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| Thread: Heroes 5.5 - Eternal Essence - New Factions |  This thread is pages long: 1 2 3 4 5 6 · «PREV / NEXT» |
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Quantomas
Responsible
Famous Hero
AI Wizard
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posted June 12, 2011 01:10 AM |
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I didn't create the art from scratch for my Coven faction, but I did photoshop it quite heavily to fit my vision.
I was asked to participate in helping you guys btw, but H5 is so limited in how it can be modded... really hard to be imaginative when most of the stuff that is created for it is -while very impressive- still very very restricted by the game itself.
Have you guys overcome these limitations somehow?
We can now modify the game in any way we see fit. The plan includes to have dynamically changing terrain, overland spells, new factions (races + towns) as well as a reenvisioned H5 campaign plus our own original campaign.
Technically, I can resolve any roadblock the creative talents, artists and map makers encounter, to do 2D art as well as 3D modelling. The limit is mostly, that we need to be very efficient and focused to get the right tasks done, because the programming work rests entirely on my shoulders. For that reason I manage the priorities and need to restrict the path how game assets are loaded at runtime. We are still in the early stage where we have to sort out how things go. In general my goal is a much improved leverage by making almost every game element cleanly moddable instead of implementing items (skills, perks, spells etc.) manually.
That said, yes we have overcome the limits, we already have some skills in story, map making and programming. To make it fly we need creative talent, and in return can offer nearly unlimited possibilites, technically our own AAA title production.
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Adrius
Honorable
Undefeatable Hero
Stand and fight!
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posted June 12, 2011 01:38 AM |
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Edited by Adrius at 01:39, 12 Jun 2011.
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Are you... god?
Wow man, that sounds pretty cool. I might read up a bit on the story and stuff and see if I any of my factions can be modified to fit in.
It would be insanely cool to see some of my work actually in-game actually 
All depends on if ya like it though, we'll see... I won't sign up on any team-list just yet 
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mfdoom
Hired Hero
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posted June 12, 2011 10:23 AM |
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Are you... god?
He's got to be.
btw we need Death Cows.
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Quantomas
Responsible
Famous Hero
AI Wizard
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posted June 12, 2011 01:55 PM |
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I am merely an AI programmer who has learned to walk the IP labyrinth that is before the real work with the help of others.
Still, the fact remains that most likely we will be able to do much more with H5 than what we reasonably can expect from H6 for a good number of years to come.
This makes it a unique project in the industry. Publishers/developers have so far been reluctant to give communities total freedom to adapt a game, because they might think it diminishes their own creative authority, and it is of course significantly more work to build a flexible enough framework. The former is easily remedied by stating in the manual that they strongly recommend players to start out with the original game. Most players will readily comply, because it is indeed the authorative version. The latter will be remedied by the market maturing, that sales on a ten year basis start to count (consider 10 million units Heroes V Gold sold). Truly strong modding capabilites combined with some seal of approval can add incredible strength to the longevity of a game. I have little doubt that the work we do will benefit Ubisoft, and one day they might be more inclined to support a more open modding framework.
In the meantime it's our turn. There are of course games out there that do already quite a lot, for example the NWN toolkit or Civ, but if we get our act together we can bring this to an entire new level.
Lots of opportunities, but as I say frequently, we also need to be very focused and work together as best as we can.
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Fauch
Responsible
Undefeatable Hero
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posted June 12, 2011 05:55 PM |
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here are my own factions btw, in case some of you haven't seen them yet :
Arcania
Refuge
I didn't bother creating stories for them. the Refuge is basically a dissident branch of the Haven. as you can see, they don't receive support from angels, though they are more spiritual than Haven.
can't really say where arcania comes from. but they are more ethical than wizards, they do not perform experiment on alive creatures. after all for war, you don't need warriors if weapons fight by themselves.
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markkur
Honorable
Legendary Hero
Once upon a time
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posted June 13, 2011 03:03 PM |
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I have a couple of ideas about use.
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I didn't bother creating stories for them. the Refuge is basically a dissident branch of the Haven. as you can see, they don't receive support from angels, though they are more spiritual than Haven.
This could be good for a civil war, uprising or an episode with a "Saruman-like "type villian.
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.. you don't need warriors if weapons fight by themselves.
One use I see for some of them is; if we could have alternatives to "haunt-mines" for powerful casters, with say "sorcery". A progressively stronger pick could be made to guard goldmines or choke-points. <imo> Some would be perfect for that.
I'm not sure how the magic will work but e.g. maybe the terrain will impact what the caster could select.
