Some druid stuff

by Lehki

Back to Ideas.

Lehki2011-02-02 18:31:44
QUOTE (Estarra @ Jan 26 2011, 04:28 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
Anyway, while I wouldn't be adverse to ideas of adding 1-2 new unique skills in druidry/wicca through the envoy process, I am not particularly keen on a complete overhaul.

With that in mind, spent some time working on a few things. For Druidry at least. The main idea being that, Druidry is control of the forest to attack your enemies, so for Hartstone it would be control of the Serenwilde Forest, and Blacktalon control of the Glomdoring Forest. So looked around the forest for stuff to use for new abilities. And I just felt like making a thread so I can get further input and ideas from people.
  • There are poisonous tree frogs in Serenwilde, so...
    CODE
    A bright green frog suddenly hops from a nearby tree and into you, rubbing off it's slimy coating and then bouncing away.  You feel sick as the toxin sinks into your skin.
    And it could hit with either, let's say Aleutian, Mellitin, or Tetrodin. The actual frogs in Serenwilde hit with Niricol and Tetrodin, but wanted to avoid blindness since BT Murder gives that, and the whole point is to differentiate us from each other.
  • Was trying to come up with something using the silver fireflies we have. Some of them float in and flutter around your head a bunch and uh, do something? Confusion? Daydreaming?
  • Was also trying to think of a potential parallel to Mages EvenBladed/RedMasque, but summoning the Silver Stag or Doe, instead of an illusion of Charune. Probably not a mana drain like Phantasms has, but something. Would be an active ability, instead of another passive demesne effect.

For Glomdoring, I'm not really that familiar with stuff around their forest, but a few things jumped to mind.
  • Never seen those thorn beast things except for the random novice death to them, but the name certainly sounds druidy. Bleeding damage and the chance to trip somebody up and sprawl them, but only on ground elevation?
  • Have a lot of stuff going on with insects and wasps and such. Definitely can't lose Swarm for Hartstone without a very strong replacement, but maybe BT could get a buff to it, like do some minor poison damage? And add something about big angry wasps to the afflict line?
  • Don't know what the deal with the Swampghast is, could something be done with that?
Xiel2011-02-02 19:43:19
Yay, ideas for new toys. happy.gif

But anyways - were you looking for meld effects, active abilities or some such? Have class now, but I'll dabble more in a bit!
Druken2011-02-02 19:46:59
Neat. For the Glomdoring, it'd be interesting to make use of the black widows somehow, or the shadows of crow. Black widows would entangle or freeze, shadows would blackout or stun. Maybe make use of the harpies somehow, too? They could scream to pacify, or something.

Just please no zombies. Ew.
Lehki2011-02-02 20:02:39
QUOTE (Xiel @ Feb 2 2011, 02:43 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
Yay, ideas for new toys. happy.gif

But anyways - were you looking for meld effects, active abilities or some such? Have class now, but I'll dabble more in a bit!

Wasn't looking for anything specific really, just whatever works.

QUOTE (Druken @ Feb 2 2011, 02:46 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
Neat. For the Glomdoring, it'd be interesting to make use of the black widows somehow, or the shadows of crow. Black widows would entangle or freeze, shadows would blackout or stun. Maybe make use of the harpies somehow, too? They could scream to pacify, or something.

Just please no zombies. Ew.


Well you do already have Spiders, which hits with Mactans. And oh man, no passive blackout, even at just a few seconds stacking that with memoryloss would be utter nonsense if you timed it right.
Janalon2011-02-02 22:09:44
QUOTE (Druken @ Feb 2 2011, 02:46 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
Neat. For the Glomdoring, it'd be interesting to make use of the black widows somehow, or the shadows of crow. Black widows would entangle or freeze, shadows would blackout or stun. Maybe make use of the harpies somehow, too? They could scream to pacify, or something.

Just please no zombies. Ew.


