Random ideas for items and defensive buildings

[sputnik323]

Had a thought - I think it would be cool to add items as buildible features. They could be limited to civs (civ specific items), count as national items (civs can only build 1) or world items (only 1 can be created). Since there are already alot of items that grant +1 strength and affinity, new buildable weapons should be more creative - such as staves that allow a tier 2 spell and ones for a tier 3 spell (but not grant channeling - that would be unfair - or maybe archmages and mages are the only ones that can use them) Twin cast spellbook (grants the twincast promotion), staff of teleportation (teleports user and stack), Armor of fear (grants the fear promotion) Hero's armor (grants +2 defense) cloak of invisibility, the tome of death that transforms the reader into a lich, or a spell book that automatically grants the spellstaf promotion without needing to casting it.
Just a bunch of random ideas to get people thinking - i dont know maybe its a stupid idea.

Also had an idea for a wonder (Helms Deep wonder)- I think it would be cool to have a wonder as a defensive building. It makes a city, or all cities not drop below a certain defensive percent due to bombarge - so it will never drop below 25% for the city it is in, and 10% for all cities and it grants an aditional 25% defense to the city.
In addition to this ...
maybe have defensive buildings not drop below a certain percentage level. Palasades drop to 0% walls drop to 10% the castle defensive building wont go below 20%. This makes defensive buildings have more of a purpose than just delaying bombardment turns from an attacking enemy. And could allow for more creative defensive buildings and wonders.

 

[[to_xp]Gekko]

nice suggestions, and I do agree that more buildable items would be fun. in AoW you could have lots of fun crafting your very own magic items for heroes

 

[zup]

Which made them even more uber. And those heroes forced you to go tactical in every battle because quick combat got them killed all the time. Ok the issue was the same with 8 gold dragons against some lowly archers but meh.

Buildable items are problematic since equipment should be rather special to make up for the micromanagement. So one should not be able to equip the entire army with them. On the other hand, if they are severely limited, one ends up using them for heroes only, to further focus on them.

 

[sputnik323]

you are right balance issues are problematic. I tend towards making things that cost a lot of time and effort to be worth it. For example, if something costs a lot, then it should be powerful. Items should be creative if there are going to be more of them. A staff that allows a unit to cast fireballs isn't uber (and is traded hands if the enemy kills whoever has the staff). And any uber items should be very difficult to get.

 

[[to_xp]Gekko]

what sputnik said items may be nasty, but if you manage to kill the guy who has it and take it for your own... things get fun

 

[sputnik323]

If there is a balance issue with more items... why not make a item cap for heros and other units. Each unit can have 1 item, and each hero can have 3 items... That way you could have buildable items and add a bunch of new items to diversify gameplay. Plus you wouldn't have to worry about getting 30 jade torcs when you get treasure chests with more diversity...

 

[zup]

What is wrong with dumping everything you take from the enemy for (soon-to-be) Mizquizli, or Eurabatres, or Brigit or whatever uber, unkillable world unit you want. Ring of striking is a nice boost from 4-8 to 5-12 first strikes. (Took it from the sidar nubs in my Miz test game.) Netherblade? GIMMIE! Empty bier? Not much of a difference but anything that makes an already uber thing more uber has got to be good. And add black mirror, golden hammer, Orthus' axe, staff of souls, scorched staff, rod of winds ... when the horseman items are added in, your uber whatever is going to be even meaner. Not to mention the boosted Aeron's chosen.

Don't you dare remove Aeron's chosen from Miz! Take cannibalize if you will but not Aeron!