Need ideas for new pretenders.
 

I've been thinking about making a small mod that replaces some of the current pretenders with new ones. To this end I managed to locate some graphics, free from the web, but I'm drawing a blank on what pretenders to replace (curse this welldeveloped game http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon7.gif ) not to mention what abilities I should give the new ones. Please note that this idea of mine is not entirely serious.

The images are as follows:

A rather large dwarf complete with full beard, axe, shield and winged helmet.

Classic Robin Hood style archer with what looks suspiciously like pointed ears.

Burly fighter with horned helmet, shield and what looks a lot more like an oversized dagger then a sword.

A large flaming black gargoyle.

A very large "goatman" wielding a nasty looking scythe.

A brownskinned spiky angry looking humanoid. Actually the Imp from the old classic Doom.

A figure in blue robes with a purple hood, brandishing a gnarled stick.

A huge minotaur wielding a large onehanded hammer.

A dinosaur. The raptor kind of Jurassic Park fame.

A fourarmed woman with a mohawk. Think she's from the game Mortal Kombat. Perhaps she's Goros sister?

Big golden threeheaded draconian.

Any suggestions are welcome. If you also happen to know were to find more gamesprites or good animated gifs I would be glad to hear of it.

Re: Need ideas for new pretenders.
 

<font size="2" face="sans-serif, arial, verdana">No, give us GODZILLA!

<font size="2" face="sans-serif, arial, verdana">So it's a reskinned Nataraja?

<font size="2" face="sans-serif, arial, verdana">How about Trogdor? http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon7.gif Kinda like a dragon, only tramples, and has one beefy arm.

Re: Need ideas for new pretenders.
 

I have, in my own game, modded several Pretenders.

I have a Horsed Knight, in place of the Archmage, an Undead Knight in place of the Freak Lord, The Carrion Dragon has been altered to match more of what I want it to be like, The Female Titans Magic has been changed to a path I like, and the Moloch is now a Balrog, AKA, "The Lord of the Pit".

The Lord of the Pit is the most powerful pretender in the game, but I have him at 150 points, and he is probably not worth it. Those are the additions I have made so far. When Johan adds to the modding options, I have a bunch more plans.

Re: Need ideas for new pretenders.
 

This may be a bit farfetched and not what you are looking for, but it is simply off the top of my head:

- blue robes, purple stick:
Map Move 1, Lowish Dominion, low combat scores, 2 astral 1 water, new paths 30ish.
Special: Gnumpash the Wise has a chance of granting units in the province in which he dwells a +1 research ability if his dominion is strong there.

- flaming black gargoyle:
Flying, High Dominion, Fear, decent combat, free FoD/turn (dominion), knows blood, death, fire, new 50.
Special: Obash the Very Naughty needs blood of his believers to survive. He will eat 1 random non-commander or blood slave located in his province per turn, otherwise starvation and possible dominion drop.

Re: Need ideas for new pretenders.
 

Thinkthank: Hmmm... I'm not sure that those two pretenders are even possible. Very interesting thoughts all the same. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon12.gif

Norfleet: I tried making a Godzilla but I couldn't find a good attack image. People just make pictures of it facing forward. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon9.gif
And yes she would basicly be a female Nataranja, and hopefully the future will let me mod one into existance.
Trogdor? Errh... I didn't bring that one because the Dominions 2 Sprites made fun of him for being 8-bit.

Ctennyson: What graphics have you been using? I'm always on the lookout for more images. I think I've made five Versions of PvKs Avatar of Ulm so far. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon10.gif

Re: Need ideas for new pretenders.
 

this has prolly been suggested several times before, but ill just bring it up again.

id like to see a giant decaying brain as a pretender.
a brain that once belonged to some kind of monstrous intelligent whale that was realizin that his death was imminent. so it developed all kindsa *abilities*.
like magic and stuff.

so, this whale then extracted his own brain magically from his dieing physical body and by means of unholy rituals preserved it in an endlessly rotting state.

the pretender-brain would be immobile and only half-conscious.
only every second (or so) turn could be played becaus of its lack of consciousness.
and the rotten smell of the pretender would turn away like half of his total forces and 80% of the forces in his province EVERY TURN.

that would mean that the player playing the pretender would have to really focus on recruiting large amounts of new forces every turn.

what do you guys think? o_O
wouldnt that be like real fun ??!

