Spiral Knights - You're tasked with designing a new unique enemy. What is it?

You're tasked with designing a new unique enemy. What is it?

47 replies [Last post]

Fri, 04/08/2016 - 13:09

Fangel

Might move this thread eventually but I figure it's a discussion at least.

But alright! We have a sort of interesting world in Spiral Knights that take inspiration from plenty of different areas, but enemies come in all shapes and sizes.

While all themed, pretty much all monster families in Spiral Knights have a unique twist to them. While beasts and slime monsters might have similar enemies in other games, typically they have different artistic direction, such as our "bunny" enemy being mostly a bouncing mouth, and our slimes having spikes.

This is more of a visuals sort of scenario, but if you have an idea on how it would work you can say that. Try not to be too complex with your gameplay roles - mostly want to look at what an enemy could be!

Fri, 04/08/2016 - 13:49

Jenovasforumchar

suggestion topic

There could be scientiests, shamans or doctors. Actually this role would be ideal by devilities and gremlins, since these are the more smarter enemies out there. But also the wilvers could have some kind of beastly shamans. Why not introducing werewolfs into the game? So the beast fraction could get another face into their family.

Actually I would like to see more varity in the beast and jelly family since they have so few varity.

Fri, 04/08/2016 - 13:58

Putkisen-Seta

Durp.

Node slimes. Whatever the hell those were supposed to be. Some kind of artificial gremlin slime cultivar?

Fri, 04/08/2016 - 18:25

Fehzor

A giant class turtle for the beast family that summons minis. It would tie into tortodrone lore (where do you think tortodrone shells come from?), but with less defense, and slower attacks so that it's reasonable for novice players to fight against. It would have a bunny nest on its back.

Attacks-
Lunge = same as tortodrone lunge
Spawn beasts = slower to execute, summons 1-2 buns in T1, 2-5 beast minis in T2 and 4-10 of minis in T3
Ground Pound = same as tortodrone, but slower and more flagged. Deals only stun, no damage. Buffs enemy attack in T3.

Defenses-
Same as all beasts
Health = about 2/3s of what tortodrones have

Integration-
Wherever a large class beast enemy would spawn; like trojans/lichen colonies in arenas but for beasts

Another good possibility for a new enemy would be silkwing variants and buffs. Whereas gremlin menders go out of control and become a threat, silkwings fade into obscurity.
Normal silkwing = Can heal other silkwings in T2; faster healing + faster movement in T3 only
Buff Silkwing = Buffs a stat for an enemy (speed, attack, attack speed, defense); faster movement in T3
Upon death = provides full health or a lengthy buff to nearby enemies

Buffed silkwings would only need a new texture to design, and would be easily implemented based on status types;
Fire = speed buff
Poison = defense buff
Shock = attack speed buff
Freeze = attack buff
statusless = health

All spawned silkwings would have a chance of being the neutral healing variant. Alternate, set in stone levels could have unexpected variants programmed in- royal jelly palace could be given a couple of defense buff/speed variants, while levels like aurora isles could be given attack speed variants for example.

Fri, 04/08/2016 - 14:12

Fangel

My own ideas

Decided to make my own post on the side for ideas. Something original for the existing classes for sure.

Gremlin
One idea is for a "brute gremlin". Inspired by the gremlin in the background of this concept art for (probably) Rise of Knights.

We already have a similar enemy in a "gremlin incinerator". This enemy would simply act more like a thwacker than a scorcher. Maybe have a huge club or mallet in their hand.

Beast
Our wolvers burrow right? So how about an enemy based around burrowing? While a mole enemy would work perfectly fine, I'm going to make a spiral twist to this and recommend a "land shark".

Difference would be this is a mixture between a shark and a beast. Would look like a hammerheard shark more or less but with claws for digging. The tail could also be used offensively, and the beast could move fast while burrowing but move slower after peeking up.

Slime
Slimes are an interesting enemy. We can really mold them into any shape to make anything, however that might not feel right.
My thoughts? Look to some inspiration. Polyps come from an underwater creature with a similar shape, why not do something similar?

As such, I would say add a "starfish slime". This would essentially be a big clump of an enemy that could potentially split when damaged enough, like a reverse lichen. Add spikes around on it and you've got a fairly functional slime enemy.

That's enough for me for now.
I also made some really bad and fast mockups of appearances in paint.net for each of the enemies I listed. Could probably make better pencil and paper since my mouse is laggy and wireless but I had this on hand.
don't judge, i spend ~5 minutes tops on each of these

Fri, 04/08/2016 - 14:21

Fangel

Responses!

Since I took a while making my own reply to the thread people posted first, and I like some of the ideas.

