Yeah, it's obvious. In fact, I was thinking of doing a similar thing with Odysseus and Hippolyta 'characters' but haven't thought of the command for the player to initiate it, and any draw back (and 5 projectiles might be too much). I've set up the following in an RPG I'm working on:
Ajax unit ("barbarian"): player types 'berserk' in chat, Ajax gets +30 attack, -15 armor, takes 50 hit points damage (I increased his starting hp), all for 20 seconds. He can only do this at full hit points, so he needs a healer to accompany him if he wants to do this often (or run back to the allied Temple of Healing after each time).
Achilles unit ("mounted warrior"): player types 'gallop' in chat, Achilles gets +6 speed for 20 seconds. After the 20 seconds he is at -2 speed of his normal move for 40 seconds, which is still 3.5 and near the movement of several other character types. I don't know if this ability is worth anything, though; that will probably depend on the scenario I create (e.g., have to run by something nasty).
I was going to save the following for a surprise but what the heck...
Circe unit ("sorceress"): costs 200 gold to learn the spell, but once learned the player can type 'cast phoenix' in chat and Circe turns into a phoenix for 60 seconds; 20 favor cost. Circe is a much better combatant (no way to reduce her attack with Modify Protounit? *sigh*) but this provides flight with an attack. I tested it, and yes, when the spell ends and you're over water you sink to the bottom of the water and cannot move. But you can cast the spell again and be flying again (if you have enough Favor left..spells cost Favor). I reduced the phoenix' hit points for that player to equal Circe's, which I reduced from her normal 240 to 150.
Circe unit ("sorceress"): another spell: 'cast quickness', gains +6 speed for 20 seconds; can even do this as a phoenix; 20 favor cost. Talk about an afterburning B2 bomber! Another idea not implemented because it might not be worth it: Atalanta unit ("female warrior"): 'sprint' gains a speed bonus, maybe +2, for 10 seconds, no drawbacks (yes, if he types it fast enough she could be going really really fast). This could be used for any of the people afoot, though; well, maybe not the dwarf (hah! sprint from a dwarf! hah! ).Favor gain for sorceress and holy man is 1 per 10 seconds, holy man can 'say prayers' which reduces his speed to 0 but he gains additional favor at 1 per 5 seconds. 'stop praying' will return him to "normal". Also, the allied temple has a fountain which if someone is nearby he can gain favor at 1 per 10 seconds.
Now that I gave you some free ideas.. , how about a little feedback. Criticisms of balance or usefulness of the above would be appreciated. Any other suggestions for spells? I've already implemented many spell castings to grant a god power (they're just flashier and more powerful magic ) 'freeze'=Frost, 'summon snakes'=Serpents (for beastman: Chiron), 'sky strikes'=Lightning Storm (for holy man: priest), 'tree walk'=Walking Woods (beastman), 'scry'=Vision(sorceress), 'bone walk'=Ancestors (holy man), and a few others (Meteor, costs 400 gold to learn; no Tornado due to oos problems).Any other worthwhile shapes to change into? (please, no Titans).
Right now the scenario is set up fairly generic with just character creation (choose one of 10 types, then with starting gold modify by buying stat increases and/or spells at the allied village) and the abilities as mentioned above. So I have a blank slate that I could use for several scenario ideas. Even the starting cinematic is generic ("old men around campfire telling of old tales...").
Oh, I created this as a 4-player mp scenario. But I have added a feature such that player 1 can do something to get control of all 4 characters for solo-play.
Glen
aka Glensses on ESO
[This message has been edited by GamingGlen (edited 02-09-2004 @ 10:18 AM).]