For the Glomdoring, SCORPIONS!!!
Diamondais2011-02-02 22:32:46
If there were actual scorpions in the forest, sure. tongue.gif
Xenthos2011-02-02 22:38:42
QUOTE (diamondais @ Feb 2 2011, 05:32 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
If there were actual scorpions in the forest, sure. tongue.gif

There is a room with scorpions!
Xiel2011-02-02 22:47:44
Well, I have ideas for the Totem specs (Crow, Stag, Night, Moon, etc.) to make them as e-special for flavour as some of the guardian guilds do with their fancy schmancy pathways and mob attunement, but for Druidry? Some ideas to juggle around I suppose....juggle.gif

...but I'm totally drawing a blank. All the things I'd like are just addressing the discrepancies between the demesne specs and flavour messages, but new things? I can only come up with the stuff that border on the ohpea or influenced by other games. sad.gif
Janalon2011-02-02 23:50:23
CODE
The Beetle's Grove.
Arms of white smoke unfurl lazily, carrying away the sweet aroma of herbs from a healing shrine of
Shikari nearby. The stars twinkle in the clear night sky. Amidst a stand of massive trees several
have been felled, and lie now in varying states of decay. Each glistens with an oily film, perhaps a
product of the decomposition or a remnant of the rich sap which once surged within them. The result
is the glossy rainbow sheen of spilt oil in water, gold and purple and green with shifting ribbons
of pink and even blue. The slick surface glitters with the same hues of a beetle's carapace, and
indeed among the rot there are many here. Closer examination of the ground reveals their scurrying
movement. The miniscule noise of this creeping multiplied a thousandfold by their numbers leaves a
low chittering sound, forever robbing the place of true silence. A large crow nest can be seen in
the trees above, the thicket of branches laced with carrion. Resting within the natural woven
branches is the diminutive statue of a shadowcaster standing vigil. Casting darkness all around, a
shadow totem thrusts up from the ground, chilling the air.


The statues located in the Wyrden Temple each have a connection back to a commune guild. I believe druids connect to the imagery/theme of Beetle-- one of the five Wyrden Idols (or guardians). The others are Wasp, Spider, and Spider. Of course, Scorpion is connected to the Nekotai (and appears as the only non-faeling in the temple gardens). I've done some research, writing, and publication on this topic; check it out! Not sure what druids do and don't have, but is there anyway to incorporate some of these themes (which are readily presented as an underlying Glomdoring motif).
Janalon2011-02-02 23:55:14
QUOTE (diamondais @ Feb 2 2011, 05:32 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
If there were actual scorpions in the forest, sure. tongue.gif


QUOTE
Among the leaves and along the tree trunks crawl fat bodied scorpions. Hunter green and vibrant
purple carapaces glisten wetly in the dim light. There is little movement among the resting animals.
Occasionally the soft sound of a clicking pincer breaks the stillness of the confining place.


A snippet from a scorpion-based room desc.
Diamondais2011-02-02 23:59:12
You forgot the general feeling "Delete Monks" tongue.gif
Janalon2011-02-03 00:05:44
QUOTE (diamondais @ Feb 2 2011, 06:59 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
You forgot the general feeling "Delete Monks" tongue.gif


nono.gif nonono.gif nono.gif nonono.gif nono.gif

Diamondais2011-02-03 00:17:45
QUOTE (Janalon @ Feb 3 2011, 12:05 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
nono.gif nonono.gif nono.gif nonono.gif nono.gif

giggle.gif

(Sorry, I'm in a strange mood but just been teasing) Scorpions could be good ideas, now that they have actually need introduced (sorta) in the forest, but how would you combine them into the BT skillset without causing it to be overpowered or just duplicating what they already have?

Though I suppose it could cause a bit of asphyxia damage, the general idea is you feel your lungs becoming paralyzed and having trouble drawing breath, but you'd still run into the problem of it duplicating Storm, just a different damage type.
Saran2011-02-03 04:17:55
I'd say no on scorpions just cause there always seems to be a big unhappy ohsoshiny response.


Though I would like to hear about the options Xiel mentioned, I have been wondering about something though unfortunately with warriors sharing the skill it becomes weird(more likely to be a holylight/darkmark).

