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'Wishlist' Focus: Creatures You'd Like To See in Book III

Posted: December 28th, 2011, 3:28 pm
by IJBall
I've been thinking about doing this kind of thing for a while - a separate thread on some of the section topics contained within the Book III 'Wishlist'. Today, I'm going to focus in on the "Bestiary" section.

So, here's the question - What kinds of beasts, mobs, and creatures would you most like to see in Book III?

Honestly, on my end, I think I'd actually most like to see pretty much all of the creatures we've seen in Book I and Book II make a return appearance (with maybe a little bit more thought to how the various sub-groups within a creature group should be utilized - e.g. you enter a dungeon area where a bunch of "regular" Skeletons attack first, softening you up for some Skeleton Archers and Skeleton Marauders further back in the same area who will attack you second: kind of like having the "infantry" attack before the "cavalry" attacks).

But I think I'd like to see all of the old 'mobs' return. What I'd like to see back in Book III is:
  • All the kinds of lizards/salamanders we've seen (we had "Fanged" and "Noximanders" in B1, and "Devilmadners" in Book II)
  • Goblins (all 3 kinds from Book I (esp. the Bombthugs!), plus also a "chief type" (something like the Goblin Warlord))
  • More flying critters like the Bloodsipper bats and the Dragonels and the Bees
  • All the Slimes & Molds we've seen up to now
  • Thugs and/or Outlanders (but, this time, with a sub-class of ranged-weapon using Thugs/Outlanders, and a Thug/Outlander 'chief'-type as well)
  • "regular" Skeletons, from Book I (we saw Skeleton Marauders and Skeleton Archers in Book II, but "regular" Skeletons should act as kind of the "regular infantry" of Skeleton attacks, with Skeleton Marauders being more like 'chief'- or 'cavalry'-types...)
  • Acid Grubs
  • All the kinds of Spiders/Arachnids from B1 & B2
  • "regular" Poltergeists; and, course:
  • Barrea[n] Mercenaries!!
Beyond that, the few other things I'd like to see in Book III are:

Dragons! It goes without saying that I really think the Eschalon series needs to end with your character taking on at least one dragon!

Creatures, mobs, or opponents who use, 1) electrical-attacks (we've had mobs in B1 & B2 that do fire attacks, and ice attacks, but no creatures have used an electrical attack yet...), and 2) magic-attacks (I'd really like to go up against Evil Wizards or Evil Healer/Warlocks - we've really only seen that kind of stuff from NPCs whom you're supposed to (mostly) not attack!).

Thieves or Gremlins that steal stuff from you - this would add another element of necessary strategizing to the game if you had to worry about stuff (or food and water) being stolen out of your inventory while in combat with some mob.

Other people's thoughts?...

Re: 'Wishlist' Focus: Creatures You'd Like To See in Book II

Posted: December 28th, 2011, 4:11 pm
by dbgager
I agree with your comments..although I really do not like acid grubs. My fault though as I save a lot, and usually do not notice that a piece of equipment is gone..thus permanently getting rid of a piece of equipment...because I tend to use only one save game.

I would add to you list.
  • Orcs...a larger more powerful version of Goblins.
  • Raptors..which where in Book 1.
  • Tyrantasaurus..Rare Creature which would be hard to kill possibly guarding a nice treasure.
  • Trolls...the strongest of the goblin/orc/troll trio. Trolls would regenerate some of there HPs every turn.

Re: 'Wishlist' Focus: Creatures You'd Like To See in Book II

Posted: December 28th, 2011, 5:52 pm
by Kreador Freeaxe
dbgager wrote:I agree with your comments..although I really do not like acid grubs. My fault though as I save a lot, and usually do not notice that a piece of equipment is gone..thus permanently getting rid of a piece of equipment...because I tend to use only one save game.

I would add to you list.
  • Orcs...a larger more powerful version of Goblins.
  • ...
  • Trolls...the strongest of the goblin/orc/troll trio. Trolls would regenerate some of there HPs every turn.
There are trolls in Book II. Lots of fun. As for Orcs, I really think Eschalon is better off without them, no offense. It starts to feel too much like every other fantasy game if you add in orcs (and elves--also thankfully missing--then again, I always preferred dwarves. :) ).