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Fauch
Responsible
Undefeatable Hero
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posted June 13, 2011 04:02 PM |
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actually, I thought about a necromancy like skill, where the wizard would take the weapon of the dead on the battlefield, and then bring them back to his castle to enchant them.
like with necromancy, the amount of weapons you can get after a battle depends on your mastery. but there is no limit such as with dark energy. instead, the hero doesn't directly receive new free units, but actually has to come back to his castle to hire them (so not for free) through a special building.
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markkur
Honorable
Legendary Hero
Once upon a time
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posted June 13, 2011 07:09 PM |
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I like the ideas.
I don't know how extensive the Magic will be in E.E. but another slant to your idea could be that terrain impacts whether that special building can be built? (also may affect other buildings?). I was just thinking about how; "what was available to given tiles" impacted various aspects of town development in Civ3 and wondering what is in store for 5.5. Don't know if this is a good idea or not but, it could be very challenging.
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Lord_Immortal
Famous Hero
DoR Dev Team
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posted June 15, 2011 11:07 AM |
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I still stick to the Coven as a MUST faction.Other town I would want to see would have been:
Fortress(H3-styled Fortress)
T1-Wolf->Wild Wolf/Worg
T2-Lizard Archer->Lizard Marksman/Lizard Wizard(Green M&M 6 Lizards U can combine Haven Archer with Rider lizard.)
T3-Gnoll->Gnoll Maradeur/Gnoll Pillager(Gnoll&Maradeur mace illager Axe)
T4-Cockatrice->Fell Cockatrice/Basilisk
Cockatrice is a Rider Green Lizard with black griffin head and black griffin wings.Dosen't Fly.
Fell cockatrice is a Brisk Rider Lizard with a Black griffin head and darker emerald dragon wings.Armor removed exept for tail.Dosen't Fly.
Basilisk is a Brisk Rider Lizard recoloured so that his armor looks like horns/natural extentions and black dragon wings.Dosen't Fly.
T5->Medusa->Medusa Queen/Gorgon(Green matrons with F.Elem.tails)
T6->Wyvern->Wyvern Monarch/Fell Wyvern(Just add rocs to the Orcs)
T7->Hydra->Chaos Hydra/Deep Hydra(Manticores fit more to the dungeon.Also recolour hydras to look more like H3.)
I am sure you all missed this faction)
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TheBaron
Promising
Known Hero
dreamer of dreams
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posted June 15, 2011 03:27 PM |
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Edited by TheBaron at 16:26, 15 Jun 2011.
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I appreciate the Coven, it is really well done and has been finely thought out. However, I think it's a bit Dungeon-ish. The Bulwark is intended specifically for EE. Through it's narrative we are introduced to the world of EE: What it is, why it is, how it works and who it effects. I also want to work on a story for the Bulwark that will raise the standard for character development and plot in strategy games. Now I have a bit more spare time on my hands I think I can really get it going, especially if the community help me to make it the best it can be.
EDIT: @Immortal, as Quantomas has said in other posts he is reworking the structure of the game so that any made user-made faction can be implemented, whether it be the Coven or the Fortress or whatever else people want to add to their game. What I hope (and hopefully other people hope too) is that the Bulwark story will be the base expansion campaign for EE and will be of a quality that surpasses standard video game fare. If Quantomas is devoting his time and expertise to creating something truly excellent, something that doesn't just improve on the framework but breaks free of its shackles, I think it is our responsibility to make the other aspects of the game similarly epic. I want to contribute a story, and I want people to help me build that story into something great. It doesn't help the process to just tell me (or anyone for that matter) that other people's work is better, because that's not constructive, it's not even a criticism.
In response to the Ylath/Shalassa idea. If people would really like the new EE faction to get involved with either of those deities I will support and contribute to that project as much as I can. The idea for the shifters was that because we are making a mod that breaks the mould, we make a faction that breaks the mould. One could argue that I'm hardly doing anything different by using mostly established mythological figures and cultural bases, but that's because making something completely original would be very difficult to do and probably quite alienating for an audience. EE is based on a new mechanic that is - and is more than - the reality based on the dragon gods. Therefore we should think about a new race that is the same - a race that can introduce us to this force without the preconceived notions that dragon worship constrains us with. IMO adding another dragon idolising faction is nothing new, it's just another flavor of the stuff we've already got.
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mfdoom
Hired Hero
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posted June 15, 2011 07:28 PM |
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I still stick to the Coven as a MUST faction.Other town I would want to see would have been:
Fortress(H3-styled Fortress)
T1-Wolf->Wild Wolf/Worg
T2-Lizard Archer->Lizard Marksman/Lizard Wizard(Green M&M 6 Lizards U can combine Haven Archer with Rider lizard.)
