Vampires

[WarKirby]

I dunno. I'd like a short, simple thing. I can see maybe wanting to lock off feeding in maximum glory for a bit, but don't over complicate the Calabim with six or seven levels.

I agree with this

Also, I'm not so keen on the names Odalrick has posted

Count, Duke, and Prince, are titles. The former two are nobility of sorts, the latter being royalty. I think firstly, nobles wouldn't be fighting on the frontlines. The vampire units to me, represent the sect of vampire society that feels a need to satisfy their bloodlust in combat, rather than the decadent vampires who live a life of luxury in private mansions.

The idea about feed is a good one. I don't think it makes sense that vampires can only feed on bloodpets. Personally, I'd expand that to include any living, non vampire unit. Bloodpets are the cheapest unit in existence anyway, so it's not like that would open up exploits through even cheaper feeding fodder, it would just give more options, like feeding your moroi or horsemen to vampires, since you're generally more likely to have those than lugging a few warriors around with your invasion force.

Not keen on the idea of upper level vampires losing the ability to feed on enemies. That would weaken them, which seems counterproductive to aging and growth. It's pretty much the exact opposite of what I put in the OP, where vampires start off without that ability, and gain it in increasing strength as they develop.

upper level vampires being able to grant more powerful vampire promos, is an interesting idea. I like that.

An ability to learn the channeling promos is pretty good idea too, mainly because I hate having vampire lords running around with Channeling III, while Losha Valas, my Hero, only has channeling II and can never learn it.

Rather than an ability though, I'm inclined to say that Young vampires could start with Channelling I, mature ones get Channeling II, and greater ones Channeling III.

 

[odalrick]

I dunno. I'd like a short, simple thing. I can see maybe wanting to lock off feeding in maximum glory for a bit, but don't over complicate the Calabim with six or seven levels.

Yeah, I got a bit carried away... In my defence, it's more like three levels, with a couple of sub-levels.


Nobles would most definitely fight on the front lines. That's the entire idea behind nobility in the first place. In exchange for land and power, they raise and maintain an army for their king.

So the noble titles were intentional. After long and faithful service, a vampire gets a recognition and privileges, along with the title of Count. With more service and a sizeable grant, they become Dukes. After showing their loyalty for 200 turns, killing hundreds of enemies and so forth, they are granted the ultimate honour of being adopted into the royal family.

Since vampires usually (in other settings, don't know about fall from Heaven) consider their convert to be their offspring, it's not an adoption so much as a recognition of a legitimate heir.

I'm not fond of neophyte and neonate myself, but I figured: most of the time you're only thinking in terms of not-quite-vampire, real vampire and super vampire anyway.

Vampires gradually losing the ability to feed on enemies was so that there is a need, or at least a perceived need, to keep some fresh vamps around. Also, it makes ageing vampires feel more like an evolution. Finally, it represents a greater need for sustenance for greater vampires; is the ancient vampire that has devoured three civilizations really going to get the same benefit from eating a Bloodpet as a new, blood starved, vampire? Is a count going to eat an unwashed, orc slave, when the Bloodpet that brings him looks that much tastier?

Originally feed did allow any living being to be consumed, though Bloodpets, specially bred for that purpose, were tastier. That required an interface to select the specific unit though, and I think tigers were edible as well.

As a minor nit-pick, Channeling I and II wouldn't do much. Only Arcane units can normally buy first level spells, and my suggestions specifically allowed the second level promotions as well.

I toyed with the idea of making Delve into the Art only grant Channeling III, which would effectively have been the same, or making it change the unit into an archmage, mostly to enforce national limits.

 

[xienwolf]

If you used age only, the bloodpet you have had since turn 1 and upgrade to a Vampire the same turn yougain Feudalism starts ancient/best.

 

[[to_xp]Gekko]

I agree that having "Feed" work with more units would be nice, as I'm not fond of ferrying crappy bloodpets around

 

[Iceciro]

That's about all I've gotten from this thread that I can definantly, unequivocably say I want.

I want to crank out Mobility II horseman to follow Vampire Phanuel around in case I do something stupid with him and get him hurt. >_>

 

[MagisterCultuum]

I think that feed should at least work with Slaves.


While you couldn't use the unit's age, I believe you could set each vampire promotion to expire after a certain number of turns, and be replaced by the next level.

 

[xienwolf]

Duration/Decay would make it work as a time function since gaining Vampirism capabilities nicely.

 

[WarKirby]

If you used age only, the bloodpet you have had since turn 1 and upgrade to a Vampire the same turn yougain Feudalism starts ancient/best.

Exactly.

This is something I thought of too, and it's another reason why I don't think unit age is a good mechanic to base it on.

 

[Valkrionn]

Exactly.

This is something I thought of too, and it's another reason why I don't think unit age is a good mechanic to base it on.

Unit Age, no. Promotion Duration, yes. For a unit that starts with the promotion, it works just like unit age. For one that gains the promotion, the counter would start fresh, rather than automatically granting a high lvl version.