A doctor or nurse devilite would be hilarious, although then silkwings might be a bit redundant. Perhaps move silkwings over to be a beast class enemy and have devilite nurses pick up the slack for fiend healers?

The idea for buff silkwings is also interesting. However instead of being straight up silkwings, why not have them be "bufferflies"? Could look more like a butterfly than a moth perhaps with the long mouth too. They would buff similar to silkwing healing, however maybe they could "attach" to enemies and in the process receive 90% less damage while attached? Heck, if you're going for the "silkwing replacement" idea, they could even still heal enemies, just with a lesser intensity.

Fri, 04/08/2016 - 15:05

Umbra-Lunatis

@fangel

Voldol doesn't strike me as a "brute". In fact he appears smaller than Vise or Punch. Would love to see him put into the game though.
Potential monsters could include that green blob-shaped thing pulling the cart, though. Also, the gremlin inside the cart reminds me of big the cat

Fri, 04/08/2016 - 15:15

Alpha-Stevo

I had always liked the idea

I had always liked the idea of branches of the Silkwing family; ones that focus on different stats. Based on like...dragonflies or butterflies or whathaveyou.

Silkwings would heal.
'Shieldwings' would buff defenses.
'Speedwings' would buff movement/attack speed?
'Shredwings' would buff offenses.

Makin' more support enemies that do more than just healing would be kinda rad, in my opinion.

Fri, 04/08/2016 - 15:32

Fangel

Voldol doesn't strike me as a "brute". In fact he appears smaller than Vise or Punch. Would love to see him put into the game though
I uh, am talking about the gremlin in the cart. The big one.

I made really shoddy concept art and linked it at the bottom of my post. Looks nothing like the gremlin in the foreground.

Fri, 04/08/2016 - 16:24

Umbra-Lunatis

Oh, okay. See, playing RoK i never even noticed that one. You pointing it out was the first time i ever actually saw it.
Still looks like big the cat, regardless.

Fri, 04/08/2016 - 18:06

#10

Ironclaw-Mender

how about like
a gremlin
okay bear with me
we get a gremlin right
and
alright
hold on
we get a gremlin
and we give it
wait for it
a gun

Fri, 04/08/2016 - 18:27

#11

Alternate-Dragon

armadillos that attack like

armadillos that attack like vana's wheels and have angled aiming

Fri, 04/08/2016 - 21:05

#12

Fangel

thought about that myself

how about like
we get a gremlin
and we give it
a gun

Pulsars are gremlin soldier guns. We're at war with gremlins - why don't we see their soldiers? Would be annoying to fight but would spice things up for sure.

Fri, 04/08/2016 - 23:33

#13

Jazzberry-Jam

Beast idea

What about a wild version of snipe? It would look pretty similar, only slightly bigger, maybe a bit messy feathers and predator bird like beak?
It could have a charge attack where it goes in a straight line and cuts with the rotating wings. At tier 3 it could even have a little bit of armor on the wings.

Another attack could be something like the graviton bomb. With the way it spins its wings, it sucks players in close to it so the other enemies have an easier time of hitting the knights.

If it needs yet another attack, it could launch projectyles similar to winmillion charge attack.

Sat, 04/09/2016 - 00:15

#14

Tentacles

Slimes, constructs and undead

Slimes, constructs and undead have turrets.
Fiends and Gremlins have healers.

Beasts have neither, so I think they should get a healer too.

I think a "beast" that looks like a sunflower would be interesting.
Its movement would be basically limited to wolver-like teleporation (it's digging through the ground), and for its heal it would breathe pollen at hurt enemies, for a heal over time similar to silkwings, with higher difficulties it could get an additional aoe heal around itself like gremlin menders have, signified by a sneeze.

A fast in-and-out healer would be interesting compared to the slow silkwings and the annoying menders.

Sat, 04/09/2016 - 04:10

#15

Ironclaw-Mender

"Pulsars are gremlin soldier guns"

Are they?
I actually thought they were like modified Gun Puppies.

Sat, 04/09/2016 - 08:56

#16

Gasguzzler

some kinda zappy smoke belching support tank

A Construct that is basically a big, rickety, chunky, smoke-belching tank with a tesla coil on top and a dozer blade in front. Probably looks like it was made from old mecha knight and Sherman tank parts, and it rattles as it moves on its treads. Comes in Tenderfoot, Ironclaw, and Darkfang markings, and even camo netting flavor for when it decides to surprise you in a Beast level!

