Random background units/monsters, redux.

Circon · Post by **Circon** » December 2nd, 2004, 7:47 pm

Brought off from http://www.wesnoth.org/forum/viewtopic.php?t=3843, which went into flaming and commenting.

I think we can have several 'critters' such as snakes, hawks, boars and bears. These would be mostly lvl 0 (bear lvl 1, perhaps?) and would add a nice "background" flavor. They would not give much feature creep as they would not be recruitable units, only background elements of the terrain they are in.
(Even make them allied sometimes in HttT... the orcs, being merciless brutes, will hunt them down when they see them. Nice flavor for the game, IMO.)

Here's one example: The Viper.
[unit]
name=Viper
race= undead (to prevent being poisoned)
image=viper.png
hitpoints=12
movement_type= elusivefoot/swampfoot?
movement=7
experience=0
level=0
alignment=neutral
advanceto=null
cost=8
usage=fighter
unit_description="These small snakes are relatively rare in Wesnoth, but still fairly bothersome. While they can be deadly to commoners, they are only a minor irritant to armies or anyone with ranged means of attack."
get_hit_sound=hiss.wav
[resistance]
holy=80
cold=130
fire=90
blade=100
impact=100
pierce=70
[/resistance]
[attack]
name=bite
type=pierce
range=short
damage=6
number=1
special=poison
[/attack]
[/unit]

The image is a mock-up, it is nowhere near final, and I am no graphics artist. It is only an example of what could be done.

cobretti · Post by **cobretti** » December 2nd, 2004, 9:25 pm

Hmm, I think I can remember somebody said something about "Circon, please don't draw units"

I agree they would add some background. I don't agree about making them allied to anybody, at least as a norm, even if there are northerners in the map, and I definitely don't think giving a snake the same speed as a horse is a good idea. It's far faster than many units...

For the graphic, I'll comment also that it should be smaller, IMO. With the relative size of units, it's more like an anaconda

Post by **turin** » December 2nd, 2004, 10:10 pm

it would be really annoying having these guys cause ZoC problems when they are obviously no threat at all.

MadMax · Post by **MadMax** » December 2nd, 2004, 10:51 pm

Circon wrote:I think we can have several 'critters' such as snakes, hawks, boars and bears. These would be mostly lvl 0 (bear lvl 1, perhaps?) and would add a nice "background" flavor. They would not give much feature creep as they would not be recruitable units, only background elements of the terrain they are in.
(Even make them allied sometimes in HttT... the orcs, being merciless brutes, will hunt them down when they see them. Nice flavor for the game, IMO.)

Like the units in FtF? I have:

cow
horse
chicken
crow
rabbit
falcon (lvl 1)
wolf (lvl 1)
rock golem (lvl 2)
lava monster (lvl 2)
lava beast (lvl 3)

However, the crow and falcon use WML to animate them, and the wolf on down play a role in scenarios.

Kamahawk · Post by **Kamahawk** » December 4th, 2004, 2:30 am

How about an ability that disables a units ZOC? like "inoffencive" or somthign like that.

MadMax · Post by **MadMax** » December 4th, 2004, 2:56 am

Kamahawk wrote:How about an ability that disables a units ZOC? like "inoffencive" or somthign like that.

I think that NPCs should have a ZOC, because they can be used for scenario purposes.

Circon · Post by **Circon** » December 5th, 2004, 2:31 pm

Making them allied, as I proposed, would stop ZoC annoying you.

Yes, movement needs to be toned down, but it was a first draft... Dropping a few of these as enemies in a swamp would be nice effect, IMO, without being too dangerous.

Elusivefoot was mainly to give a defense value, not movement cost. I was thinking 2/3/4 in different terrains.

Breeblebox · Post by **Breeblebox** » February 23rd, 2005, 9:18 pm

Mmm, creeps. Having creatures that are neutral as far as the plot goes, and indifferent to each other, that wander around the map would be neat. Did this discussion go any further?

iBrow · Post by **iBrow** » February 24th, 2005, 5:01 am

I agree that neutral creatures would be cool and add flavour, but I agree with others that they shouldn't have ZoC... that just wouldn't make any sense. How could the presence of a snake or a hawk possibly impede the advance of an army?

Post by **Sangel** » February 24th, 2005, 5:18 am

Well that's easy enough. Just make them Level 0, then they'll have no Zone of Control. Few creatures are a serious threat to a fully armed warrior anyway.