Orthus v2.0

[Quarterblue]

Well, I think there is a problem with Orthus, because he doesn't fulfill its role. He's meant to wreak havoc and everyone must fear him. But at the moment he's just being hunted down for his axe. In a game, when Orthus appears near your civ, it's a gift, not a curse. So here is my suggestion:

1.Orthus can have an ability called "Orthus' Warcry", which summons a barbarian Axeman with City Raider and Orcish. However, it takes 7 turns to cast, and Orthus can't cast this spell within the borders of a civilization.

2.Orthus may be given the Fear promotion to help him scatter the SoDs sent to hunt him down.

3.In order not to make him outdated, he may get +1 every 50 turns or so. This will make him harder and harder to kill.

4.If Orthus crosses your borders, you get the following event:

Orthus, the mighty and terrifying orcish warlord, has been spotted near <City>! What will you do?

-Just let him come, we'll take care of him.
Nothing happens

-Give him a ransom so he won't bother us.
-50 :gold, all and lost in <City>. Orthus is sent 20 tiles away.

-Send special emissaries to insult and threaten him.
+1 temporary in <City>, Orthus gains the Enraged promotion.

-Send a proficient unit to challenge him in a duel.
Reqs a military unit in <City> and Aggressive trait. 30% Orthus dies, 70% a unit in <City> is lost.

-He's welcome among us!
Reqs Barbarian Trait. +1 temporary in City.

-He's a good warrior, everyone cheer him!
Reqs Barbarian Trait. +1 permanent in every City. Each unit has 2% chance of becoming a Barbarian.

-Offer him to join our forces, we are better than these barbarians.
Reqs Barbarian Trait. You gain Orthus and declare war to the Barbarians

-Maybe he will sell us his axe?
Reqs Barbarian Trait. 70% -100 and Orthus Axe in <City>, 30% Nothing.

-I will challenge him. The winner will control the loser's horde.
Reqs Barbarian trait. 50% You get Orthus and nothing happens (you win the duel), 50% You get Orthus and you lose your traits. Instead you become Aggressive, Barbarian and Raiders (those are Orthus' traits).

 

[Kalina]

-Maybe he will sell us his axe?
Reqs Barbarian Trait. 70% -100 and Orthus Axe in <City>, 30% Nothing.
]

Can you buy his axe and then take another one from his corpse ?

 

[graywarden]

Quarterblue,

I like your suggestions for Orthus and would support an upgrade for him.

 

[russelcoight]

I dont mind some of these.

My biggest probelm with orthus is 2 fold.

He either pops up next to some poor ai's who cant defend that early in the game and therefore get annihilated. OR he does nothing important for the first few turns and ends up being fodder for the axe.

 

[tesb]

i would rather like to see him spawned at a distance to any player, but with an orc army to accompany him.

 

[Jenaelha]

I do prefer the spawning radomness now.
He would be very powerful if he had a (elite) guard with him always.
Buffs to consider maybe are add a general if he survives to a certain age.
Add the beserk promotion (?burning blood?)

 

[Valkrionn]

In RifE he has Berserker, which gives him a 50% to gain hasted (and thereby actually use the axe effectively).

 

[Sephi]

I find Orthus with the new Barbarian AI pretty tough. Last game even with Pyre Zombies I lost 4 or 5 to kill him.

 

[graywarden]

I find Orthus with the new Barbarian AI pretty tough. Last game even with Pyre Zombies I lost 4 or 5 to kill him.

I agree difficulty wise, Orthus is usually tough to kill in the very early game, I think what I liked was the added "story" elements that have been suggested from time to time, this would really make the Orthus event an epic one in the whole storyline.

 

[wapamingo]

I just thought of something that may be interesting,

Could you give Orthus a chance to 'settle" in a barbarian city if he so happens to be in one. If he settles, he becomes a leader of a "new" barbarian civ that is bent on world conquest (so permanent war with all and crusade civic + all other civics that are meant for war); When he settles a world event message is sent indicating as such, something as "Orthus now leads a tribe of barbarians. Woe to us all!". The settled Orthus creates a building in the city that gives very high production rates + warrens effect and buffs all units stayed in city with "blood war" buff that is +40% strength or something very aggressive.

 

[graywarden]

I just thought of something that may be interesting,

Could you give Orthus a chance to 'settle" in a barbarian city if he so happens to be in one. If he settles, he becomes a leader of a "new" barbarian civ that is bent on world conquest (so permanent war with all and crusade civic + all other civics that are meant for war); When he settles a world event message is sent indicating as such, something as "Orthus now leads a tribe of barbarians. Woe to us all!". The settled Orthus creates a building in the city that gives very high production rates + warrens effect and buffs all units stayed in city with "blood war" buff that is +40% strength or something very aggressive.

I have seen Orthus in a barbarian city, and it appeared that the barbarians spawning were actually expanding out and establishing other cities, and the assumption here is this was able to take place because of Orthus presence. Im sure this was an anomaly but I thought it would make sense in relation to your suggestion and would add some story/flavor to the game as suggested by others.

 

[Jenaelha]

I find Orthus with the new Barbarian AI pretty tough. Last game even with Pyre Zombies I lost 4 or 5 to kill him.

He doesn't last that well currently. Good to hear the AI improves his chances.
Is he immune to fire damage while holding the axe? I forget. Otherwise that is pretty serious taking 4-5 Pyre Zombies.