Mod: Ermor - The Restoration - Draft v0.75

[llamabeast]

hnchrist3 - what? The ages don't get stronger as they go on. They just get different (more armour and less magic). Since you really want magic to kill Ermor, I would probably say the Ashen Empire might even be easier to destroy using MA nations.

[VedalkenBear]

Edi said:
Thanks! I should say that the idea has been kicking around in the back of my head ever since I first talked about the thematics and history of Ermor with Kristoffer some months ago and it got some more wind in its sails from the Halt Heretic thread, which is the main post of mine Kristoffer referred to in the Gath Dev Diary thread. You can find that thread here and the exact post is here.

For me, the 'bugginess' of the historical references is what causes the consternation. Particularly, Yo(o)mi and S[h]inuyama are both nations based off of Tokugawa Zidai literature, while Zyomon (Jomon) actually predates it (to the Sengoku Zidai). I'm currently working (albeit slowly) on a more 'historically accurate' EA and MA for them. Most likely EA would be Wakoku and be a nation of female-dominated shamans, while MA would superficially appear similar to TC and be named Yamato.

Ermorian Cultist is part of both Ashen Empire and Broken Empire unit roster, so it would be a very difficult trick to alter that without screwing things up for one nation or the other. The description as it currently stands is acceptable.

As you pointed out at the end, you've already copied sprites and written new descriptions for the Renatus and Renata. Why not do so for the Ermorian Cultist? Or, equivalently, replace it with a similar but new leader? Say, a Ermorian-themed Battle Deacon?

Good point. Hadn't thought of that. I'll see what I can do about that this evening. Won't be difficult. I also thought of adding a new startsite to give the Broken Empire/Restored Ermor a unit like the Pythian Comitatense in LA. I also need to look into adding a Primani type heavier infantry with mapmove 1, because the MA legionnaires can be classified as medium-heavy infantry at best. The tower shield helps, though, but the armor is way below most LA nations.

You _could_. If I may make a suggestion, perhaps make an infantry unit that has Fear? Maybe an Undead unit? Unfortunately, we no longer have 'minor fear' to make it more palatable.

The problem is that there are few unused unit slots within the existing framework, four in all that I know of, maybe one more. I just used two of those on the Ermorian Renata and Renatus.

I'll get to the Renata and Renatus below, but they don't seem to add much. Well, the Renatus doesn't. I might suggest something like adding a Shadow Vestal leader-type, perhaps with unique minor magic.

These two are units 1603 & 1604, cleared and copystatted, NOT the Pythian Renata and Renatus. I wanted them there, but the thematics had to be different. Check the descriptions...

I did. I guess I'm suggested a more explicit association.

[Edi]

VedalkenBear said:
For me, the 'bugginess' of the historical references is what causes the consternation. Particularly, Yo(o)mi and S[h]inuyama are both nations based off of Tokugawa Zidai literature, while Zyomon (Jomon) actually predates it (to the Sengoku Zidai). I'm currently working (albeit slowly) on a more 'historically accurate' EA and MA for them. Most likely EA would be Wakoku and be a nation of female-dominated shamans, while MA would superficially appear similar to TC and be named Yamato.

Good thing I know little of early Japanese literature. That way I can stay ignorant of that and be happy as a clam with Yomi and Shinuyama as they are.

VedalkenBear said:
As you pointed out at the end, you've already copied sprites and written new descriptions for the Renatus and Renata. Why not do so for the Ermorian Cultist? Or, equivalently, replace it with a similar but new leader? Say, a Ermorian-themed Battle Deacon?

I suppose I could. Problem is that then I need to wipe the recruitment queue, but no biggie, I guess. It would also allow me more leeway because I could use the Triarius and Praetorian Guard unit slots to modify things. Probably the Alae Legionnaire too. The Battle Deacon would be a good idea. Too bad there are no convenient units to copy sprites from, but modifying the battle deacon sprite from MA Pythium could work. The problem there is that it will soon get to be altogether too much work.

VedalkenBear said:
You _could_. If I may make a suggestion, perhaps make an infantry unit that has Fear? Maybe an Undead unit? Unfortunately, we no longer have 'minor fear' to make it more palatable.

This kind of things is why I asked for feedback. An infantry with fear is pretty harsh though, unless it's capital only. Infantry equipped with a magical weapon might be an option.

VedalkenBear said:
I'll get to the Renata and Renatus below, but they don't seem to add much. Well, the Renatus doesn't. I might suggest something like adding a Shadow Vestal leader-type, perhaps with unique minor magic.

Those two are a sort of package deal or I need to rethink some offshoot of the Sacred River Cult with just one unit. The Shadow Priestess idea is not a bad one at all. I could probably use that. Especially if I redo the Renata/Renatus thing. The thing is that creating entirely new things from scratch is a lot more time consuming than building on existing stuff and using variations.