Re: Need ideas for new pretenders.
 

A giant tree pretender would be pretty good. Immobile, but with good nature magic and relatively inexpensive. Maybe some other power, like being able to scry forest provinces or having a permanent guard of dryads. It'd be thematic for Man, Pangaea, Vanheim and Jotunheim.

I'd like to see the Allfather from Dom 1 as well. I don't like the new gigantic Version.

[ March 13, 2004, 12:42: Message edited by: Sandman ]

Re: Need ideas for new pretenders.
 

For the Horsed Knight, I use a Mounted Knight from Sube's Knights of the Light mod.

For the Lord of the Pit, I use the modified Moloch from...name omitted's Hell mod.

For the Death Knight, I use a captured Knight of the Unholy Sepulchre that I re-painted in photoshop, to recolor, since the capture sorta makes him look worse. For the others, I kept their current pics, while modding their magic/abilities.

For everything I modded, I kept them at or below the powerlevel per cost, except the Lord of the Pit, who as mentioned is definitely the most powerful pretender, but is probably not worth 150. He isnt the best SC, he is at roughly male Titan SC level, has a bunch of good powers, but not as good as VQ, and is 2/1 fire/death for magic, and with a cost of 50 for new paths, plus he is 150 points. I think this is the key for pretender mods, making sure that they are expensive enough that using that one is not a given, but cheap enough, and interesting enough, to be viable alternatives.

I never used or really looked at, the non-water based Archmage, or Freaklord, so they needed to go. Knights seemed a good idea, because A) Ulm needed a knight, and so did Marignon et al, in flavor, and B) Horsed fighting dudes are cool =)

I want to be able to add pretenders most of all. I hope Johan adds that for 2.09/2.10 whatever the next patch is. I cant wait to put this together. If I could draw at all, or the art files were open, I swear I'd mod every pretender in sight.

I'd definitely add the Tartarian Titans as pretenders, also. Dunno on costs, yet, and I'd change their stats, to make them inline with current pretenders, but they would be awesome for Jot/Van/Ermor/Carrion Woods. I'd like a Dead Ctis King, too, for Desert Tombs.

I have tons of things I'd like to do.

[ March 15, 2004, 05:32: Message edited by: Ctennyson ]

Re: Need ideas for new pretenders.
 

<font size="2" face="sans-serif, arial, verdana">Is he still a consumate coward that flees from any battle unless given a large screen of troops?

Re: Need ideas for new pretenders.
 

<font size="2" face="sans-serif, arial, verdana">You mean the Saurolich? He already exists.

Re: Need ideas for new pretenders.
 

<font size="2" face="sans-serif, arial, verdana">How many points are you proposing this chassis be worth? -2000? Losing every other turn is really, really harsh.

Re: Need ideas for new pretenders.
 

Ctennyson: Thanks for the hint about using graphics from other mods. Funny, but I had not thought of that.

I've reached somewhat of a breaktrough in the spritecollection. Some of you might remember the old classic 3Dshooter Doom. I seems it never really faded away but still has a thriving community that makes mods and conVersion for it. I've been scouring these WADs for sprites and found quite a few that can be used in Dominions 2 after some modification.

While I'm sure the idea of lightningspitting Cacodemons hovering over the battlefield is not everyones idea of a good mod I'm confident that I'll be able to create some kind of "Avatar Mod" pretty soon. If only for other modders so they can use the graphics in it as they please.

As always sprites of females, especially females wearing clothing, is in short supply. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/image...s/rolleyes.gif

Re: Need ideas for new pretenders.
 

Nah, Norfleet, Saurolich is the Lich/Sauramancer, not the King dude. King is an arch mage type, so King couldnt be immortal, immortals dont get spell picks at better than 40/path it seems.

Also, the Lord's autoimps are gone, lol, #clear is lovely =) He is more like a Titan, now, he only routs if you plan poorly, or get him killed.
Several nations have a shot at him, too, in my Last game, I used the Death Knight, and an AI used the Lord of the Pit. Man, he's tough.

Still, he could be dead, and likened to the Ghost King somewhat(Not identical, not ethereal, no ghost summons, etc), with cheap paths.

