Black Company Mod

[Uh-Nu-Buh]

Thanks Cherry!

[velk]

I am forced to point out that the taken are dominated mages, they are neither undead nor immortal.

Even the most immortal-like of the lot of them, the limper, does not escape even remotely unscathed from his apparent deaths.

I know some things can't be modded at the moment, but I think a life-after-death type effect could be good for that.

On a related note, the howler should probably have a forge bonus given his tendencies toward magic carpet construction.

[Uh-Nu-Buh]

Good points Velk. The Taken are not undead, nor immortal, but they are undying and so close to immortal that even when they were defeated 400 years before the beginning of the first book, they were imprisoned instead of killed/destroyed.

If there is no way to kill them, then they are de facto, and for the purposes of the game, immortal....

However, I have finally agreed with Peter and the others who have argued that immortality throws the game balance off, and changed it so the regular Taken units are a little tougher but no longer immortal. They are more along the lines of Bane Lords now, instead of Wraiths. Essentially Bane Lords with some magic levels, and regeneration. The hero Taken like the Limper are still immortal, as they should be; but in the interests of play-balance I have relieved them of much of their armor. It's more thematic this way anyways!

Toadkiller dog, otoh, is darn near indestructible, but not immortal. And he likes to use arms as play-toys.

I am still making changes, but planning on making a play-balance Version available Thursday or Friday.

After all this talk, I hope nobody is disappointed....

[Kozi]

One thing though. Its 'Shapeshifter', not Shapechanger. You could consider adding a special magic item to represent his staff, that superthin elongated female form. No idea what it does, though.

And don't forget the other taken:

The Faceless Man - Hey, no icon needed!
Moonbiter - Immensely Strong
NightCrawler - Had some good infantry, remember Queens Bridge...
Stormbringer -
The Hanged Man -
One other who I cannot remember.

[Kozi]

Oh, and if Toadkiller Dog goes in, you gotta add Tracker. Can you make him a moron if Toadkiller Dog (Got to use his whole name!) is not in the same territory?

He'd also need his special bow & arrows...

[Uh-Nu-Buh]

I sent the mod to Illwinter as an Incomplete or Not Serious Mod. Hopefully they will post it for download soon.

Recent Changes:
--no more enlistable Taken
--got rid of Soulgatherers
--national summonings: Behemoth, Wraith Lord
--5 hero Taken Units
--Toadkiller Dog is not yet working
--new unit Black General (toned down Generic Taken)
--new unit Witch Men, powerful in their breadth, wise and experienced, spiteful and cruel, rainbow mages with curse shields (Goblin, One Eye, Silent, Tom Tom, etc.)
--Limper Infantry made more expensive
--decreased most units' armor, including the Taken heroes
--I finally got the Boomers right, I think

I have to thank everyone for their input. I added/changed a lot because you guys made so much sense. Hopefully I'll get a lot more suggestions with the Mod finally released.

Ideas for the next Version:
--national summons succubus
--new weapon poisoned crossbows
--new weapon poisoned short swords
--new unit Black Skirmisher with poisoned crossbows, poisoned short swords, and chain mail.

Thanks!

[Uh-Nu-Buh]

The Black Company Mod is available for download. It is blackempire.zip