It can either attempt to ram you with a dash attack that does pure normal damage, or shoot lightning at other Constructs, giving them a damage and speed buff. And if you blow it up, a random gremlin that isn't in the knocker family pops out! In t3, it can shoot you with the tesla coil, doing pathetic damage vs even t2 armor, but inflicting Strong Shock if it catches you without your shield up.

Call it the Kilowatt Tank at t1, the Gigawatt Tank in t2, and the Rolling Thunder in t3 I suppose

Sat, 04/09/2016 - 09:39

#17

Fangel

Gremlins just have 2/3 weapon classes

Are they?
I actually thought they were like modified Gun Puppies.

Yup, straight from the pulsar description: "A high-tech Gremlin firearm designed for use by elite squads of Ironclaw soldiers. Pulsar shots become more powerful the farther they travel."

Also a multi-purpose/class enemy is an interesting idea. With a tank idea perhaps one of its attacks would be to spawn 4 knockers? I would recommend making it look like a large, intimidating scuttlebot.

The beast healer is also interesting. A fast moving but immobile healer would be really neat. However I would recommend the healer either shoot projectiles at things to heal them (a-la royal polyps to the royal jelly), or fire a continuous "sun beam" at an enemy that would heal at about the same rate of a silkwing. Give it a happy and cute face and let it dance while idle.

Sat, 04/09/2016 - 10:58

#18

Ironclaw-Mender

"Yup, straight from the pulsar description: "A high-tech Gremlin firearm designed for use by elite squads of Ironclaw soldiers. Pulsar shots become more powerful the farther they travel.""

oh, had no idea
guess the stalkers and the scorchers had the ranged enemies covered

anyways on topic:

an unknown type enemy similiar to a shankle, but with the appearance of a polyp, that pretends to be a floor tile, and when stepped on pops out of the tile and slaps you with a tentacle or something

it can be spotted due to a tile being darker than the surrounding tiles, and to attack it you have to lure if out by, say, dashing across it and then attack it while it's unprotected

Sat, 04/09/2016 - 11:54

#19

Fangel

Sort of like those spikes in the core?

Sounds like a clockworks variant of those swarm floor spikes. Would they be another "drone" class (ie, shankles, wisps), or be added onto another monster family? I can see slimes working best for that sort of thing due to the whole shifting shape ability.

Sat, 04/09/2016 - 23:02

#20

Jazzberry-Jam

Your opinion?

What about my idea? I would like to hear someone else's opinion...

Sat, 04/09/2016 - 23:24

#21

Fehzor

Lore wise the snipes are supposed to be elegant and pure, so making them hostile seems kind of.. wrong. Maybe if they were tampered with by fiends or gremlins in some way? As an enemy type I'm up for just about anything, but it does seem about right.

Sat, 04/09/2016 - 23:38

#22

Jazzberry-Jam

Wild snipe

I mentioned they were wild. It could be somewhat similar to what happened with the sprite pets. The environment of the clockworks made them "tough" XD

Sun, 04/10/2016 - 00:01

#23

Fangel

What about my idea? I would like to hear someone else's opinion...

Eh, I don't really look at them as a new or unique enemy. There are wild snipe gardens in wolver dens and the snipes there aren't exactly aggressive.

I can see snipes being weaponized by the spiral order faster than I can see them being enemies.

Sun, 04/10/2016 - 03:35

#24

Gasguzzler

I drew the thing

@Fangel Big intimidating scuttlebot that can spawn Knockers you said?
https://www.dropbox.com/s/9jeehqsmto195ij/gigawatt%20rumblebot.png?dl=0

Also, maybe Rumblebot is a better name for it :P

Also also, no idea f I'll ever post this on my dA

Sun, 04/10/2016 - 07:00

#25

Holy-Nightmare

Desk jockey

Fiend

A moderate sized fiend sitting at a desk, too lazy to give chase but not quite the degenerate Gorgo. This enemy will lazily lob projectiles at the player, while the bullets travel slower than gun pup bullets they deal far more damage. This monster's greatest strength is its large HP pool which gives it more bulk than your standard turret.

Sun, 04/10/2016 - 07:57

#26

Asthix

A giant Lumber with an extendo chain fist.

Sun, 04/10/2016 - 09:46

#27

Gustim

Snakes?

Anybody thought of snakelike creatures, that lunge at you and inflict poison? I know I have :P

Mon, 04/11/2016 - 20:48

#28

Corporal-Shade

I'm a Wizard

Some sort of rabbit thing for the beast family. I shall call it the Rabble.
It will have glowing tattoos and will stand on two legs.

It's standard attack consists of axe kicking you. Higher tiers will charge up their attacks faster.

It's special attack consists of summoning up to 5 smaller Rabbles. These small enemies have the power of a mini monster and do crappy kicks. They are distinguishable by not having tattoos.

