Build a Robot Army! (Promotion Idea Mongering)

[Thuellai]

So, I'm starting work on what will eventually become a Golem/Mage focused Luchiurp+. Essentially, the idea is to expand the promotion buildings and possibly create something similar to the weaponsmiths, where Golems can buy upgrades from buildings you research.

So here's what I want - Ideas for Golem-specific promotions. Most of these are reshaping the Golem, adding components, that sort of thing - they're automatons, regardless of their various constructions.

I'd also like some ideas for different ways to increase Mage/Golem synergy - Already I'm planning a Cargo Space-adding promotion for Golems (allowing them to carry their Adepts with them so that they've always got a Repair unit close by). The basic idea is, Golems should have versatile options and be pretty mobile, but they should be at their most dangerous with the aid of an Adept or two. Likewise, Golems should make good support units for Adepts, protecting them from the most common threats to Magician life and limb (Like Assassins!)

 

[Valkrionn]

I think I'd actually prefer to see the adept be able to JOIN with the golem, allowing the golem to cast repair. Possibly decreasing it's strength to compensate? Would essentially prevent your repair adepts from being slaughtered by assassins.

 

[Thuellai]

Well, at that point, we've already got Golems that can learn to cast Fireball...

Are you suggesting Golem Exoskeletons? Adepts wearing Golems as combat armor?

Perhaps a chain of promotions like so:

Cargo Compartment:
+1 Cargo Space (Adept/Mage/Etc)
-10% Strength

Engineer's Compartment:
+1 Cargo Space (Adept/Mage/etc)
Golem can self-cast Repair
-10% Strength

Pilot Compartment:
+1 Cargo Space (Adept/Mage/etc)
Golem can cast spells known by Adept within.
-10% Strength

Naturally the tech required and cost of each would go in that order... On the other hand, a Golem who's using his promotion slots on the Pilot's Compartment loses the opportunity to buy combat-focused ones, but on the other hand, Spellcasting Golem.

 

[MrUnderhill]

It would probably be easier to make the riding golems into equipment-type units. i.e. they act as normal units after being built but can be "equipped" by eligible units for extra strength and movement. That way you could also have the unit dismount easily (just strip any golem-centric promotions and give them to the golem. Then when another unit equips the golem they get the promotions from it as well).

 

[TheJopa]

Loading adept into every golem in your large midgame army would be tedious IMO, plus nightmare for the AI. I'd go for more simple solutions. More promotions to be buyed and more golem boosting buildings...

 

[deadliver]

Golems getting mounted by Adepts?

This smacks of Palladium RIFTS, and this idea was lame in that setting. Riding Golems...geez. better that you replace "Riding Golems" with Powered Armour...of course that is what you actually meant...so say it.

Riding Golems, geez...sounds like a kinky LORD OF THE RINGS scenario.

I do not disagree with the idea of enhancing adepts with golems. But enhancing golems with adepts riding them? In a society DOMINATED by automatons, the rare mortal adept should be more important.

 

[PPQ_Purple]

Well, firstly here are some promotion ideas:

Name:____Enhanced optics: (replaces drill)
Levels:___3
Effects:___Same as drill

Name:____Extra Arm (replaces combat 1 - 4)
Levels:___4
Effects:___+20% strenth

Name:____Bludgeoning Arm (replaces the anty mele promotion)
Levels:___2
Effects:___+20% vs Mele units*
*the bonus scales like the current anty mele promotion.

Name:____Shield Arm (replaces the anty archer promotion)
Levels:___2
Effects:___-10% strenth, +20% defense, +20 vs archery units*
*the bonus scales like the current anty archer promotion.

Name:____Extra Leg
Levels:___2
Effects:___+1 move, +10% withdrawl/escape chance, +10% vs cavalery*
*becouse he is more stabile and can not be ran over easily.

Name:____Spiked Surface
Levels:___3
Effects:___reflects 10% damage to the oponent*
*20% on level 2 and 30 on level 3. This is applied if the other unit wins, runs from or withdrawls from the battle.

Name:____Heavy Armour (requires 1 level of Extra Leg for each level of Heavy Armour)
Levels:___2
Effects:___-1 move, +20%strenth

Name:____Crossbow Arm
Levels:___3
Effects:___+10% city strenth, can bombard like archer units (strenth = lvl 1 like archer, 2 like longbowman and lvl 3 like crossbowman)

Do you like them?

