The Rail Network is a gameplay mechanic in Fall of the Samurai.
General Information[]
In Fall of the Samurai, movement ranges for armies and agents is initially effectively much shorter than their equivalents in Total War: Shogun 2, due to the increased map size. However, armies and agents alike can make use of a rail system, using trains to ferry them across the land more rapidly than normal marching would allow. This is useful for quickly shipping freshly trained troops to the front lines or anywhere else they're needed as long as provinces support building a rail system. To use a rail system, select an agent or an army, then right click on a railway station. Selecting a station on the map provided moves them from one station to another.
While travelling on a rail, armies and agents still deplete movement points, but at a much more efficient pace. They automatically disembark at the nearest railway station if they run out of movement points before reaching their destination.
Not all provinces can build rails. Provinces that can support rails begin the campaign with a Telegraph Office, which needs to be upgraded before they function as railroads. Provinces that allow railroads only exist on the main island of Honshu, and generally include the provinces on the south side of the island.
Rails can be sabotaged by agents or damaged by armies, rendering them temporarily useless. Even having armies halt at a rail prevents passage through it.
Legend[]
An example is shown on the right. Large dots denote stations that have been built, while small dots indicate telegraph offices (which cannot transport troops until they are upgraded). Green lines indicate rails that the player's troops can use, while red lines indicate rails that are not yet built or cannot otherwise be used.
Yellow represents provinces the player owns. Blue represents allied factions. Green is the current province selected, as well as the provinces that troops would travel through were they to use rail. Red and dark red provinces are held by hostile forces, whose rails cannot be used. Grey represents neutral factions, whose rails also cannot be used.
Trivia[]
- The locomotive used with the game's railways is based on the JGR Class 110 which was one of the earliest steam locomotives in Japan being introduced in 1872.