joke how modding changed, CA changed it with ETW they came on steam and started their DLC policy. This prevent to create mods like RB or SS, such a mods are simply not possible, it's bit sad that modding was nerfed so much in new TW titles, because TW games have so many skilled and great modders which improved these games so much for so many people. DLCs in my opinion cant never replace them, expecially because they are not free
Do you see this trend continuing?
Yes sadly its not just problem of TW games, but now we live in time where every game must have DLCs, some already done before release, cut from the full games, selling small content for few euros. I am not really fan of this. I prefered much more older ways, where we got 1-2 big expansions, like Kingdoms
Nor is anyone, but I guess it really just comes down to economics
Would you pay a few euro to get your hands on CA published mod tools?
Depends on the mod tools and their price. It would be strange if they would release them at cost, I really dont know any game that would ever do that.
Honestly I am afraid for the future of modding
You are not alone For example, Rome 2 (if CA will do it) it must be a completely different game from ETW,NTW and S2TW. I can imagine with todays thinking - special rome legions - DLC. Germanic barbarian tribe - DLC. Carthagian faction - DLC. This scares me like hell. And with Rome 2 they would have to return siege weapons, city fight and much much more, i am not sure if CA is able to this anymore
Yes the siege combat feels downgraded
1-2 years as they had now on last 3 TW games is simply not enough for huge game as Rome must be. I know the publisher wants money and is pushing CA to crazy deadlines. The scale of NTW and S2TW were really small compared to older tw games
You think SEGA is cracking the whip on CA?
Well as every publisher their only goal is money, more money = better. Faster = better. Its not just sega, but almost every studio has these problems if they are not really huge and standalone - Blizzard for example. I remember times when older games had no patches. Today most new games after release are hardly playable, they need hotfixes, patches, etc. They are rushed.
Like that disaster that occured right after STW2 was released? the patch that broke the game
Yes for example that. When you are rushing things you make more mistakes, and we customers suffer from this the most.
Anyway, whats your favorite aspects of the game? most hated?
Hmmm what is my favourite? I think battles are really nicely done, not just graphics, but the complete pack. It's nice to watch from close those soldiers fighting, moving, animations etc.
Most hated? Troubles in modding Well i speak as modding nerd. In game i dislike the lack variety
Of course haha and you speak for a large part of the community.
All clans = clones. All clans = same units. As i said i do not care about realism, tw games were never about that so I would like to see different units in clans, at least different models, bigger differences between clans. It's an issue with replay value of the game, when the only difference is super small bonus for a clan, colour and starting position. I would like to see more.
Like truly unique units? ie Date used asigaru who wore mass produced samurai armor, and the Shimazu were really the only ones who fielded NoDachi
Well why not, each clan should have some unique units, but i dont mean hero units, normal unit special for this clan. Differences like shimazu's special version of katana samurai which looks exactly same and has 5% better stats then regualar one is not what I like. Maybe i want too much, but in medieval or rome we had this :-)
How do you like the Diplomacy in STW2?
Better then in ETW and NTW, for sure. But it has some strange flaws like with RD event or this dishonoring points for nothing
Best yet?
Best not really, older tw games had diplomacy system richer. It played bigger role
U prefer using diplomats?
I liked them, it was more hardcore, players had to take care about more things. Today its bit simple. Like you send some asigaru to some clan and those peasants can manage to make treaty for your clan, marriage and aliance at the same time
Ahahaha I see your point. Alright Radious, any last thoughts to share with the readers?
Play my mods, they are best , no not really. Play TW games in a way you liked them and how you want it., Have fun, because thats most important. Take care.
Alright thanks Radious for your time, you've been great. |