I'm also in the club looking for the return of bomb thugs. I loved those guys, both for their originality in a game world, and for the fun tactics one could (or was forced to) employ when they were around.

I like the interesting flora, as well, that BW has employed in some places, and I think there should be more types of that, as well. Perhaps a gas plant that can daze the player if they get too close, as well as spitting spines at them? Then they could be fun if you hit them with fire, as the gas would go BOOM! :)

Re: 'Wishlist' Focus: Creatures You'd Like To See in Book II

Posted: December 29th, 2011, 12:48 am
by SpottedShroom
I'll add my vote for Goblin bombthugs. Because playing a melee character wasn't hard enough already!

I'm also a big fan of the sentinel stalks from Book II, and hope they or a relative makes an appearance in Book III.

Finally, the super-boss golem from Fathamurk was great - sort of a cross between a regular combat and a puzzle. I'd love to see more of that.

Re: 'Wishlist' Focus: Creatures You'd Like To See in Book II

Posted: December 29th, 2011, 2:27 am
by KillingMoon
Kreador Freeaxe wrote:I'm also in the club looking for the return of bomb thugs. I loved those guys, both for their originality in a game world, and for the fun tactics one could (or was forced to) employ when they were around.
They're not original. I've seen them in Age of Wonders; little goblins with bombs on their back that would make suicide runs at you.
I haven't played Book I, but what you're describing sounds like them. Not that I'm opposed to their return in any kind of way.

Age of Wonders had lots of really interesting creatures; Beetles with the 'grasp' promotion so that they could grasp their opponent and throw him far away... An insect called 'Harvester' that could poop out a larva after having defeated an opponent... there was also a creature that could morph into the last unit it killed... the individual unit abilities were interesting in that game.
But the game didn't have dwarves, so maybe that's why you ignored it. :wink:

Re: 'Wishlist' Focus: Creatures You'd Like To See in Book II

Posted: December 29th, 2011, 4:33 am
by vdweller
Hmmm...monsters...

Rust monsters

Liches

Will 'o' wisps

Alien abominations

Golems-Gargoyles

Invisible stalkers

Gorgons

Basilisks

..And definitely NOT Orcs/Elves. Not again.

Re: 'Wishlist' Focus: Creatures You'd Like To See in Book II

Posted: December 29th, 2011, 4:10 pm
by Dragonlady
Don't forget, we landed in a jungle type area at the end of Book II. What kind of critters will we meet there? I, for one, don't want to see those explicative deleted acid grubs! :) Elves, no. Dwarves, yes. Native warriors, yes...I'll think about this some more. But it does mean an increase in artwork for new enemies/friends which takes time and money.

Re: 'Wishlist' Focus: Creatures You'd Like To See in Book II

Posted: December 29th, 2011, 4:14 pm
by Kreador Freeaxe
KillingMoon wrote:
Kreador Freeaxe wrote:I'm also in the club looking for the return of bomb thugs. I loved those guys, both for their originality in a game world, and for the fun tactics one could (or was forced to) employ when they were around.
They're not original. I've seen them in Age of Wonders; little goblins with bombs on their back that would make suicide runs at you.
I haven't played Book I, but what you're describing sounds like them. Not that I'm opposed to their return in any kind of way.

Age of Wonders had lots of really interesting creatures; Beetles with the 'grasp' promotion so that they could grasp their opponent and throw him far away... An insect called 'Harvester' that could poop out a larva after having defeated an opponent... there was also a creature that could morph into the last unit it killed... the individual unit abilities were interesting in that game.
But the game didn't have dwarves, so maybe that's why you ignored it. :wink:
Ah, never played Age of Wonder, as I didn't play any CRPGs for a good 15 years until a friend who works at Ubisoft sent me HOMM a few years ago, and then I saw Eschalon Book I on an Apple email or something.

Re: 'Wishlist' Focus: Creatures You'd Like To See in Book II

Posted: December 30th, 2011, 5:28 am
by KillingMoon
Yes, I realized you didn't know the game. Many people don't know the game, this is maybe a likely fate for a game from a relatively small developer from a relatively small country.
I fired my game up again and looked for a bomber. Here's one:

Image

Does this guy look anything like what's in Book I?

