View Full Version : more unique features?


Psychic_Llamas
Nov 08, 2008, 10:29 PM
i posted this in another thread but though id bring these ideas to the attention of Vehem and the FF team :)

Well, we don't have a lot of info on them.

Finner was the greatest a human hero at the end of the Age of Dragons. The Godslayer was given to him, perhaps because it was thought that only a mortal as great as him would have any shot at getting close enough to a god who broke the compact to have a chance to use it. The Elohim the the only ones to witness this. I'm not sure, but sometimes I speculate that Finner may have founded Patria and that his reputation as the strongest, wisest, and kindest man in Erebus made it easier for his descendants like Kyorlin (assuming they are related) to expend the kingdom to include all humanity using mostly peaceful means. Kyorlin could never live up to Finner's greatness. I assume that when he died that a marvelous tomb was built for him, but that its exterior looked fairly plain so it would be hard for robbers to find. Only the Elohim knew its location, and they worked very hard to stop various warlords from finding it. I suspect that Finner may have actually been buried with The Godslayer, and perhaps many other relics dating back as far as the Godswar, but that implies that someone may have found and looted his tomb already and taken and broken the Godslayer before Kyorlin started looking for it. It seems to me like Kyorlin might have put the Godslayer back to rest here were it belonged after slaying Mulcarn, so finding it might be needed in order to slay Auric Ascended.



The Blair of Lacuna is a refuge that Ceridwen herself created for Os-Gabella. It was here that she raised Alexis and Flauros. Apparently they were the only mortals there. It was surrounded with rings of Runes to keep the unwelcome from entering from other planes and to keep prisoners from escaping. These same runes were used by Alexis to trap and devour her victims soul in the ritual that would turn her into a vampire. It probably contained great libraries of Ceridwen's arcane knowledge. I suspect that it may have been sort of of pocket dimension or a node where many world met. It would be sort of like the Shadowed Vale in that respect, but it would probably connect Erebus to many worlds instead of just Arawn's Netherworld. Obviously, it would be a source of Dimensional Mana. I'm thinking it could also be nice for it to have an event similar to the Letum Frigus Event that could help the Sheaim or the Calabim. It could be interesting if it would prevent any good civs' units from entering. Perhaps it could also stop summons belonging to anyone but the civ that owns it from moving into/near it (a more selective version of the Fear effect of the Necrototem), and/or strengthen spells cast there. I was thinking it could look nice if it appeared sort of like the Sheaim Palace surrounded by rings of runes.




The Palus is the Tower of the Eyes, which is currently a wonder but since thematically it was built in the Age of Magic seems more appropriate as a unique feature. It was an ancient fortresses founds in the middle of a large unoccupied wilderness. (For some reason I like to think that it was actually the ruins of Kyorlin's old palace from which he once ruled Patria. All that remains intact was very tower from which he tried to jump to his death before Ceridwen stopped him. He brutality of his rule and wanton use of magic would have left the once lush surroundings just about uninhabitable.) After Kyorlin broke the block he had placed in Perpentach's mind so that all the other minds in there could burst out and make concentration for his opponent impossible, thus letting Kyorlin break away from Perpentach's mind control and defeat his old student, he locked him away in this tower. He had a small army of special Golems built and enchanted to guard him, as they would be impervious to mind magic. Perpantach was stuck here until his body was withering with old age, hen his now insane but capable mind managed to reach out to the boarders of the wilderness and take over The Momus, who led his band of Carnies to the Tower and fought the golems. It is implied that the vast majority of the carnies died, but that they were successful enough to get close enough for Perpentach to transfer his mind entirely into the Momus's body and escape. I like to think that the remains of Perpentach's original body are still locked in the tower, and that a few golems may remain to guard it. It would be a source of Mind Magic and an Epic Lair. I'm thinking it could be nice for units that get near it to trigger the last few golems to defend it, and for those who enter it to become Crazed. It would increase a units line of sight more than a normal ancient tower, maybe as much as the Mirror of Heaven. I've just been using the normal Ancient Tower graphics in my version, but something unique could be nice. Something resembling the Orthanc (Sauruman's tower from LotR) could be nice. Perhaps it would actually have a set of giant eyes carved near the top of the tower, maybe 1 in each cardinal direction right below the platform from whcih the dark mage could look out over his ruined kingdom. Actual glowing eyes like the one in the tower in Mordor might be too much.

excelent thanks :) ill work on these and see what i can come up with :D (Ideas are flying already :D)

EDIT:

hows this for a preliminary Blair of Lacuna?
http://img118.imageshack.us/img118/1218/lucanateaserdz1.th.jpg (http://img118.imageshack.us/my.php?image=lucanateaserdz1.jpg)http://img118.imageshack.us/images/thpix.gif (http://g.imageshack.us/thpix.php)

there will be tentacles around the tower as per the sheim palace once i figure out how to make a planes texture double sided.
the runde are in floating circles which i borrowed from the ashen veil mana nodes.
note the runes arnt transparent in this pic, so not very detailed yet.

