This may have been already suggested but maybe there should be some way to have conjuration abilities obtainable in game. I know there are a few references to it in dialogue, but as far as I know there is nothing that really does this. I was thinking that some leveled abilities could summon zombies, and other creatures for a certain amount of time.
Thoughts?
Good idea, like an attack pet and a sword rather than sword and shield. I like that.
I guess I'm used to a class system, so I have to start thinking on a no class basis. It would be cool to have different abilities to make characters have different roles in parties, but that's a different thread :^D.
-Quiiliitiila
In this game, "class" is a product of your equipment. The ability to summon should take up multiple slots, honestly, since you're basically attacking stuff with no risk.
In keeping with the theme of the game, why not have a conjuring ability or pet that requires energy to summon or use? The ability/pet would need to take up a weapon slot though, like Feynt said.
I just began playing the game recently, so I'm not to sure about the energy system and how it works or how much would be enough. But I think it would be safe to say that a summoned creature should take up a weapon slot. Is energy a finite or infinite resource? (Does it come back over time, or do you have to find it in-game?)
-Quiiliitiila
Better yet, why not make pets/summons something like a new trinket slot that has to be paid for. Of course, they should only give slight buffs (like trinkets) instead of fighting to balance it out.
@Quiiliitiila: Energy has two forms, Mist Energy and Crystal Energy. Mist Energy will regenerate over time, but you can only hold up to 100 ME at any given time. Crystal Energy does not regenerate, but you can hold as much of it as you want. You can also buy CE at any time, either for crowns or real money.
As for how much energy such a skill/pet would cost per use, I was thinking about 5. This is the same amount that is used to activate mecha knights/turrets in the lower depths of the Clockworks.
@akragster: I was originally thinking pretty much the same thing, but there are a few problems with this idea.
1) Why bother buying a skill/pet for a slight buff when you can already buy a trinket?
2) If a conjuring skill or pet takes up a trinket slot or something similar, it would make swords somewhat irrelevant. Why bother with a sword (which requires you to get up close to a monster, thus making it easier for you to take damage) when you can summon something to do all your tanking for you and just use guns/bombs?
That being said, I think the idea of adding skills as trinkets has definite merit. For example, one could purchase a 'skill-trinket' that allows them to cast fire, or heal themselves/others. Each skill use would cost a given amount of energy, proportional to the level of the skill being used (think of each skill having three levels, where a level one skill is equivalent to using an item from Tier 1, and so on). In this case, the amount of energy per skill use would be dependent on the level of the skill, and the level of the skill would be determined by the level of the 'skill-trinket'.
Hi all!,
hmm i don't agree, not an extra slot or a weapon slot, it should have more drawback then that, it should be a shield slot, or helm slot item that has low defense or some other such major drawback.
if it were a weapon slot item and the pet lasted for an extended period you would essentially have two weapons in use at once when you switched. having a major defense penalty would be more dynamic especial since the pet would have hp and defense to make up for your new lack...
@Capitrium
So 5 mist energy? Or 5 crystal? I would vote for mist energy, as it would be a hinderance to have to keep paying for crystal energy; plus the summoning would be limited by the 100 energy cap and could make it balanced in that regard (mist energy is used for other things during combat correct?).
-Quiiliitiila
Having come from other MMO's i like the idea of a summoner/conjurer.
They definitely should take up a weapon slot. Each weapon should can only summon one type of creature, and obviously only one at a time. To fit into the steam punk theme I think he should obviously have to construct some sort of robot helper. (weapons could be wrenches/toolboxes?).
In order to not make them overly powerful:
-long time to summon
-much weaker than the knights which we have to pay energy for in the clockworks
-they have a time limit after which they explode (or maybe they can only do x numbers of attacks before they malfunction?)
But in all honesty I can't realistically see this as something that is going to happen.
I could see it happening, but of course they would have to be quite limited in attack strength and duration considering the added benefit of distraction they would probably provide.
I think the best way for it to work would be as the charge attack of some other weapon, which would have a less than stellar base attack. That way if you were to, say, equip two different summoning weapons for two pets, at least you could still do SOME kind of melee/ranged attack instead of just standing around idly waiting to re-summon when they die.
@Quiiliitiila
The answer is both! ME and CE are both forms of energy, and can be used interchangeably for anything that requires energy. ME is always used before CE is, though.
@Everyone else
You all seem to be forgetting that you have two weapon slots... Why would you have to wait around for your summon to die when you can just use your alternate weapon? This makes sense especially with milkman's suggestion, where the 'weapon' you use to 'summon' is a wrench/toolbox or something similar; you would be vulnerable while building your conjuration/pet, but once it's built you're good to go.
I disagree with this, people like to suggest things, and this is fine, but a lot of people don't think thoroughly on what they suggest.
People would suggest tanks and machine guns in a roman age themed game, much like people would want master chief to be indestructible and freeman to have infinite throwable crowbars it would be appealing to have such a thing, it however either doesn't fit in the game or brings about many balancing issues which break the game.
In the game, you do have the chance to have "companions" they cost energy however and are only for that stage. This brings about limitation, which some of you don't like. Sadly imagine if you could poop out robot body guards all over the place? Even if there was a cool down, or a limited use, by the end of the day you guys just want something that is already in the game, that isn't however free to use whenever.
HOWEVER! Those consumable robots? Remember those? You have to find them however, and they actually don't scale to the difficulty of the stage, so most almost die instantly in tier 2 or 3.
Maybe something along the lines of the item shop guys at checkpoints allowing you to pay crowns to get those robots you can summon, much like you can already buy other consumables. A simple, 3 use, pop one down any time robot. You keep your weapons, and your usefulness, while being able to provide extra help when things get tough. Enough to get you by until you reach the next check point, unless you really planned to rely on them doing all the work and hide behind your infinite summon minions?
(Might I point out you are then only asking to cheat)
Otherwise summoning things yourself in this game would not fit at all, it can work, but I don't even think they'd want to go through with it with the issues of trying to not make it hinder the challenge of the game when you can pop down a robot whenever to do the work.
Much like having a healer or medic in this game would be possible because you see gremlins doing it, but it is unnecessary and likely game breaking for players to have an endless source of healing.
It won't happen in the way you are asking, a suggestion is still just a suggestion.
I suggest that you suggest better suggestions, all of you.
@Rentago
You make some good points, but I really don't think it would be a broken or overpowered system, there are a few things to consider:
-There would be some type of cost to summon a creature (possibly energy, possibly a small amount of health)
-The creatures you summon would be far less than average; they're not there to tank for you, only to do some damage and then die.
-You would be limited to one summon at a time.
-The summoning process would take a slightly longer time than a weapon charge, in fact it may just be a secondary on a weapon (conjuror's staff?)
-The summoning process would be interruptible.
-The "art" of conjuration already exists in in-game lore, so it's not a new concept that is alien to the game. (Weak I know, but still).
I'd get into the necessity of a healing role, but that's for another forum.
-Quiiliitiila
In a way I approve, but I think this should be weapon limiting. It should be a load out option that "ok, I'm going to have a pet and a gun" rather than "gun/bomb and stumpy the zombie tanks for me"