Suggestions

[l'Ancien]

So back to my first suggestion on this thread.

How about "Master Assassin" instead of "Murderer" ? To me, murderer sounds a little unprofessional and more spontaneous, like a step down from assassin, rather than a step up.


Speaking of Assassins, etc. Is there any way to improve Death's ability to survive autocalc fights with a non-Balkoth Death Lord? He seems more likely to die in autocalc than before, which means he occasionally dies when attacking other faiths or marauders, depriving me of the opportunity to flatten him, but also making him seem a little less scary since anyone can kill him (even though the Balkoth survival depended on fleeing).

This help should only work for autocalc, preferably AI vs AI autocalc, if that can be distinguished.

P.S.

How about Beast Master (instead of Conqueror). I don't know if Chaos is likely to conquer anything, they just came for the fight, and then they leave.

The other Lord names are pretty cool.

I also think it's cool that the special Lords are being rotated in as possible foes. (I assume that's for AI only, not for players?)

[Boaster]

The difference with Balkoth being a lot more dangerous in auto-calcs is that he can cast spells, and is ranged.

Another big decision maker is the Balkoth's Scythe artifact. Balkoth's Scythe will enhance any Champion's survivability through auto-calcing tremendously.

The way things are setup in my mod, Balkoth will not start with his Scythe. I've tried setting things up different ways, but the game is obviously limited.

If you want Balkoth to be better than he naturally is, give him the Scythe. Or for that matter, give any unit the Scythe.

[l'Ancien]

Not so much better, per se, but just kept alive until I get to him.

Yeah, I figured though. No way to give artifacts automatically to AI Lords? That's too bad.

[Boaster]

I'll look for a way. When I find it, I will add it to the mod.

[Boaster]

And it is done! Balkoth, when selected by the computer, will now come with Balkoth's Scythe and Balkoth's Shield. I've toned down the added luck bonus for Balkoth when using the scythe.

Still continuing to test things.

[Boaster]

lancien said:

So back to my first suggestion on this thread.

How about "Master Assassin" instead of "Murderer" ? To me, murderer sounds a little unprofessional and more spontaneous, like a step down from assassin, rather than a step up.


Speaking of Assassins, etc. Is there any way to improve Death's ability to survive autocalc fights with a non-Balkoth Death Lord? He seems more likely to die in autocalc than before, which means he occasionally dies when attacking other faiths or marauders, depriving me of the opportunity to flatten him, but also making him seem a little less scary since anyone can kill him (even though the Balkoth survival depended on fleeing).

This help should only work for autocalc, preferably AI vs AI autocalc, if that can be distinguished.

P.S.

How about Beast Master (instead of Conqueror). I don't know if Chaos is likely to conquer anything, they just came for the fight, and then they leave.

The other Lord names are pretty cool.

I also think it's cool that the special Lords are being rotated in as possible foes. (I assume that's for AI only, not for players?)

Yes, other Champions are being rotated in as potential foes. Special Champions include: Lancelot, Balkoth, Lich, Witch, Orc Warlord, and Swashbuckler (formerly known as Brunhilde unit). These are for computer players only.

Murderer fits the description. A ruthless killer. Assassins are hired help. The Death Thief Lord isn't hired, he's there to rule by fear or force.

Conqueror is better than Beast Master, because he's really not mastering any beasts. He's a Conqueror because they hunger for battle and they fight for glorious victories. If a unit were to Charm beasts, that would be different.

[l'Ancien]

I was thinking of Beast Master as a comparison to Beast Rider, but you're right, he's not an animal whisperer.

Murderer still bugs me though. Murder is illegal. If he's the ruler, then what he does isn't illegal (in his own culture). But then you run into trouble, so I won't follow that legal thinking any further.

There are two meanings of the word assassin. In modern or current usage, an assassin is typically one who kills political leaders by stratagem or surprise for political reasons (including insurgent or covert wars). In medieval-inspired fantasy literature one can sometimes find an assassin's guild, established in mockery of legal guilds for tradesmen, but that provides a place to contract for hired help assassins (currently called hitmen). Presumably, the head of an assassin's guild is also an assassin, even if he no longer accepts contracts personally, and it's more of an administrative post. The "Assassin Lord" is somewhere between those two. Presumably, he intends to kill the leaders of the other factions, and is quite capable of doing it himself. But he also has an assassin's guild, where he may teach younger assassins the trade. Both meanings contribute to the concept of a Master Assassin, although I am relying more on the Fantasy model. He's a professional assassin who has risen to the executive post in the guild, and is now seeking his own political ambitions, using his mastery of the techniques of the assassin trade.

Murderer just makes me think of Agatha Christie's characters or Perry Mason's targets, that stand up at the end and snivel "You see why I had to kill him, don't you?"

[Boaster]

I think a Murderer fits best because its more violent than an Assassin. Murderers kill for sport, pleasure, or whatever twisted reason.

For example, OJ Simpson is a Murderer. He wasn't paid to kill his wife, that we know of at least. Think of OJ Simpson as your Death Thief Lord. He wasn't hired from a Thieves Guild, he was born to kill, [Laugh out Loud].

By the way, I changed Swashbuckler to Valkyrie. I couldn't think of the word before, so I used Swashbuckler. Oh how stupid I can be.

[Boaster]

Anyways, the Valkyrie, Orc Warlord, Witch, Lancelot, and Balkoth now spawn with their own unique weapon types.

Witch => Wicked Staff
Orc Warlord => Axe of the Orcs
Valkyrie => Maiden Spear
Lancelot => Shield of Quality
Balkoth => Scythe and Shield of Balkoth


Each of the Items above, except for Balkoth's, are a little bit better than a normal lord's starting artifacts. Balkoth's are obviously imba, [Laugh out Loud].

The Special Champions as Leaders will only generate for the Computer Players.

[l'Ancien]

Valkyrie, yes, of course. I didn't even think of that either. Of course, that's what she is.

That's cool. I really look forward to random opponent champions, and being able to give them unique artifacts is even better.

Is there a way you can do something similar for normal AI Lords, without human players getting them to start with?

OJ has no class. That's the problem. I think of murderers as losers, like OJ. Assassins are scary. They are very good at what they do, and they don't make dumb mistakes. Someone who can survive and come out on top of the backstabbing, cut-throat politics of an assassin's guild has got to be very scary. So, my assumption is, he has to be a "former" paid assassin, who got so powerful he gained control of the entire business, and they all work for him.

Are you just playing off of the vengeful followers who say "Murderer! You killed our Lord, and now we will hunt you down." or whatever.

[Boaster]

Okay, then just think of Murderers as Asssassins gone wild!

I didn't realize that side effect of the bolt spells change to area effect.

The radius targeting procedure is set to only target enemies. Not to long ago I added code to the game for procedures to affect only allies, and then one to affect both friendly and enemy in a radius. The Drowning and Locust Swarm spell will use Both, but both will possitively affect allies.

I can probably make computer AI Lords start them with their legendary items on hard mode. I'd have to experiment with that.

[l'Ancien]

Cool to all

(Except wild assassins.)

Assassins are supposed to be cold, subtle, calculating and precise, and nearly impossible to catch.

Murderers are usually cowardly, clumsy, stupid, careless, and always get caught by the end of the movie/book/whatever.

Death Assassin Lords are supposed to be more subtle and skilled than Death assassins, not "wild". Despite the yellow hood. Wild bad guys are careless, and blow things for themselves.

The scariest bad guy is one in perfect control of himself and everything around him.