Stun Variant: Rabble - Grey Fur, White Tattoos
Fire Variant: Razel - Dark Red Fur, Orange Tattoos
Freeze Variant: Fuzzball - Fluffier Fur, Light Blue Tattoos
Poison Variant: Radent - Brown/Greenish Fur, Green Tattoos
Shock Variant: Zapple - Pinkish Red Fur, Cyan Tattoos

What do you guys think of this?

Mon, 04/11/2016 - 21:03

#29

Fehzor

Lol looks like the GMs found your thing Fangel.

Tue, 04/12/2016 - 00:43

#30

Fangel

well shucks.

I wanted to have a fun little discussion about what you would add to the game as an enemy rather than make a legitimate suggestion, but I guess my threads are forever doomed to end up in the suggestions subforum.

Thu, 04/21/2016 - 13:36

#31

Agentz

BLARGH

Slimes:
If enough lichens join together, they form a Slime Mind, which is essentially The Iron Hulk, but slime. This would require around 30 to 40 lichens to combine. Massive amount of HP, and sends out spike shockwaves if players get too close. Consists of massive amounts of gelatin with spikes protruding sporadically. It form from any kind of slime, but there have to be at least 30 of the slimes in one place for the process to start. This would be the slime's #1 priority. It would begin with just a blob forming and gradually gaining gelital mass. However, it would be nothing but a useless blob until it reached its final form, with requires about 30 slimes. Mini slimes would count for 1/10 of normal slimes during its construction.

Depending on what the majority of slimes constructed it, its status would be relevant to that. (i.e. 16 poison slimes and 14 oilers = Toxic Slime Mind)

Once the mind has formed, all slimes in a radius will receive a minor defense and attack buff, and will have an infinite sight range (i.e. cross-map aggro)
Slimes of the affiliated status will spawn every 30 to 60 seconds. Its own attacks consist of a shockwave of spikes, absorbing a player to do constant damage for a few seconds, and lastly it would send out an aura of its status surrounding it. If it's a normal damage mind, it will send a stun aura out.

It is completely immobile, and is stuck wherever it is built.

The appearance depends on the type of slime it consumed most:
Massive Lichen Mind: Basically, take the gel from the JK elevator and turn it clear yellow, then add about 12 purple cores in the center. There is a large eye at the peak of the mound of gel, connected to the gel cores. Spawns two Lichen Colonies every 60 seconds.
Slime Hive Mind: The same as the Massive Lichen Mind in shape and aesthetic, but pink. Spawns four slime cubes every 60 seconds.
Toxic Slime Mind: Green.
BrainFreeze Mind; Light Blue with icy spikes
Raging Mind: Massive Oiler with fire spikes
Explosive Mind: A glowing version, that has a massive explosion that leaves lots of little yellow bombs rolling around afterward. ~Z

Thu, 04/21/2016 - 15:31

#32

Fangel

Hmm

Interesting idea. We'd probably need more levels where slimes are spawned before players enter rooms in order to make it viable. Perhaps this could be something that happens when 3 giant lichen colonies are all in the same place together?

Fri, 04/22/2016 - 09:12

#33

Agentz

BLARGH

I wish that I knew how to use SpiralSpy so that I could actually render the thing. /sigh ~ JG

Also, the swarm version would be bigger and able to move very slowly.

Sun, 04/24/2016 - 11:33

#34

Defeat

a new type of construct:

a new type of construct: enchanted cog wheels/gears/bolts that act like minis and fusing jellies to create larger constructs. There could be a whole new set of missions to find the source of the mysterious enchantment: why all of these parts just started moving on their own, then eventually leading to a boss battle with a giant amalgamation of enchanted mechanical tid bits. oh and then because it is made out of tools and parts afterall it would drop materials that you could use to craft similar steam-punk-ish boss type items :3 yayy

Sun, 04/24/2016 - 19:46

#35

Xxpapaya

The papaya is thinking

@Defeat
Perhaps the constructs have to be within the presence of Menders to fuse, seeing as how often the two races appear together, and how the Gremlins designed a bunch of them anyways.

Sun, 04/24/2016 - 23:03

#36

Flash-Flire

Reply to Blazecat

We already have a rabbit in the form of the Dust Bunny class of creatures, but it still sounds fun.
Maybe change it to something not rabbity?