[to_xp]Gekko
Nov 08, 2008, 10:45 PM
looks nice, well done ;)

Psychic_Llamas
Nov 08, 2008, 11:01 PM
thanks gekko :) what you think about the ideas for those as unique features though? (theyre magister cultuums ideas btw)

Valkrionn
Nov 09, 2008, 12:39 AM
The Tower of Eyes should definitely be a wonder, and I like the idea of the Blair of Lacuna... Not too sure about the first one, though.

Psychic_Llamas
Nov 09, 2008, 01:24 AM
i assume you mean the tower of eyes should be a unique feature? because it is already a wonder... :p

and i agree, the first one dosnt have much substance to it, mostly hypothetical.

zup
Nov 09, 2008, 06:31 AM
Tower of Eyes ftw! Make it an unique feature. As it is, it is only viable for Lanun.

[to_xp]Gekko
Nov 09, 2008, 09:22 AM
not sure about Finner's tomb, but I kinda like the idea of a hard to get unique feature where the godslayer is hidden. it would probably need to spawn on every map instead than a 30% chance though.

tower of eyes: MC has some good ideas here. you might also ask MaxAstro cuz IIRC he wanted to have the tower of eyes as a unique feature in his modmodmodmod ( :p ) , so he might have some ideas about this

Blair of Lacuna: I like MC's suggestions . plus, I think this UF could spawn ( lair/barrow style ) random monsters of many different kinds ( summoned creatures, sheaim UUs, etc ) since it's supposed to be a gateway to many dimensions. it could also be an epic lair imho, accessible only by neutral and evil civs.

Psychic_Llamas
Nov 09, 2008, 09:44 AM
well im working on finishing up graphics for both Lucana and the Tower of eyes (ToE looks like sarumans tower with a big orb floating above it, the orb might be a bit much

i plan to try get eyes in there somewhere but im not sure if its a litteral 'eyes' or metaphorical... ideas?

thomas.berubeg
Nov 09, 2008, 09:47 AM
Literal Eyes, carved at the top into the stone of the tower... though probably looking only like they are carved stone, not flesh and blood eyes

MaxAstro
Nov 09, 2008, 11:12 AM
Personally, I just used the graphic for the Tower of Eyes wonder for the unique feature; it's a reskinned Great Lighthouse that actually looks pretty appropriate. But I agree that an actual unique model would be cool. :) I think an orb floating above it would be too much; I always pictured a tall, imposing, very Saruman like tower with, as has been mentioned, stone eyes carved into the circumference at the top. I think an orb floating above it looks too "magic-y" and not "prison-y" enough. :)

Darksaber1
Nov 09, 2008, 11:28 AM
Well, as I said when Magister first posted the Idea for Finner's tomb, and he wondered why it hadn't been added yet, the reason is the Elohim made sure only two people knew the location, a Master and Apprentice. When the master died, the Apprentice would become the Master, and pick a new Appretice.
Unfortunatly, the New Master got run-over by a Luichuip Self-driving-Golem Wagon on his way to select his New Appretice, so the Elohim have Spent the last 79 years looking for it:p

Saytr
Nov 09, 2008, 11:57 AM
Rather than have Finner's tomb appear on the map from turn 1, when Auric Ascends, the unqiue feature and the godslaer will spawn in the strongest non Illian land. I should also not spawn on mountains or cities.

I would also make the godslayer visible to all units, unlike the current implimentation. It would mean the Illians could attmept to steal the weapon and keep it hidden away, and other nations could try to take it back and kill Auric.

Psychic_Llamas
Nov 09, 2008, 09:08 PM
Literal Eyes, carved at the top into the stone of the tower... though probably looking only like they are carved stone, not flesh and blood eyes

Personally, I just used the graphic for the Tower of Eyes wonder for the unique feature; it's a reskinned Great Lighthouse that actually looks pretty appropriate. But I agree that an actual unique model would be cool. I think an orb floating above it would be too much; I always pictured a tall, imposing, very Saruman like tower with, as has been mentioned, stone eyes carved into the circumference at the top. I think an orb floating above it looks too "magic-y" and not "prison-y" enough.

good ideas. ill do that.

