Is Orthus too easy?

[MagisterCultuum]

That was kinda the thinking behind my giving barbs 4 traits (all of which grant promotions), but them losing their traits when he dies.

 

[vorshlumpf]

I've always wanted to see Orthus gather barbarian units around him. I don't mean for them to spawn just around him, though that would be cool, but I've often seen him wandering around, passing other barb units. If they would rally to his banner, so to speak, and if he was smarter (moving to barb units nearby so they can 'stack' with him; not attacking while he's injured;...), then he would be the empire-killing machine that he's reputed to be.

That would be glorious.

 

[frenzyslave]

He's fine the way he is. Sometimes i get lucky and loose 4 warriors, others it takes me 12. Damn random number generator...
Its horrible when you see him spawn half the world over, and he is 12th level by the time he gets to you. One of my first games it was... eeek. Still live in half terror, paranoid where he always turns up...

 

[[NWO]_Valis]

He is fine. It is a random encounter and strategy games should not rely on luck. A nice incentive.

Hmm, could the options mod enable/disable Orthus's appearance?

 

[Foxl]

He is strong enough, in my epic/marathon games he usually crushes AI 1-3civs. And if he captures a city early enough well you know Archeron needs a lair

 

[Marksman77]

He is rarely a threat in my games (quick, small/standard map with default number of civs), either to me or to AI. Usually I see the Axe changing hands message a few turns after his appearance and I've never seen him having >5th level.
I agree with people saying that Axe is a big advantage in hands of a human player, while AIs don't seem to take any benefit from it.

I like the idea of him having some troops around him, this reminders Whaagh in Warhammer world. I think I only saw it once in FfF (.16) - he took one of my cities together with 3 Orc Spearmen.

 

[Bringa]

I think the best thing that could be done to Orthus is to give him certain "commander" abilities by which he can cause nearby barbarians to stack up with him. Orthus is only easy to kill when you meet him all alone. When he comes into your lands with a large army, you're in trouble.

 

[Sarisin]

I think the best thing that could be done to Orthus is to give him certain "commander" abilities by which he can cause nearby barbarians to stack up with him. Orthus is only easy to kill when you meet him all alone. When he comes into your lands with a large army, you're in trouble.

I'm not sure what happened, but I think in previous versions (while playing raging barbs anyway), he always brought his entourage of spearmen and goblins with him. It made him harder to kill in a stack because when he got weaker, the stronger orc spearmen would defend.

But, now, he often shows up alone or with just a few barbs while the masses are elsewhere. Also, I have found him more concerned with taking out your improvements, if you have them rather than attacking your city at first. This can help him build XP if he makes his first visit to you. But also it leaves him open for an attack while he is fooling around pillaging farms without defense bonuses.

In my last game, Stephanos, one of the Four Horsemen somehow ended up with Orthus's Axe and that created a real problem!

 

[TemporalAnomaly]

If he is too easy, then there is a very simple solution.

Starts with March

 

[Rex rgis of Ter]

I think Orthus should start with a summoning spell, maybe summon orc or goblin. This way he could really destroy civilizations, and you would not have to change AI behaviors to follow him.

 

[Jono]

I think Orthus should start with a summoning spell, maybe summon orc or goblin.

Awesome idea!

 

[LordGek]

I think he's cool enough but I just hate how he and the Dragon Hoard appear at very EXACT turns. Why not randomize this a bit or EVEN have a chance either one or even both don't show up in a game?

 

[BeefontheBone]

I'd be surprised if exactly that doesn't happen in BtS via the events system.

 

[Rex rgis of Ter]

I think he's cool enough but I just hate how he and the Dragon Hoard appear at very EXACT turns. Why not randomize this a bit or EVEN have a chance either one or even both don't show up in a game?

This would destroy alot of flavour. Would the destroyer of civilizations choose not to reveal himself? Not Likely. And how would a dragon hide? I think however, Ortus should come much earlier the Acheron. Orthus is still not a problem because he's very easy, and a hero can take out Acheron no problem. The only problem would be if Acheron and Orthus teamed up.....

 

[Grey Fox]

I've never had Acheron spawn as early as Orthus. Remember, the barbs have to build Acheron.

 

[Dark Russell]

I did not vote because I don't think Orthus is to strong or weak, he just needs to be tweaked a bit to fit into the style of game you are playing (map size, speed, etc).

 

[MrPopov]

Mabye give units stacked with him on a tile the guardsman promotion?

 

[MagisterCultuum]

Acheron/The Dragons Horde does not spawn; it is built. However,it is so cheap that is appears almost as soon as the Barbs get their first city. Orthus's spawn turn value is saved in the global defines and modified based on game speed,but I believe I saw that some pseudo-ramdom numbers are used in determining the actual spawning turn somehow.

 

[LordGek]

Acheron/The Dragons Horde does not spawn; it is built. However,it is so cheap that is appears almost as soon as the Barbs get their first city. Orthus's spawn turn value is saved in the global defines and modified based on game speed,but I believe I saw that some pseudo-ramdom numbers are used in determining the actual spawning turn somehow.

Orthu ALWAYS spawns in my standard games on turn 77 (even now in 0.23) and, while not as 100% sure, I think Acheron comes to the world also at the exact same turn in each game.

 

[Jono]

You probably play on a normal game speed. He spawns on turn 52 on a quick game speed. And about Acheron, that could just be a coincidence