Though perhaps Moondancers could bond with the avatars while Serenguard bond with the Keepers or something...
Diamondais2011-02-03 10:12:48
Revive your thread then, this is love for poor druids. sad.gif

Also your thing about scorpions seems silly, since this is about differentiating and adding flavour to Druidry.
Asmodea2011-02-03 10:46:35
I always wondered why Moondancers couldn't have shining silver cauldrons, Albion has one, and also turns into one when she is slain. Moondancers could then capture moonlight and release it for different effects.

It would also be neat if the athame's and cudgels looked somewhat different from different guilds. Silver athame's and Shadowy ones, moonhart cudgels and ravenwood cudgels. Could even add a little more flavour with the attacks that they do making them look a little different.

Use of cups, pentacles, casting circles or wands, keeping in mind this stuff does not have to be for combat.
Saran2011-02-03 10:54:54
QUOTE (diamondais @ Feb 3 2011, 09:12 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
Revive your thread then, this is love for poor druids. sad.gif

Also your thing about scorpions seems silly, since this is about differentiating and adding flavour to Druidry.


My thread was for wiccans AND druids because they are equally unloved tongue.gif also Xiels comment was about all four shared specs, it's simply that Moondancers are the first that come to my mind because Saran is one at the moment.

Also, scorpions are more a nekotai thing. They are also the creation of Manteekan, unfortunately stag druids get squirrels but at the moment crow druids only work with Viravains creations to my knowledge, that is, at the least, a slightly interesting theme that can be followed. Something along the lines of crow allying with his brother and sisters teaching his druids call on his mothers other children.

It simply would make more sense to me. Throwing scorpions in just because one room describes is kinda meh, if you do it because the nekotai have a link to that spirit is actually a bit lamer imo.
Diamondais2011-02-03 11:01:39
QUOTE (Saran @ Feb 3 2011, 10:54 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
My thread was for wiccans AND druids because they are equally unloved tongue.gif also Xiels comment was about all four shared specs, it's simply that Moondancers are the first that come to my mind because Saran is one at the moment.

Also, scorpions are more a nekotai thing. They are also the creation of Manteekan, unfortunately stag druids get squirrels but at the moment crow druids only work with Viravains creations to my knowledge, that is, at the least, a slightly interesting theme that can be followed. Something along the lines of crow allying with his brother and sisters teaching his druids call on his mothers other children.

It simply would make more sense to me. Throwing scorpions in just because one room describes is kinda meh, if you do it because the nekotai have a link to that spirit is actually a bit lamer imo.

Druidry is also about the forest, the forest changes so changes could easily be reflected in Druidry.

I don't think adding things in for the sake of the Nekotai is a good reason, and never would.

Okay: Scorpions, because they do show up in some rooms.
Better: Creatures that have been in the forest since day one.

Same with Hartstone, there have been new additions to the forest over time which can and should be reflected in the skill set. Squirrels actually live in Serenwilde, so it makes sense that a Hartstone Druid would be able to call on them in defence of the forest.
Saran2011-02-03 11:24:02
QUOTE (diamondais @ Feb 3 2011, 10:01 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
Druidry is also about the forest, the forest changes so changes could easily be reflected in Druidry.

I don't think adding things in for the sake of the Nekotai is a good reason, and never would.

Okay: Scorpions, because they do show up in some rooms.
Better: Creatures that have been in the forest since day one.

Same with Hartstone, there have been new additions to the forest over time which can and should be reflected in the skill set. Squirrels actually live in Serenwilde, so it makes sense that a Hartstone Druid would be able to call on them in defence of the forest.


Again, the idea of scorpions just doesn't sit well. Maybe because even if it's not intended to be "Let's make nekotai part of the forest" it's always going to feel like it is.

edit: This could also be because Janalon is the one that suggested it.
Diamondais2011-02-03 11:30:41
QUOTE (Saran @ Feb 3 2011, 11:24 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
Again, the idea of scorpions just doesn't sit well. Maybe because even if it's not intended to be "Let's make nekotai part of the forest" it's always going to feel like it is.

edit: This could also be because Janalon is the one that suggested it.

Well yeah, I agree with your point there. tongue.gif

Because I can't get online to check until maybe tomorrow night at the earliest, what were the new parts of Serenwilde that were added? I know there's firefly thingies, anything else?