Beast turrets (with pictures!)
Di, 09/10/2013 - 11:57
A while ago there was a thread about beast arenas. It brought up the fact that 2/3 of the monsters in there weren't even beasts, and like half of them actually resisted piercing. Indeed, in addition to the throngs of gremlins that spawn there are numerous lumbers, mecha-knights, jelly cubes and polyp turrets. The turrets are always a special pain because of how much area their bullet walls deny within arenas' small floor plans, making the best strategy be to take them down as quickly as possible, but polyp spawns are particularly difficult in beast arenas because they resist the type of damage that's supposed to be good for that floor (in fact they are very resistant to it since most pierce weapons do pure piercing damage). Arguments that arenas are supposed to be challenging and that people should be prepared with multiple damage types are fair, but the fact is that you'll never see a howlitzer in a jelly arena or a polyp in a fiend arena.
The problem with polyps extends beyond arenas. Though turrets in general aren't nearly as threatening in areas that provide cover and room to run, they still suffer from a noticeable imbalance in resistances. Of the three turret monsters, two are weak to elemental and none resist it, while none are weak to piercing and two resist it.
Even putting balance aside, the beast family is still the least diverse family, having only three different species (three and a half including alphas, to be fair), no "special" units like turrets or healers, and no rare spawns. For all the fans they have, they're actually one of the least interesting families.
And so I'd like to propose the addition of beast-family turrets. Below are two concepts of burrowing beasts (each with three tiers) I drew up in hopes they could at least provide some inspiration as to what kinds of things might work. I give you...
http://imageshack.us/a/img28/931/f274.png
The spit viper, a snake-based turret that spits fang-like projectiles. As a special quirk, perhaps all spit vipers could do poison in addition to their stage-appropriate statuses, with poison-themed vipers doing stun or extra strong poison or something. Maybe not.
http://imageshack.us/a/img13/6518/wr1j.png
The porcuspine, a reclusive rodent that digs burrows with its powerful claws and responds to threats by curling into a ball and launching sharp quills at aggressors. I wanted to give the T3 version white stripes on the quills, similar to what real porcupines have, but the brush strokes just made it look awful. An actual artist might have better luck.
Just for fun, I also made a quick concept for a fiendish turret. Maybe it could be called a "morning star" or something. Would hardly be necessary since howlitzers don't resist piercing and are suitable for fiend levels, but eh.
http://imageshack.us/a/img845/1816/4aia.png
Di, 09/10/2013 - 13:34
#2
I see your blitz and raise
I see your blitz and raise you a stun-locking polaris vs. howlitzers and gun pups.
Di, 09/10/2013 - 13:50
#3
I thought of having a
I thought of having a porcupine-themed beast turret, but this is much more fleshed out than my idea. I like the idea of them being burrowers. Maybe their twist is they burrow and move around like t3 wolvers c:
I also thought of a manually-controlled Gremlin turret with a shield at t3. It would pause to attack, giving you a moment to hit it in the back. c:
Di, 09/10/2013 - 14:38
#4
I like this idea. I think the
I like this idea. I think the Porcuspine is my personal favorite of the two.
Di, 09/10/2013 - 17:40
#5
I think this is a very nice idea.
And I do like your pictures. Already want the Fiend one as Trophy for Guild Hall! And the hedghog- sorry, porcupine. :) He looks like a cool dude.
Di, 09/10/2013 - 18:58
#6
Ooooo.... +1
Now make a healer that resists pierce and is weak to elemental to balance the healers too :)
Mi, 09/11/2013 - 06:16
#7
I'd like to see the
I'd like to see the porcuspine burrowing too and frow in the clockworks. +1
Mi, 09/11/2013 - 08:49
#8
Those are nice concepts. i would like better the serpent turret instead the porcupine for the reason that the "lizards" need more of them in their rank.
Mi, 09/11/2013 - 09:06
#9
They don't need one variation for every status and they don't need to have the same attack pattern (jellies vs lichens, red rovers and rocket puppies)
The serpent would obviously be the poison version but that's it. All the others would be porcuspines.
