Let's discuss about the emperor of Nippon, he is known to be semidivine, called Divine Sun...

Ekix#9944

He could be a different kind of supernatural creature like a yokai-dragon of the Sun? By lore footnotes he looks like a Kostlatyn type, blessing others and not being strong by himself.

Nippon is not going to be ignored by GW and CA, japanese culture is very popular worldwide because anime and manga. I am concerned what yokai could look like a sun... and I think I know the answer: a kitsune emperor shapeshifter with 9 or 12 golden tails. This way they would avoid rivalry with China/Cathay and please the otaku/japanese geeks masses.

In lore its said the emperor of Nippon is weak military, it may be done by doing the emperor a child/teen character, or even turn it into a young empress kitsune shapeshifter, it would make Nippon even viral in popularity outside the usual total war warhammer community. I think they wil do Nippon, and they will do Nippon this way, the most cash grabber way.

I have many more thinkings about Nippon: I concluded thinking Nippon Emperor o Empress will be a human-kitsune shapeshifter because the skaven Eshin learnt magic from the mages of Nippon, and magic of Nippon is very related in warhammer lore to their ninjas.

Also, the only popular yokai wich fits perfectly into Ninjas magic are Kitsunes.
The only supernatural creature with popularity to the level of chinese dragons without being repetitive are kitsunes.
The only possible for an eye-catching Divine Sun emperor is a kitsune with many tails, they may look very supernatural but they are weak, usually known to act with very ninja behavior.

Nippon armies will be peasants, cannons, samurais and ninjas (assasin spellcasters) and top best ninjas will be yokai kitsunes like the emperor, the low tier ninjas will be humans. We may see some other yokais but kitsunes will reign Nippon.

brago90#3911

I can't imagine Nippon without being ruled by someone based on Oda Nobunaga and Oda Nobunaga is nicknamed the demon king...

Grba#3181

Was thinking also of making a thread about Nippon leader,but you beat me to it.I also think that he similar to Dragon Emperor and is some kind of celestial leader of his country.

Moneris#2622

They should bring back the Kensai from Shogun Total War 1 (The first single entity unit ever made by CA)



The Kensai (sword saint) is an exceptional
individual who's martial prowess makes him
almost invincible in battle. He is capable of
taking on whole units of enemy troops, and
is ideal for taking and holding key positions
such as castle gates and bridges.

Kensai is the term for "sword saints", the almost
superhuman masters of the sword that only
years of training and dedication can produce.
Although he lived at the end of the Sengoku
period, Miyamoto Musashi was one such figure.


Imagine that but with actual magic running through the sword.

JToegiTheSnotling#6624

I was right in middle of making a Nippon lore and roster ideas thread. It's taking so long, but I'm almost done. Here's what I came up with for the Emperor.

I'm thinking the Emperors are from a long dynasty starting from a half human and half Storm God being, but as generations go on the cosmic powers fade more. Currently the Emperor is a shadow of his family's former power. Then he gets assassinated. Leaving his only son as the next heir. Who is still but only a child. This leads to an all out civil war between the clans and he has to unify his Empire.

Goatforce#6625

Whilst I imagine Kitsune will be in a Nippon roster... As the Emperor? Nah.

But god I want Noppon.

Maedrethnir#1968

Gyaru Chuunibyou Tsundere Emperor!

Mr_Finley7#4571

Why can’t he just be human? Karl Franz is cool because he’s just a remarkable man.

I’m a little disappointed that the Dragon Emperor is a full on Dragon God as I like semi relate able human nations in my Warhammer, but that’s just me

HeresyHound

First of all, I'm going to need sources for everything you say since you like to quote fan fiction so often.

Secondly, either way just throw any and all lore on Nippon out the window cause it is unlikely it will still be relevant

JToegiTheSnotling#6624

DrownedHound said:

First of all, I'm going to need sources for everything you say since you like to quote fan fiction so often.

Secondly, either way just throw any and all lore on Nippon out the window cause it is unlikely it will still be relevant

The old Nippon lore is extremely lame and is barely even considered canon by 8th edition. So I fully expect them to be completely redone with the Old World update.

55JoNNo

I'm pro Nippon but they should start from scratch. The old lore is like random musings / scribbles on the back of a packet of ciggies by some guys in the 80's/90's.

They should be more creative with it.

But obviously we still need ninjas.

Dezpo#6801

Netero!

JToegiTheSnotling#6624

Dezpo said:

Netero!

I am in full support of this

Omega_Warrior

I wouldn’t expect nippon’s emperor to be very powerful. Having a shogun being in charge of nippon feels far more on point for a Japanese fantasy race.

talonn#7575

I for one don't want another demigod as a ruler..

Commissar_G#7535

I’m 99% sure the head deity of Japan, Amaterasu is female. Depicted as the sun, a serpent, a dragon and a 9 tailed fox. So I’m already 100% sure you’re just doing typical Equix head canon already.

