[mainline] Li'sar's hitpoints in HttT

[Turuk]

Zookeeper and I talked about this on IRC, as well as input from some other devs. She will get an increase in hit points, but at this point it has not been decided what else to give her (ability, attack, etc). The idea of an initiative like ability to have her give first strike to adjacent units was tossed around as a possibility.

[beetlenaut]

The idea of an initiative like ability to have her give first strike to adjacent units was tossed around

That's the best idea I've heard: Simple, useful, and unique (in mainline). It gets my vote.

[fabi]

"Distract" is fine.

Also, the hit and run ability is nice.

[Coffee]

Just want to throw in the "dauntless" option as well, where the unit would receive half the damage on attack.

[zookeeper]

I've now committed the hitpoint bump, from 52 to 62.

[Turuk]

Should I set up a poll? General consensus? Best 2 out of 3 in a cage fight?


EDIT: A poll has now been added to get the general consensus. This is by no means the determination of what it will be, but in case any player who did not comment wants to still give their two cents.

[Dugi]

The option initiative (Ability -Firststrike to neighboring units) is highly popular, but I am am not quite sure about the intended implementation. It would be very nice if it was included in the combat code and then added as a completely new ability, but I see that unlikely. Based on attack/attack end events would not show it in combat calculations. Adding it when the unit steps next to Li'sar and removing it when Li'sar moves away or the unit moves away would cause immense complications (adding it as an object and removing it as an object leaves trash in the unit, that will bloat save files, doing it through direct modification makes it prone to be removed when advancing, both are vulnerable to unexpected scenarioWML). I have created dirty hack that adds it almost flawlessly by adding a weapon special that adds firststrike with a condition to stand next to a unit with the ability, but that's even harder to reuse.

[zookeeper]

Ok, so I've decided to go with melee firststrike for adjacent allies. The code's finished (I think) but not committed yet.

[monochromatic]

Is there anything else we would need to do in order to get it committed? Perhaps testing?

[Turuk]

Is there anything else we would need to do in order to get it committed? Perhaps testing?

I usually just bombard zookeeper with emoticons on IRC and threaten him with hugs, but testing might be a better approach.

[zookeeper]

Ok, it's in. Testing wouldn't hurt.

[Turuk]

I got an error on trying to load the campaign:

[zookeeper]

Gah, stupid mistake. Fixed.

[Turuk]

I tested this both when Li'sar is an ally and when she's under player control, and it worked as expected both times.