Jade Empire Release - Samurai Museum in Berlin Inspiration

Hey all!

For this month's STL release, 'Jade Empire,' I went the extra mile (literally!) and gathered real-life references to make sure it’s the best it can be. Did you know there’s an actual Samurai Museum in Berlin? It’s just a few hours from where I live, so I had to check it out – and wow, it did not disappoint.

Fun fact: the museum houses one of the largest collections of authentic samurai armor outside of Japan! It was packed with history, culture, and, of course, some of the most epic weapons and armor. If you’re into swords, helmets, and all things samurai, this place is heaven!

One of the coolest parts of the exhibition was the incredible collection of katanas. They had blades from various time periods, and I got to see the evolution of the samurai sword from simple, functional designs to intricate, decorative masterpieces. The armor was equally mind-blowing, especially seeing how it evolved with influence from the western world and firearm use. What's interesting is that each piece of armor wasn’t just for protection - it was also a symbol of the wearer’s status, identity, and even family history. Another highlight was the archery section, showcasing the Japanese bows and how integral it was to early samurai warfare.

I’ve collected so much inspiration for our ‘Jade Empire’ release from this trip, and now I’m sharing some pics with you too!

Oh, and here’s another cool fun fact: Our RPG release ‘Slayer Masquerade’ happens to drop during the Yokai Festival in Japan. And if you’re familiar with our toolkit for the month, you’ll know that the yokai plays a huge role as the main antagonist. By the way, not all yokai are spooky or evil; some are actually quite playful and bring good luck. But I haven't managed to travel there too, haha. Hopefully in the future!

Thank you all for sticking with TPGEO on this incredible journey! We’re already working hard on future releases, and we can’t wait to show you what’s coming next.