Heroic Auras

[T-Man]

posted on July 19th, 2005, 5:48 pm

Last edited by T-Man on July 19th, 2005, 5:48 pm, edited 1 time in total.

In Armada II, i noticed that the hero ships were really nothing more a mainstream ship with some added punch. Personally, i feel that this isn't an efficent way of showing a hero (for the Enterprise-E would be nothing without Picard on the bridge), and makes players not really think of them as important assets. Therefore, i have developed this new way of representing Hero ships, which i call the "Heroic Aura" that should be easy to impliment into FO if they decide to have Hero ships.

Heroic Aura's are essentially an area-effect passive ability. They represent the (mainly psychological) effects of the hero being present on the battlefeild, granting benefits to certain attributes of allied vessels near to the Hero ship.

So for example, the Enterprise-E's aura, representing Picard, could increase the fire-rate and speed of vessels, as the presence of the legendary captain increases the morale of the other ship's crews so they work faster. This would be commulative(sp?) with enhancments afforded by other special weapons and passive abilities (or even other auras in some cases).

Systems similar to Heroic Aura are used in other strategy titles (Warhammer40K: Dawn of War being a good example). With this system, the focus is less on the ship (which could just have the normal stats for its class) and more focus on the hero aboard it. This i feel is more realistic, and gives hero ships more meaning then just a name, as their presence now helps make your fleet stronger. Also, the commulative effect makes having multiple heroes in the same fleet a huge strategic advantage, and i feel this will give them more of a role in strategies, as players vie to capture or kill their enemies heroes while protecting their own.

Anyways, what are your thoughts on this?

posted on July 19th, 2005, 6:01 pm

i don't think they are having hero ships full stop.

posted on July 19th, 2005, 6:09 pm

Currently our "heros" are the avatars, which already modify an existing race. maybe we will have something like heros in future. Such "auras" are not that easy to make. but some will come in as support unit abilities. for example a dominion one which increases the weaponrange of nearby starships

[T-Man]

posted on July 19th, 2005, 8:10 pm

Last edited by T-Man on July 19th, 2005, 8:11 pm, edited 1 time in total.

Such "auras" are not that easy to make.

Oh. I had it in my head they could use an area effect special weapon as a base (like the Koloth's weapon enhancer from AII, or the death chant) that uses no (or nigh-on no) energy and is always running while the ship is operational (like the tachyon grid does).

posted on July 19th, 2005, 8:19 pm

I would like to see heroes come in at one point, and I like this idea, but I think someone already suggested something similar, but I aint sure

posted on July 20th, 2005, 10:32 am

I don't like heros, because i'm sure there are alot more heros then just Picard. I bet 1 out of every 5 ships has some sort of outstanding officer people would remember.

posted on July 20th, 2005, 12:53 pm

ah but don't forget to be a hero ship, you have to have a heroic crew not just one officer.

posted on July 20th, 2005, 12:54 pm

Maybe the officers, but pretty much all the crewmen are the same.

[Cpt Ryan]

posted on July 20th, 2005, 1:03 pm

Last edited by Cpt Ryan on July 20th, 2005, 1:07 pm, edited 1 time in total.

thats what i meant, only non fed ships will have just one memorable officer, thats cos the series doesn't focus so much on them. example, ENT-D/E you have the ENTIRE bridge staff + Dr crusher/Geordi, but selas warbird you have... Sela.
only adding hero ships which have had a significant impact on the story line, eg, ENT , the defiant, sela, martok/gowron, locutus, borg queen...

posted on July 20th, 2005, 6:11 pm

I don't think you understood what I said.

posted on July 20th, 2005, 6:13 pm

well explain it to him again then

posted on July 20th, 2005, 6:15 pm

I don't recall talking to you

posted on July 20th, 2005, 7:00 pm

Well the thing is, hero ships have the best crew so they perform better than normal crew. Thats why they get out of sticky situations like others couldnt, and they get reputation, which inspires others to fight with more enthusiasm thats why I think this is a good idea

posted on July 20th, 2005, 7:27 pm

There are probably a hundred ships in the federation alone that fits the profile of a hero ship for one reason or another. No one crew will work like any other, so trying to have 2 versions of crew seems like a weird idea.

posted on July 20th, 2005, 8:04 pm

not really when you think about it, in stock A2 you have standard crew - then you have marines which are just like standard crew only stronger at taking over and repelling boarding parties. so i reckon this is a good idea