GhorghonMaster

I like the idea of kitsune empress as weak religion symbol but I think Onis must be the noblese of lord samurais.
Japanese needs similar trearment like Cathay with different monsters on top of the chain.

Sir_Godspeed#8395

I'm a bit iffy on BOTH Nippon and Cathay being ruled by literally-divine rulers. Bretonnia, Kislev and the Empire and even the elves of Ulthuan do pretty well with powerful-but-otherwise-normal rulers.

IoriYamada

I recommend the Green Cross Code when entering Nippon:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5STaQqkC_VU

Archmark#3881

First of all, they should change the faction's name. Everyone knows 'Nippon' is just 'Japan' in japanese, right?

RamsesIII#4621

I get that Cathay's treatment opens new doors in the franchise, and I agree that GW should expand on a lot of the more vague parts of their worldbuilding, but tbh even with game 3 potentially getting more campaign packs and race packs than game 2, I feel like there's way too many other candidates of similar or greater chances.

Also, while I like Nippon using elements of japanese mythology as well as drawing inspiration from old WHFB lore bits, the result should be as different as possible to Cathay's current concepts, including the role of their LLs in the world.

Lunaticprince#9972

RamsesIII said:

I get that Cathay's treatment opens new doors in the franchise, and I agree that GW should expand on a lot of the more vague parts of their worldbuilding, but tbh even with game 3 potentially getting more campaign packs and race packs than game 2, I feel like there's way too many other candidates of similar or greater chances.

Also, while I like Nippon using elements of japanese mythology as well as drawing inspiration from old WHFB lore bits, the result should be as different as possible to Cathay's current concepts, including the role of their LLs in the world.

Not get me wrong, alone cd, hobo and dow would be have more races then game 2.

But would be a damm shame is all we get, when potential is really big now.

We have to see the map but if we just have pretty much cathay we can burrow them.

LordSolarMach#5538

Archmark said:

First of all, they should change the faction's name. Everyone knows 'Nippon' is just 'Japan' in japanese, right?

Cathay is just an old name for China, and they stuck with it. I figure you could split the difference, and call a new faction "The [new made up word] of Nippon", and then offhandedly refer to it mainly as The [new made up word] while still keeping Nippon as a part of the name.

//

Also, I'll repost my lone voice on the matter: Nippon should be a Norsca-esque bad-guy antagonist faction. Not necessarily Chaos, but a lot of people like playing evil and we just had Cathay added as a giant good-guy block. Also, take inspiration for their look from this dude from the Scions of the Flame:

Moneris#2622

It might be controversial to portray the Japanese inspired faction as evil while portraying the Chinese inspired faction as good. Considering current tensions and nationalist rhetoric it might be safer to simply make both factions morally neutral but still rivals.

Pocman#6295

Sp the best we can come fo Nippon is Cathay 2.0?

Ferestor#5771

Nippon should be a isonlist state with is neutral.

I hope they go with Amaterasu as a leader or godess.

Kitsune should be a unit/hero.

Tyrant#1234

Archmark said:

First of all, they should change the faction's name. Everyone knows 'Nippon' is just 'Japan' in japanese, right?

They can change it to Nihon

talonn#7575

I personally think "Odaiba" sounds cool and can be good replacement for Nippon

Thomassini

Commissar_G said:

I’m 99% sure the head deity of Japan, Amaterasu is female. Depicted as the sun, a serpent, a dragon and a 9 tailed fox. So I’m already 100% sure you’re just doing typical Equix head canon already.

It’s not typical Equix head canon as there are no mentions of undead in Nippon’s army. Yet.

55JoNNo

LordSolarMach said:

Archmark said:

First of all, they should change the faction's name. Everyone knows 'Nippon' is just 'Japan' in japanese, right?

Cathay is just an old name for China, and they stuck with it. I figure you could split the difference, and call a new faction "The [new made up word] of Nippon", and then offhandedly refer to it mainly as The [new made up word] while still keeping Nippon as a part of the name.

//

Also, I'll repost my lone voice on the matter: Nippon should be a Norsca-esque bad-guy antagonist faction. Not necessarily Chaos, but a lot of people like playing evil and we just had Cathay added as a giant good-guy block. Also, take inspiration for their look from this dude from the Scions of the Flame:

You are not alone! I saw this mini and had the same thought too.

We have sooo many "good and ordered" human civilizations. As we know from real life, that is just not often the case. Where is the aggressively expansionist, destructive human nation? I also agree that you wouldn't make them Chaos Worshippers... something more interesting with their own God(s) akin to Chaos Dwarfs.

If you are just going to make a warhammer analogue for every real world nation then at least make it varied instead of copy pasting Feudal Japan into the game with a few monsters.