Mi, 09/11/2013 - 11:12
#10
+1
Do, 09/12/2013 - 03:19
#11
For a fiend turret you need
For a fiend turret you need a devilite bodyguard. Basically a black devilite with a jacket and a sniper rifle. In the same way that the howitzer and polyp have quirks, the devilite bodyguard should have a quirk that its bullets move much faster and have a heaps longer range. :D
Do, 09/12/2013 - 03:47
#12
Derpuraptor Strikes Back
+1 to the viper and the friendly fire. Fiendly fire, that is.
Fr, 09/13/2013 - 03:16
#13
+1
+1
Fr, 09/13/2013 - 19:03
#14
+1
Yes to this. More monsters are always nice, they can add variety while still allowing old skills to be used, as well as prompting new strategy. In this case, it would be a dose of adorable, and a logical addition. I love that porcuspine. And that fiend turret. Wonderful. The snake makes sense, since spitting snakes are a rather scary hazard irl, but if I had to choose, porcuspine wins. It's like snarb's lil cousin. A suggestion for naming the fiend turret, if I may: Giggler, or Cackler, of course preceded by a relevant status - Zappy, Vile, etc. It looks like it would laugh as it lobbed its horrible projectiles at knights. As far as the fiend turret being silly b/c of your howlitzer point, well, sure. But... to me, atmosphere makes a level more enjoyable, and things should fit that atmosphere to maximize that atmosphere's experience, which is the general feeling that I get from your idea anyway.
Sa, 09/14/2013 - 07:01
#15
+1 Love the Ideas
To respond to what Jaunces said; You could make the attack style of the porcupine a 360 degree launch of the spikes just to have different attack style then jelly turrets, constructs, and howlitzers. Also, will the porcupine be temporarily invulnerable when it is curled up before it shoots? If that is the case, the blitz needle would meet it's match I'd say.
Di, 09/17/2013 - 16:46
#16
+1
The fiendish turret should set himself on bigger fire (setting you on fire as well) whenever you try to use your sword against him or get to close.
Di, 09/17/2013 - 16:54
#17
Gremlin turret anyone?
Di, 09/17/2013 - 16:59
#18
.
+1 to the Snake Turret.
Di, 09/17/2013 - 17:20
#19
+1
Love it.
Di, 09/17/2013 - 19:35
#20
+1
If you like, you could add a change: Let them dig other holes or change of a hole to other.
Do, 09/26/2013 - 16:08
#21
+ 1... OR MAYBE 3! :D
Here's my thought:
The Spit Viper would be the "turret", though it would have a bite attack that would definitely cause a status affliction.
The Porcuspine, meanwhile, should work something like a Spookat. It would attack by either clawing the player, or by burrowing into the ground, then attempting to pop out nearby or underneath the player. Then in later tiers, it would throw the quills on its back.
... As for the morning star, it should blow up on death :)
Do, 09/26/2013 - 17:22
#22
@Super-Ratman
+1 for the fiend turret blowing up when it dies. It should go have some tea (a mug of misery special!) with its howlitzer friends.
Do, 09/26/2013 - 23:08
#23
We don't need a fiend turret. The majority of fiends already have a ranged attack. And Howlitzers fit the role perfectly.
Fr, 09/27/2013 - 06:24
#24
what if the poruspine used
what if the poruspine used snarby's spikes burrow attack?
what if the snake bit you if you came too close?
Fr, 09/27/2013 - 07:10
#25
Derpuraptor Strikes Back
Kraanx, then you'll most likely be hurt.
As for Porcuspine's spin, I'd rather have him to spawn in the middle of rooms and do Snarby's spin attack, just with more spikes and a bigger range.
Fr, 09/27/2013 - 07:12
#26
I think the Porcuspine is a
I think the Porcuspine is a better idea. We already have Chromalisks, I don't know if we need Snakes.
Not yet.
There's a reason there's no beast turrets ingame ;)