Ziggurat Zagger
Posts: 4432
Joined: Friday, 8th May 2015, 17:51
Hybridization-encouraging monsters
I think summoner can be more enjoyable when it is not surrounded by 5+ summons of different kinds.
Something like this:
1) Monster with smite attack which becomes stronger (=read "deals more damage") the more enemies it has in view. You'd basically avoid using weak summons and things like spider bag, scroll of summoning etc. but summoning a hydra or Malign Gateway would still be a good idea.
2) Monster which gets stronger depending on number of different enemies in view. So if you insist on using summons, you are encouraged to select and use just a single type of summon, it is too dangerous to summon Monster Menagerie AND Lightning Spire AND Ice Beasts etc. For example, it can get ranged attack when there are 2 enemy kinds in view (including you), then the attack becomes smite targeted for 3 enemy kinds and deals double damage when there 4+ enemy kinds. Of course the monster is changed permanently, you cannot just reset the fight to remove those new abilities.
3) Monster might get abilities of killed enemy. If it kills Ice Beast, it gets rC+++. If it killed Lightning Spire, it gets rElec+++.
Of course the monster is changed permanently, you cannot just reset the fight to remove those new abilities.
4) Monster gets Iron Shot after killing 1 enemy, LCS after killing 2 enemies, Fire Storm after killing 3 enemies, resetting the fight does not reset the counter. Probably it should be a late game unique monster.
5) Melee monster which gets its damage increased the more MPs you spend with it in view, permanently also. For example, if you cast any 3rd level spell, monster damage is permanently increased by 3. Of course you can try to kill it with spells (summoning, conjurations, etc.), just don't be surprised if it will kill you in a few blows if it manages to attack you. A bit similar to hydra gambling when you have an axe or long sword.
6) Monster which swaps positions of enemies and slows both. So instead of looking at how your summons attack a pack, now you are attacked while being slowed so you are encouraged to be alone to avoid being slowed.
For all those cases we should provide clear messages to player, both in monster description and in game log, something like "This monster permanently gets Fireball if it kills an enemy, LCS if it kills 2 enemies and Fire Storm if it kills 3 enemies" and "Monster killed your Ice Beast and got ability to cast Iron Shot".
Overestimated: AC, GDS
Twin account of Sandman25
- For this message the author VeryAngryFelid has received thanks: 2
- chequers, Fingolfin