Suggestion for new Oceana units

[JimMorrison]

Endo, the inclusion of SS is brilliant. I really think Survival traits would add new layers of strategy if more widely applied, and this is an excellent example.

[Sombre]

I'm dead set against them getting swamp survival. I don't see why they should. They aren't swamp dwelling races. If it's on the basis of them being amphibious, why not give all amphibians swamp survival?

[HoneyBadger]

One thing I've always wanted to see was the Great Kraken as an Ammonite. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ammonite
I find them much more interesting that simply bigger and bigger squids, maybe because I've actually held their fossils in my hands, but it would be fantastic if the Great Kraken could be a survivor of this extinct (as far as we know) species.

Another thing that could be fun is if there were some type of fossilized Ammonite underwater summons. Imagine a Great Kraken, only now it's made from living stone.

There are all kinds of really interesting extinct animals out there that could be put back into the game in various ways and forms, to very good use.

[JimMorrison]

Sombre said:
I'm dead set against them getting swamp survival. I don't see why they should. They aren't swamp dwelling races. If it's on the basis of them being amphibious, why not give all amphibians swamp survival?

Why not indeed? But I think it's more on the basis that they are aquatic origin amphibians, as opposed to land origin amphibians. That distinction may be important, may not be. Like I said, I think Survival traits should be more widespread - not because of the Supply issue, but because it opens up options for movement. And in this case, new strategic options for a nation that has few of them currently.

[Endoperez]

Sombre said:
I'm dead set against them getting swamp survival. I don't see why they should. They aren't swamp dwelling races. If it's on the basis of them being amphibious, why not give all amphibians swamp survival?

It came from thinking if it would be possible to have Ichtycentaurs run on water, i.e. sailing for Ichtycentaurs lead by Ichtycentaurs. I realized the current Sailing command wouldn't work and implementing another mechanic would be a huge process at this point, so I didn't even mention it in my post.
Then, from that, I thought that at the very least they should be able to do that on swamps. I liked the mechanical effect it would give them, so I suggested Swamp Survival.

[Tifone]

This thread is so damn exciting... the idea of "nature is pissed off" applied to the ocean guys seem great to me

As I wasn't able to find a guide to MA Oceania and didn't play it yet, I just would like if someone tells me briefly what are this nations weaknesses and strong points and how does it play usually in early, mid, late game. Briefly ^_^

Because I would like to find something imaginative and nice too, but also not completely unbalanced or twisting to its natural gameplay.

The ideas I liked the most for now are the crocodile (it could be a nice water/nature summon) and the chariot lead by hippocampi or dolphins ^^ And even the amphibian Ichtycentaurs gallopping furiously on the surface of water (and the consequently swamp survival trait) is an EPIC image

[Wrana]

Dolphin chariot is good idea. Though it's possible that it won't add so much to Oceania specifically. According to MA idea of more advanced technology, they could gain some harpoon-throwing troops, though...
Considering Ammonite - it could be cool idea, but unfortunately, this would be trading much movement for some more protection. And fossils are out of question here, as such fossils would only contain shell - so nothing to reanimate... In any case some type of Kraken mage summon would be cool for this purely aquatic race. Another possibility could be well-armored giant slug(s) with some special effects or crabs which could leave water...
Considering swamp survival: this is good idea in my opinion, but maybe not so appropriate for ichtycentaurs... Maybe some special unti/summon (like the above-mentioned slugs) could be better.
Another beast often forgotten is hyppopotamus - that's quite amphibious creature (though it breathes with lungs just as crocodiles do) with trampling and very healthy bite, though it's somewhat smaller than elephant (size 5?).

[Tifone]

Actually, the hyppo is the 2nd beast in Africa for number of men slaughtering... but it still reminds me too much the Disney ones XD

Well, jokes aside, on a second thought maybe - maybe - the hyppo as well as the crocodyle are a little too far from the "Raging Sea" that was in the ideas of Baalz and others.
Maybe they should be common nature/water summons?
For MA Oceania many of the other creatures people talked about seem nice... except IMHO Scylla... the Odyssey is very unclear about its nature, it's just some kind of hydra with 12 heads but not a lot more is known... not so original I think. ^_^ Maybe the Northern myths are more fitting?

[Baalz]

The reason I really like the Scylla is because

1) It fits very well thematically with a nation that already has Sirens

2) It fits very well from a gameplay point of view for a nation that *really* someting amphibious, poison resistant, and tough enough to frontline.

3) It wouldn't need to be just like a hydra, and knowing Illwinter I doubt it would. It could be smaller, have no poison aura, no regeneration, more armor, more fear, is a berserker, doesn't use the same head loss mechanic, etc. There are lots of ways that it could be made to play drastically different than the hydra, and the very ambiguousness about it's nature plus a little creative license give a lot of leeway.

4) It's just hella cool

[Endoperez]

Wrana said:
Considering Ammonite - it could be cool idea, but unfortunately, this would be trading much movement for some more protection. And fossils are out of question here, as such fossils would only contain shell - so nothing to reanimate... In any case some type of Kraken mage summon would be cool for this purely aquatic race.

Hidden in Snow: frozen corpses that have survived in ancient glaciers
Hidden in Sand: corpses mummified and protected by dry sand of ancient deserts
Reawaken Fossil: LA Abysia national spell to reanimate "the fossilized giants once defeated by fire in the valley of Megiddo"

1+2 = Hidden Under the Waves?
Water/Nature Aboleth hybrid crossbreed monsters with various terrifying abilities?
Water/Death ammonite monsters with thick shells and lots of tentacles? (I suggest nipponite shells.)
Water/Earth for something that lives deep, VERY deep! Things somewhat like the EA Atlantis Deep Ones, but worse. Perhaps a swarm of hivemind-worms, something like mindless Aboleth polyps?

Things like eel/oar fish, ray fish or something like that is strange.

EDIT: It seems question marks in the url only work in preview...