Fri, 05/20/2016 - 10:21

#37

Monsterbrine

MY IDEAS

Bazooka Puppies. Gun Puppy that shoots the Proto Bomb (Tier 1)/first 2* bomb (Tier 2)/first 4* bomb (Tier 3)
Chromadactyls. Resembles Cearadactylus. Tier 1 Single: Bite. Party Version: Bite*Party, Divebomb 25%. Tier 2 Solo: BiteBite, Divebomb 25%. Party: BiteBite*Party, Divebomb 50%, Breath Attack. Tier 3 Solo: BiteBiteBiteBite, Divebomb 50%, Breath Attack. Parties Beware: BiteBiteBiteBite*Party "Party like there's no tomorrow, because you won't get a tomorrow!", Divebomb 100% "Have Fun Dying!", CURVED BREATH ATTACK GUARANTEED TO MAKE HUNTING PARTIES FUN.

Fri, 05/20/2016 - 13:46

#38

Sir-Pandabear

An enemy that very rarely spawns from red boxes and look exactly like a Darkfang shield drop. It wouldn't be particularly dangerous or anything, just hilarious.

Fri, 05/20/2016 - 13:50

#39

Corporal-Shade

I'm a Wizard

@Ze-Epik > It shall now be a snake that still magically clones itself and bites you like every other beast.

Fri, 05/20/2016 - 16:29

#40

Nizada

Stuffy stuff

Okay, this may sound a little crazy, but bear with me. (Fiend type enemy)

Imagine a large, stuffed, worn out teddybear with one red and one cursed eye. It will run after you, and normally bite or claw you.
Other attacks:
- Jumps at you from a short distance, wiggling its tail in the air a brief moment before jumping.
- Shoots a ray of cursed light in front of it(using its cursed eye) that curses any player hit with strong curse.
Defence:
- High HP.
- Is not delayed by being attacked.
- Is not pushed by shield or shield bash.

When it dies a random devolite jumps out of it.

Fri, 05/20/2016 - 19:39

#41

Varriscious

New monsters and bosses

My ideas of new monsters for the games would be:
>(RARE)Arcane Salamander: an ancient salamander that could appear anywhere...especially in the treasure vault to guard the most valuable treasures of the Clockworks. Just seeing an Arcane Salamander is luck, yet dangerous like a gold monster.
>(RARE)PERFECT Mecha Knights: The final ultimate form of Mecha Knight, these constructs were created to learn quickly during every fight with knights and other monster families. They could block more than usual Mecha Knights do, and strike harder than ever, watch out!.
>(BOSS)Gladius: A warrior said to be a beserker that has unlimited blood lust that cannot be controlled, in the end he had to be sealed in ruins that were forgotten within the abyss. Gladius sleeps now...but is being brought back by the fiends.
>(BOSS)K-nightmare or Knightmare: The master of phantoms within the unknown world of the undead where monsters fear to tread. Carrying a Scythe and roams around bored, Knightmare enjoys hunting down knights who roam within the Graveyards. Legend has it, once the nightmare of all knights was defeated by a brave hero, they can posses the scythe of death himself as a test of great will (Basically a weapon with more negative energy than the Acheron).

Fri, 05/20/2016 - 19:46

#42

Corporal-Shade

I'm a Wizard

I thought Trojans were the Knightmares.

Sat, 05/21/2016 - 02:30

#43

Squiddum

Trojan/deadnaught slime? Also Gremlin engineers

What if there was a big slime that behaved much like a trojan? It's front will be absolutely covered in spikes with a shield facing the front, like a trojan's shield. It's attack would be to dash straight at knights with its spike-y front, and also occasionally spawn a lot of glop drops.

And we should have a gremlin engineer (even though they're all supposed to be masters of engineering, I know!) that holds some sort of remote that can summon gun puppies.

Sat, 05/21/2016 - 02:52

#44

Nizada

Squiddum reply

But why create something that already exist?

Sun, 05/22/2016 - 02:16

#45

Squiddum

Reply to Nizada

I dunno, injecting more diversity into the game?

Sun, 05/22/2016 - 02:23

#46

Squiddum

New rare monster: "Scatterbot"

Also, we should have a construct monster that has the same rarity as soul jellies or mew kats. Basically, it looks exactly like a normal scuttle bot, walks like a scuttlebot and will rarely spawn in place of a scuttlebot. When it attacks, however, two minigun barrels emerges from Scatterbot's gape and fires a volley of about 10 longer-ranged bullets like an autogun! To balance things out, though, the attack animation of the Scatterbot should be a bit slower than normal scuttles.

Sun, 05/22/2016 - 02:51

#47

Nizada

Squiddum reply

Hey! That's my argument... ^^

Also... How does the game become more diverse if we put in a mob that already exist? O.o
As far as I understand, this will be a Trojan, that looks a bit like a slime... :P

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You're tasked with designing a new unique enemy. What is it?