New Trailer for Total War: Warhammer 2 Curse of the Vampire Coast DLC
Last week, Creative Assembly teased an upcoming announcement, prompting fan speculation about which game the announcement could be for. The prevailing theory was that it would be the next DLC for Total War: Warhammer 2, and that has now proven true. Earlier today, Creative Assembly released a trailer for the upcoming DLC; Curse of the Vampire Coast.
The Curse of the Vampire Coast will launch on the 8th of November. Creative Assembly is offering players a 10% discount on the DLC price if they pre-order on Steam. Whether players purchase the DLC or not, Vampire Coasts factions will appear in the game under AI control.
The Vampire Coast Factions
Although fans were correct in assuming that the announcement would be DLC for Total War: Warhammer 2, it was not the faction that most players expected. The prevailing theories were that the DLC would introduce either the Halflings or Dogs of War; both lesser-known factions from the Warhammer tabletop wargame. As it turns out, Creative Assembly is introducing an entirely new faction which doesn’t exist in the tabletop game; the Vampire Coasts.
“It was the undying lord Luthor Harkon that laid claim to a stretch of Lustria’s east coast,” explains Creative Assembly; “Ever since, it has been a domain where the dead stir, leading expeditions into the jungle interior or setting sail across the Great Ocean to commit wanton acts of piracy. But the insane Arch-Commodore Harkon is not the only unliving admiral who takes to the seas with pistol-armed crews of zombies, vampiric depth guard, syreens and mournguls… there are other pirate lords who command dreadfleets of their own, packed to the gunwales with crews press-ganged into eternal service…”
The new Vampire Coasts factions can raise armies of zombie pirates and other undead horrors, as well as sea-dwelling monsters like giant hermit crabs. Their largest monster appears to be a towering skeleton formed from ship parts, with three cannons strapped to one arm.
What’s Included with Curse of the Vampire Coast
The upcoming DLC introduces 4 new Legendary Lords, a new Lore of Magic called the Lore of the Deep, and a host of new units and monsters. In addition, new campaign mechanics allow players to find and follow treasure maps, build unique ships for their Lords, and establish hidden “Pirate Cove” bases. Players can also ensure the loyalty of their Admirals with new “Fleet Offices,” and will have access to a new “Infamy” mechanic. In battle, Heroes will be able to replenish the ammunition of black powder units, and such units will also gain buffs when black powder stores are full.
Vampire Coasts factions will be playable in both the Eye of the Vortex and Mortal Empires campaigns, but not in the Great Vortex. Creative Assembly will not be adding naval battles with the DLC. However, in a very similar manner to a recent mod, a new feature will allow navies to disembark troops and fight on island maps when two fleets come into contact. Creative Assembly actually references the mod specifically in their DLC announcement; “These battle types may sound familiar to the modding community. Last week, we were somewhat surprised (and more than a little impressed) to see a new mod, made by Maruka and Marthenil, had been released which also adds a variant of these battle types to the game.”
Apparently, Creative Assembly contacted the modders last week to let them know about the upcoming feature; “We in no way want to take anything away from all the hard work they have poured in over the past year” says the studio; “and want to take this opportunity to give them a shout out.”