T3-Gnoll->Gnoll Maradeur/Gnoll Pillager(Gnoll&Maradeur maceillager Axe)
T4-Cockatrice->Fell Cockatrice/Basilisk
Cockatrice is a Rider Green Lizard with black griffin head and black griffin wings.Dosen't Fly.
Fell cockatrice is a Brisk Rider Lizard with a Black griffin head and darker emerald dragon wings.Armor removed exept for tail.Dosen't Fly.
Basilisk is a Brisk Rider Lizard recoloured so that his armor looks like horns/natural extentions and black dragon wings.Dosen't Fly.
T5->Medusa->Medusa Queen/Gorgon(Green matrons with F.Elem.tails)
T6->Wyvern->Wyvern Monarch/Fell Wyvern(Just add rocs to the Orcs)
T7->Hydra->Chaos Hydra/Deep Hydra(Manticores fit more to the dungeon.Also recolour hydras to look more like H3.)
I am sure you all missed this faction)
Where are the Death Cows?
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Quantomas
Responsible
Famous Hero
AI Wizard
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posted June 15, 2011 07:52 PM |
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What I hope (and hopefully other people hope too) is that the Bulwark story will be the base expansion campaign for EE and will be of a quality that surpasses standard video game fare.
...
EE is based on a new mechanic that is - and is more than - the reality based on the dragon gods. Therefore we should think about a new race that is the same - a race that can introduce us to this force without the preconceived notions that dragon worship constrains us with.
This sounds truly inspired. 
Indeed, you are right I see the Eternal Essence as a more universal force of which the Dragons are just a part. Maybe the Dragons have special insight that had them gain their position in Ashan. 
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Fauch
Responsible
Undefeatable Hero
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posted June 15, 2011 08:09 PM |
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Where are the Death Cows?
you don't want death cows, you want an imba creature that can kill a whole level 7 stack in one attack. right?
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mfdoom
Hired Hero
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posted June 15, 2011 10:52 PM |
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Quote:
Quote:
Where are the Death Cows?
you don't want death cows, you want an imba creature that can kill a whole level 7 stack in one attack. right?
What?I want Death Cows, nobody says they should be overpowered or something like that.
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Fauch
Responsible
Undefeatable Hero
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posted June 16, 2011 01:56 PM |
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I've always thought that the main reason why so many people liked gorgons in H3 was the death stare.
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mfdoom
Hired Hero
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posted June 16, 2011 02:34 PM |
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I've always thought that the main reason why so many people liked gorgons in H3 was the death stare.
Death stare is cool but the main reason is that they are evil cows that kill.
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Lichking012
Known Hero
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posted June 20, 2011 08:36 AM |
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you don't want death cows, you want an imba creature that can kill a whole level 7 stack in one attack. right?
I wouldn't go that far, MG are strong, but they aren't very fast, aren't hugely powerful aside from death stare, and get destroyed by lower level units. Look at what they are surrounded by. gnolls lizardmen, and serpent flies are rather mediocre, and Wyverns aren't much to brag about either. Even though they are definitely one of the most powerful in their tier, they are hardly broken like vampire Lords or Phoenixes.
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Lord_Immortal
Famous Hero
DoR Dev Team
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posted June 20, 2011 10:39 AM |
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Death Cows are nearly impossible to do with our current knowledge of H5 Modding.They need a completely new model,and maybe new anims(but Nightmare skeleton would fit them I believe).
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mfdoom
Hired Hero
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posted June 20, 2011 11:00 AM |
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Death Cows are nearly impossible to do with our current knowledge of H5 Modding.
Sad. 
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Quantomas
Responsible
Famous Hero
AI Wizard
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posted June 21, 2011 09:45 AM |
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Death Cows are nearly impossible to do with our current knowledge of H5 Modding.They need a completely new model,and maybe new anims(but Nightmare skeleton would fit them I believe).
What we would need is a 3D artist who creates 3D models for the Fortress creatures, the Mighty Gorgon, the Dragonflies, Gnolls, Lizardmen and Basilisks. We have already Wyverns and Hydras.
Sooner or later we will be able to import our own 3D models into the game. So it would be just right for the work to start right now, if indeed we could find people with the right skills. Apart from the creatures, that would also involve a 3D model of the Fortress itself and its buildings.
As a reminder, we still need someone to research how 3D models are integrated into the game database, as explained in Heroes 5.5 - Eternal Essence - Design. I can remove any hardcoded blocks that prevent the researcher to load the models into the game proper.
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Major task 3: * Create an understandable and eventually usable mode for The People to relate to Eternal Essence. - The more Quantomas can add to this the less dispute there will be later.
a - clarify how it is used by the player
b - clarify how it is used in lore
c - clarify how it effects/is affected by heroes, units, skills and abilities.
I am on it.
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