Psychic_Llamas
Nov 10, 2008, 06:52 AM
here are 4 different variations of the Blair of Lacuna

i tried to go for the other dimensional look with the floating rocks, as well as the floating rings of runes (i wanted the runes to overlap onto neighbouring tiles) however MC suggetsed going along the lines of the Sheim palace with the tentacles, but i think it looks too crouded with that and the runes. i included one with just the tower and runes as well to compare with. ill post a download later :)

http://img206.imageshack.us/img206/7348/lucanateaservk1.th.jpg (http://img206.imageshack.us/my.php?image=lucanateaservk1.jpg)http://img206.imageshack.us/images/thpix.gif (http://g.imageshack.us/thpix.php)

http://img206.imageshack.us/img206/527/lucanastonesteaservp3.th.jpg (http://img206.imageshack.us/my.php?image=lucanastonesteaservp3.jpg)http://img206.imageshack.us/images/thpix.gif (http://g.imageshack.us/thpix.php)

http://img206.imageshack.us/img206/3249/lucanatentacleteaserun8.th.jpg (http://img206.imageshack.us/my.php?image=lucanatentacleteaserun8.jpg)http://img206.imageshack.us/images/thpix.gif (http://g.imageshack.us/thpix.php)

http://img131.imageshack.us/img131/2384/lucanatentaclestoneteasoh0.th.jpg (http://img131.imageshack.us/my.php?image=lucanatentaclestoneteasoh0.jpg)http://img131.imageshack.us/images/thpix.gif (http://g.imageshack.us/thpix.php)

ultimately id love to get the rings of runes to slowly rotate and move up and down alternately, to give it more of a mystical feeling, but i dont do animations.

------------------

Tower of eyes is being finished off now

[to_xp]Gekko
Nov 10, 2008, 08:08 AM
I tend to like number 1) better, it looks awesome without being too complicated ;)

Psychic_Llamas
Nov 10, 2008, 09:24 AM
Tower of Eyes is complete :)

http://img73.imageshack.us/img73/2315/towerofeyesteaserto0.th.jpg (http://img73.imageshack.us/my.php?image=towerofeyesteaserto0.jpg)http://img73.imageshack.us/images/thpix.gif (http://g.imageshack.us/thpix.php)

what does everyone think?

thomas.berubeg
Nov 10, 2008, 01:44 PM
Nice... i like the tower.

Psychic_Llamas
Nov 10, 2008, 06:26 PM
Thanks Thomas :)

heres a better textured version of the tower :p

New Tower of Eyes:

http://img219.imageshack.us/img219/6047/towerofeyesteaserjg4.th.jpg (http://img219.imageshack.us/my.php?image=towerofeyesteaserjg4.jpg)http://img219.imageshack.us/images/thpix.gif (http://g.imageshack.us/thpix.php)

I added in shadows and changed the flat grey to textured brick.

Vehem
Nov 10, 2008, 06:30 PM
Thanks Thomas :)

heres a better textured version of the tower :p

New Tower of Eyes:

http://img219.imageshack.us/img219/6047/towerofeyesteaserjg4.th.jpg (http://img219.imageshack.us/my.php?image=towerofeyesteaserjg4.jpg)http://img219.imageshack.us/images/thpix.gif (http://g.imageshack.us/thpix.php)

I added in shadows and changed the flat grey to textured brick.


Beautiful work as usual :D

Psychic_Llamas
Nov 10, 2008, 06:52 PM
hehehe thanks Vehem :D

here are the downloads for the Tower and second Lacuna (the one with the floaty stones.)

[BLAIR OF LACUNA] (http://forums.civfanatics.com/downloads.php?do=file&id=11175)

[TOWER OF EYES] (http://forums.civfanatics.com/downloads.php?do=file&id=11176)

Valkrionn
Nov 10, 2008, 08:32 PM
The Tower is amazing, and I'm glad you chose to release the second version of the Lacuna... I have to say I prefer that one. :)

Psychic_Llamas
Nov 10, 2008, 10:07 PM
thanks Valkrionn :D

heres a teaser with them in game:

http://img389.imageshack.us/img389/3259/teaservh8.th.jpg (http://img389.imageshack.us/my.php?image=teaservh8.jpg)http://img389.imageshack.us/images/thpix.gif (http://g.imageshack.us/thpix.php)

Valkrionn
Nov 11, 2008, 01:35 AM
The tower looks a bit larger than I thought... Which is awesome, makes it more imposing.

Psychic_Llamas
Nov 11, 2008, 02:36 AM
yeh i didnt set the scale properly, it optimum scale (which i fiddled with after i took this screenie) is about 0.15 and Lucans is about 0.6.

MagisterCultuum
Nov 11, 2008, 02:52 AM
Yeah, I eventually put it on 0.15 myself. Putting it at 1 makes it huge.

Not that related, but how would I go about making certain units (Brigit, Odio) be really big without making the image in the left corner of the screen reach a size where they get cut off. I like the Archangels really big, but think it is really weird when only the legs show up

Jean Elcard
Nov 11, 2008, 04:07 AM
Wow! I'm really impressed. Especially the tower looks great.

Psychic_Llamas
Nov 11, 2008, 04:32 AM
Not that related, but how would I go about making certain units (Brigit, Odio) be really big without making the image in the left corner of the screen reach a size where they get cut off. I like the Archangels really big, but think it is really weird when only the legs show up

arnt there 2 values for each graphic? an interface one and avatar one? i believe the interface scale is used in the civilopedia and left corner of the screen... i could be wrong though....

Wow! I'm really impressed. Especially the tower looks great.

Thanks Jean Elcard :D