A race idea: Harpies

[SL]

I wasn't saying those things needed to be added, I was just pointing out that "they've covered all of the different unit categories you could have" wasn't really accurate (IMHO). I think it's good that no race is a jack-of-all-trades and that they each have their own style and abilities.

But I have to contest what you've said about bats and ghosts being good on the sea: Most of my bats die horrible deaths at the hands of wimpy enemy units (Largely scout cavalry, merfolk, and the like). As for ghosts, they move incredibly slowly over the sea (Which is a good thing, balancewise), which makes them horrible units to try to fight merfolk with. Admittedly, they are good at stepping one space into the sea to whack enemy units there, since their defense doesn't go way down when they wade out there. Maybe that's what you were referring to.

I actually had a vampire bat level up to a Blood Bat (level 2) the other day, only to die horribly at the hands of some wimpy enemy unit as soon as I sent him into combat. Ah well... I can understand if they're just supposed to be scouts, but what's the point of letting them level up then? You can't level up without fighting stuff, so...

[Jetrel]

I actually had a vampire bat level up to a Blood Bat (level 2) the other day, only to die horribly at the hands of some wimpy enemy unit as soon as I sent him into combat. Ah well... I can understand if they're just supposed to be scouts, but what's the point of letting them level up then? You can't level up without fighting stuff, so...

If you intend to use them for combat, bats must absolutely be used at night, and they must be used in groups. The primary advantage of them is that even though they aren't that cheap, they cost NO upkeep - so if you get a good income you can just keep churning them out till you're blue in the face.

Though they have no zone of control, they are great for swarming enemy archers in open terrain.

The catch with them, though, is that the fact of them depending on drain and doing more damage at night makes them even more polarized on the alignment scale - bats are fairly useless in combat during the day, but a reasonable threat at night.

[aelius]

I think that harpies would only work as an addition to the Undead, not as a faction. Otherwise, we'd end up with an incomplete faction that wouldn't be used much. The Undead need some more units.

Rather than force each new unit idea into a pre-existing faction, why don't we just add in clumps of units (unused) and then work them into factions. I for one think the idea of harpies is kind of neat and would like to see them in the game.

Maybe one unit that has two level two branches?

- b.

[scott]

Maybe one unit that has two level two branches?

- b.

Hmmm....
Dirty hippie
Filthy hippie
Diseased hippie

Wait, I mean harpie.

[RequiemOfReason]

Hmmm....
Dirty hippie
Filthy hippie
Diseased hippie

Wait, I mean harpie.

Well, we could try:
Harpy Scout-
Harpy Scavenger (drain?)
or
Filthy Harpy->Harpy Plaguebringer

[Assasin]

Funny. This is more bizzare then the Dark Elves, it's interesting.

If you are going to add anything to the Undead, you should take away the walking corpse and add somthing that would be better against holy.

[SL]

Hey, I LIKE the walking corpse.

[Assasin]

then you can sit in your corner all by yourself and when they are removed

The Undead are for good players who enjoy a challenge, a hard challenge. They are so diverse, they're hard to use.

[egbert]

These harpies sound neat. Perhaps you could tie the whole race into one unit.


************** /Harpy Spear -> Harpy Huntress -> Harpy Striker
A level 0 Harpling <- Harpy Neophyte -> Harpy Priestess -> Harpy Enchantress
************** \Harpy Scout -> Harpy Ranger

[RequiemOfReason]

All from one lvl 0? Me like. Perhaps it could be called "Harpy Chick"? How about "Harpy Hatchling" or even just "Young Harpy"?
At least one of the lines should have poison, though, and we should make it sound flavourwise, not as venom, but as filth.

[Nicolas]

I have read the book of Virgilio and i have readen that "they tryed to kill the arpies with the swords,and when they took away the food they escaped.The mens tried to kill them with the bows,but it haven't effect."
I suggest to this defences:
fire:-20%
cold:(the harpies are monsters of the mountains,so:)10,20%
pierce:50%
blade:40%
impact:-10%
holy:(the harpies are monsters that have been exiled from the gods:)-40%

good luck for the rest!

[Nicolas]

here: harpy hunter

[Disto]

then you can sit in your corner all by yourself and when they are removed

The Undead are for good players who enjoy a challenge, a hard challenge. They are so diverse, they're hard to use.

Walking corpses are not going to get removed, soulless maybe but Walking corpses are a big part of the game, if we removed them we would have people coming onto the forums every few days suggesting Zombies, it is part of what the undead are.

[Dreadwing]

I think soulless should a completely differnet unit without plague and alot stronger.Walking Corpse should be able to become Walking Corpse again like Necrophage or become a Soulless but removing Soulless is still good...

Anyways think Vampire Bat should be replace with Harpy?I mean those bats r pretty useless kinda...

[Temuchin Khan]

I like the idea of Harpies, but PLEASE do NOT add them to the Undead or the Merfolk. That's the LAST thing we need. How about if the Harpies and the Nagas ally against the Merfolk? I don't know what a Harpy-Naga allied force could be called, but I think it could be very interesting. Also, if we are to be true to the mythological sources, harpy units should have only female images, no male images. These dirty "birds" were all female, after all!*

*Maybe that's why they were sometimes substituted for Sirens?