Hireable Allies, AKA Mercenaries


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Temple Termagant

Posts: 10

Joined: Sunday, 6th November 2011, 14:42

Post Monday, 16th July 2012, 04:16

Hireable Allies, AKA Mercenaries

This would implement a new "shop" that allows you to buy permanent allies to aid you. The shop tile design would just be a tavern, and the GUI actually semi-similar to a regular shop. You would have a list (Small to big, I was thinking of around 4-7) with their "name", their "class" (Fighter = General Melee man, Wizard = General Spellcaster [Specific schools may apply] Archer = General Ranged man. May or may not add a title to help identify), and their price. With the push of a few buttons, you can see their individiual stats, abilities, spells, skills, equipment, religion, etc. Note that they can go against you for good reason. If you hire someone who is of TSO (Random choice of gods, although it's just a variable, they don't gain piety or anything, although it can determine their equipment)and you decide to go for Mahkleb, said ally will turn on you, and attempt to murder you. If you're already of Mahkleb, they won't even allow you to buy them.

This would also end up leading to another follower menu, more or less just for micromanaging your followers and giving specific items to each. Obviously, the general commands still exist, but if you want to give a certain follower this or that, it makes it a little easier.

I think there should be at least a few of them scaled with depth (So if you find one on D:20 it won't be full of level 1 fighters), and then the rest be random. Obviously with scale, their items and equipment are somewhat to scale as well. No level 1 wizards with Orb of Destruction guys. Prices would range from what I would think of around 3-4 hundred for lower levels, to the price of artefacts or above for the higher levels. Follower AI is relatively the same, although a little overhaul would be nice in terms of placement. "Unique" followers may or may not be possible as well, with their own special items and attributes.

This would add another hand in tactics and also variety of how you could go about the situation. Hire some lower level allies, a higher level ally, or buy that nice randart? Your choice. Although it could be a bit hard to balance. General limitting of the amount of perma allies could be troublesome, and it could end up being completely useless due to Beogh and his abilities. Plus, more time would have to go towards making sure you don't get an insanely powerful person who can easily curb stomp Zot:5.

zrn

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Snake Sneak

Posts: 112

Joined: Friday, 25th February 2011, 01:38

Post Monday, 16th July 2012, 07:13

Re: Hireable Allies, AKA Mercenaries

Mercenaries have already been implemented as a card effect. Buyable mercs from shops have already been discussed and I think the consensus was that cards were the best place for this idea.

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