I am not out to necessarily do things that are just totally new, I just want to have everything I want to have, in the game as an option. Example: I'd like the King guy dead, for Desert Tombs. I'd like the Saurolich alive, for non-Desert Tombs theme. A Sauromancer with better stats, and in flavor paths. Is it necessary? Definitely not. Any Arch Mage would do. I just want it cuz its in flavor, and because I can.

Well, can when they allow the adding of pretenders, anyway.

Wauthan: with my utter lack of artistic talent, I must steal to produce. lol

[ March 15, 2004, 14:15: Message edited by: Ctennyson ]

Re: Need ideas for new pretenders.
 

The big dwarf you found might work for a King under the Mountain or Dwarf King pretender, high earth magic, expensive extra magic, good combat, adds to productivity and maybe provides +5 gold income per province.

Re: Need ideas for new pretenders.
 

<font size="2" face="sans-serif, arial, verdana">I thought I'd take this as a sort of term test... All 'answers' are not designed to be SC-style, but more to provide playable but entertaining options. Only a few details are provided, and I'm sure the missing bits are easily filled in... http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon7.gif

Answers:

1. Ulm: Friedrich the overweight dwarven smith has found sanctuary with the knights of Ulm, who actually take his 'flying helm' seriously. Air1 Earth1 + forge bonus, consumes enough for 5 normal men.

2. Pangaea: The Archer in Green is an archetypal force. Although easily slain, he is immortal, returning to infest his beloved forests anew - and always with a new bunch of rogues. Nature1 + immortal + summon villains.

3. Man: Spike is that rarity, a troll much-beloved by the otherwise starchy establishment of Man. Huge in size but a pussy-cat in a fight, you take him on at your peril. Earth1 + 150hp + cursed dagger.

4. Caelum: It is said that you become what you hate most. Nietzsche, winged hero of Caelum, has fought the Abysian warlords once too often - as his charred and deformed wings testify. Air1 Fire1 +30hp (a bit like a cold/fire resistant harbinger type?)

5. R'lyeh: The Black Goat brings absolute terror wherever it goes, whether in the depths of the sea or the heights of the hills. Death1 Astral1 + 80hp + fear +nonleader

6. Abysia: The Imperator of Abysia rose to pre-eminence on the backs of a million tiny warriors. Through blood and fire, he will claim the world. Fire1 Blood1 + summon imps (make him a w-imp?)

7. Ermor: Old Father Time has returned with only one thought on his mind - to lay down his burden and bury the world in final slumber. Death1 + immortal +skull staff

8. Pythium: Sledge was a domesticated monster, one of many bred for the Arena. But when the Dictum of Destiny fell upon him, he strode forth with his Midget Masher, vowing to make the World safe for Big People again... 120hp + midget masher + aegis + trample

9. C'tis: The Tachodont came to rule his swampy dominion by sheer speed and savagery, coupled with the glimmerings of a nasty intellect. Nature1 + 3/30 move + high attack/low defense.

10. Arcoscephale: And it came to pass, as the astrologers said, that the Conqueror died at the feet of the Death Goddess, and she said, "This is a Game worth playing..." Death1 Blood1 + stealth + assassinate

11. Marignon: They woke him as they dug the foundations for yet another fortress. They broke the seals which bound the Ancient Dragon, and the storm of flame and iron came to life. Fire1 Earth1 + 3 heads (i.e. 3 helms!) immortal SC. High cost - and he eats virgins.

That's it for now. This is what four espressos will do to you at night...

Re: Need ideas for new pretenders.
 

These don't go with the graphics you've found, but here's some Pretenders that seem like they should be found in the core game.

Giant Spider: Consider it based on Tolkien or TSR's Lolth or neither, but a natural for Machaka, with all its magic /semi-holy spider units.

Giant / Greater Werewolf: Still waiting for my full copy, so it's possible that Pangaea already has this.

Warlord / Knight pretenders, as several mentioned already: Fantasy literature, even mythology, is replete with warrior kings growing so powerful they aspire to deification. IMO, there's plenty of human mage based pretenders, great - but _no_ human warlord types?

Other animalistic pretenders: Raven, Coyote, etc, based on Native American / South American religions. (Again, possibly already present for, mmm, Mictlan.)