Animal unit idea - homing pigeon

[holypaladin]

Lately Battle for Wesnoth included many types of animals into core. I am coming with a proposition to include homing pigeon. They would can live in many places due to it's wide incidence, tamed ones would can be used by loyalists to carry letters, reports.

[DuncanDill]

I feel like this goes against KISS, how do you tame it? What letters? Can you send letters? What are it's attacks? Defenses? Maybe on it's own it is good, but you need more info.

[holypaladin]

I feel like this goes against KISS, how do you tame it? What letters? Can you send letters? What are it's attacks? Defenses? Maybe on it's own it is good, but you need more info.

That actually should not be very complicated. Some birds are tamed sometimes and used by various races (such as falkons by Dunefolk). While I suppose most of Wesnothian society is illiterate it shouldn't be a problem for elite (for example commanders). Attacks should not be very high if even be, defences similiar as falcon or vampire bat. It would can have around 7-10 movement. Would live mostly in wilderness, sometimes tamed by loyalists.

[Spannerbag]

Sorry to be dim but what would this add to gameplay?
I'm not saying it isn't a good idea, but I'm unclear what, exactly, a homing pigeon unit would do that would make it different to existing units and/or justify someone creating it?

Homing behaviour could, I suppose, be implemented via a goto micro ai.
You could even embed an event for this in the [unit_type] but it's probably not worth the effort.

Just my tuppenceworth.

Cheers!
--Spannerbag

[holypaladin]

Main intention is expanding the wildlife that is not yet well developed but on promising path. As for the behavior I don't think it's nessesary, I was thinking rather about including information on taming by loyalist sometimes in the unit's describtion and maybe use somewhere in practice.

[DuncanDill]

I feel like this goes against KISS, how do you tame it? What letters? Can you send letters? What are it's attacks? Defenses? Maybe on it's own it is good, but you need more info.

That actually should not be very complicated. Some birds are tamed sometimes and used by various races (such as falkons by Dunefolk). While I suppose most of Wesnothian society is illiterate it shouldn't be a problem for elite (for example commanders). Attacks should not be very high if even be, defences similiar as falcon or vampire bat. It would can have around 7-10 movement. Would live mostly in wilderness, sometimes tamed by loyalists.

But how would you tame it????? I'm really confused, what does it add apart form another bird...

[holypaladin]

I don't understand the question. Homing pigeons are animals often tamed in real life, I see no problem to describe them as animals possible to tame in BfW.

[DuncanDill]

I don't understand the question. Homing pigeons are animals often tamed in real life, I see no problem to describe them as animals possible to tame in BfW.

Ah i understand now! For some reason, it seemed like you were describing them as an animal you would tame ingame?

[holypaladin]

Only thing I was mean was to debate on making new animal unit that would have specific dependencies including places of living and and potential usefulness as "pets"

[holypaladin]

On Archaic Era in Ancient Phantoms fraction we had "spirit dove". How about editing it a little to get grey/brown plumage?

[Jagedew]

So carrying letters and reports in the scenarios? It would be pointless because Wesnoth units can have conversations even across the huge maps regardless the distance. I have always wondered how this is possible

[white_haired_uncle]

The same way units on the recall list are magically transported over terrain they can't cross.