I also realize I was mistaken; there is a dwarven race in Age of Wonders. All the usual fantasy creatures are in there.
If you're ever going to try the game, I recommend the last edition, Shadow Magic, updated with unofficial patch 1.4. And download custom scenarios, not the ones that the game came with (although they're okay for a first try, of course). It's a good game.

Re: 'Wishlist' Focus: Creatures You'd Like To See in Book II

Posted: December 30th, 2011, 9:39 am
by Kreador Freeaxe
KillingMoon wrote:Yes, I realized you didn't know the game. Many people don't know the game, this is maybe a likely fate for a game from a relatively small developer from a relatively small country.
I fired my game up again and looked for a bomber. Here's one:

Image

Does this guy look anything like what's in Book I?
Considerably different graphically (as Age of Wonders is clearly a more graphically rich game), but the same idea, yes. So it was just new to me. :) Anyway, they are fun to have in the world. I always like opponents which can be as dangerous to their allies as they are to you.

Re: 'Wishlist' Focus: Creatures You'd Like To See in Book II

Posted: December 30th, 2011, 10:24 am
by Painted Lady
Dragonlady wrote:Don't forget, we landed in a jungle type area at the end of Book II. What kind of critters will we meet there?
You started me thinking about the fact that there was very little overlap of beasts between Books I and II (mainly the Taurax and salamanders). If BW stays true to form that would also be the case in Book III.

So, we have hints about dragons appearing. And, when I think of jungles I think of snakes and crocodiles. Maybe pygmies with blowdarts. We also think the dwarves are going to be part of the scene..........

Re: 'Wishlist' Focus: Creatures You'd Like To See in Book II

Posted: December 30th, 2011, 10:36 pm
by IJBall
Painted Lady wrote:
Dragonlady wrote:Don't forget, we landed in a jungle type area at the end of Book II. What kind of critters will we meet there?
You started me thinking about the fact that there was very little overlap of beasts between Books I and II (mainly the Taurax and salamanders). If BW stays true to form that would also be the case in Book III.
Could be, but I kind of hope not. It's not that I don't want to see "new" critters like your snakes and crocodiles and range-weapon-wielding Pigmies - it's just that I don't feel like we've gotten all that we can out of some of the creatures we saw in Book I & II.

(Of course, I'm also in the camp that hopes that Book III will let us revisit some(all?) of the areas that Books I & II took place in, which would allow us to revisit some of the previous Books' creatures...)

Re: 'Wishlist' Focus: Creatures You'd Like To See in Book II

Posted: January 3rd, 2012, 12:13 am
by Donovan
I must be in the minority. In addition to dragons, which have been hinted at in the artwork, I was hoping for some elves, in order to take on some magic using/ranged enemies. We meet at least one half elf in Book I, I believe, who teaches archery, so the world theoretically has them.

Re: 'Wishlist' Focus: Creatures You'd Like To See in Book II

Posted: January 3rd, 2012, 1:07 pm
by Painted Lady
And, I was just reminded that the teaser for Book III mentions goblins. They were certainly a factor in Book I.

Re: 'Wishlist' Focus: Creatures You'd Like To See in Book II

Posted: January 3rd, 2012, 5:07 pm
by Kreador Freeaxe
Jedi_Learner wrote:What about Giants? According to the book "Of Men and Giants" in the first game many Giants were brought to Thaermore "from the lands beyond Barrea and forced to work the mines, smashing rock and carrying ore." Since the revolt many of them have returned to their native homelands.
Donovan wrote:We meet at least one half elf in Book I, I believe, who teaches archery, so the world theoretically has them.
You are correct. The same book I mentioned in this post also mentions elves.

"First, a note concerning Giants: they are not the feeble-minded creatures of popular conception. They are, in fact, highly socialized beings equal to that of men or elves, though perhaps their primitive speech patterns and rituals make them appear less civilized. It was this prejudice that led to the giants' enslavement and eventual revolt of the race of giants."
Dang. Okay, I'll just have to get myself a pet elf in Book III.