 

[zup]

Uhm, spiked surface kills fleeing cavalry? If an unit withdraws, it is already in a horrible state. And this leads to the issue which the pyre zombies have/had: "OMGIWONTHEBATTLEBUTMYUNITGOTKILLEDTOO!!" (yes the form is intentional) In short, proposed spiked surface sucks.

 

[WarKirby]

I love the idea of rideable golems

I'd suggest giving Luchuirp Force as one of their starting mana, by the way.

 

[Daris]

How about a high level promotion around level 8 or 9 required or something... that gives Flying! >.>;

 

[Thuellai]

Most of those are good ideas, though Spiked Surface seems, at the least, a little OP. I'd have to mess with it and test it out. And as far as the riding golems thing goes, it's just a concept - the only one I'd definitely include is the very lowest one that provides cargo space on a Golem.

 

[PPQ_Purple]

Why not have a promotion like Tool box or something, -10% strenth/+ healing 1?
Signifeing that the golem is designed to self repair.

And Spiked Surface needs some sort of prequisit. Prehaps Heavy Armour 2 or a high cost

 

[WarKirby]

To clarify, I don't like the idea of riding ON golems. I like the idea of adepts inside them. piloting them like medieval mechs

So I'd definitely go with the cargo space idea.


Oh, also:

Throwing Arm
-30% strength, +3 ranged attack strength, +30% ranged attack damage limit. Can Bombard cities (5% per turn)
Essentially turns a golem into a mini siege weapon.

It would be good if you made it so that only two "arm" promotions could be on a golem at once. Would probably need python to check every time one is added, and remove the oldest one if there were already two.

 

[PPQ_Purple]

It would be good if you made it so that only two "arm" promotions could be on a golem at once. Would probably need python to check every time one is added, and remove the oldest one if there were already two.

Why not use the crew system for them like it is used for ships?
That way you could trick out your golem every time you are in a city?

 

[WarKirby]

Why not use the crew system for them like it is used for ships?
That way you could trick out your golem every time you are in a city?

The "crew system" is just a set of promotions that exclude each other. It's not really much different from what's being suggested here.

Actually, I think it's spells that add those promotions. not certain.

 

[PPQ_Purple]

The "crew system" is just a set of promotions that exclude each other. It's not really much different from what's being suggested here.

Actually, I think it's spells that add those promotions. not certain.

What I meant was to use a similar system to allow the golems to trade in their weapons for others.

For example replace a bludgeoning arm with a catapult arm, than later trade it to something third when it is no longer neaded. Just like ships can change their crew when ever they are in a port.

Sort of like Lego. I call it Modular Golems.

 

[Thuellai]

That was actually one of my concepts - Here's my question, for those of you more aware of Fall Further's promotion system: Could I have a number of promotions that're switchable like the Crews, but allowing for multiple promotions? What I'm saying is, could Golems have a selection of upgrades they can add at will within a city, but only up to say, 3 or 5 or whatever. Then to add one they'd get rid of the oldest one they had past that, so that they always have a set of three promotions (assuming you've got that many promotions unlocked through tech)

 

[WarKirby]

That was actually one of my concepts - Here's my question, for those of you more aware of Fall Further's promotion system: Could I have a number of promotions that're switchable like the Crews, but allowing for multiple promotions? What I'm saying is, could Golems have a selection of upgrades they can add at will within a city, but only up to say, 3 or 5 or whatever. Then to add one they'd get rid of the oldest one they had past that, so that they always have a set of three promotions (assuming you've got that many promotions unlocked through tech)

I'm pretty sure this requires python to do. In xml, you can only really do one-at-a-time

But if you want to delve into the python, there are plenty of people around to help. just not me though, I can't do that.

 

[Valkrionn]

That would have to be done via python, but it should be easy to set up... Haven't done anything like that myself, but it shouldn't be too hard.

 

[Thuellai]

The thing I really want for Golems is for them to be very specialized and able to field a unit to match the needs of the battlefield, and to be fairly mobile. In fact, that brings me to another point... Could we, possibly through a unit or improvement, create some sort of mobile facility or unit that would also activate the promotion selection? (for example, a Golem Engineer unit who, when in the stack with Golems, allows them to switch out promotions as if they were in the city, or a Golem Workshop improvement that does likewise)