Mod: Epic Heroes Mod -Version 1.5 Released

[llamabeast]

Doesn't seem to be attached Xietor.

Edit: Sorry, it is now.

[Xietor]

Due to popular demand, Beowulf's sprite was changed.

[Xietor]

My next planned hero will be the fallen angel mentioned above for pythium.

Is there a sprite library where you can view all the angel sprites?

[jutetrea]

Bugger, I forgot to "favorite" the thread so thought it wasn't being updated.

I like the idea of giving the makemonster ability to melee units, as well as giving them an archery out. Archery gives them a good way to slowly build up some initial experience and rise in the intial HOF.

Random thought: The idea is to give an initial hero correct? For highly religious (heavy holy) have the initial hero actually forced to be the prophet? Or even add a second. He would be the high priest of your religion (the founder of your cult), start with prophet ups/downs and be somewhat limited to your domain. It could fit with melee, magic or even just holy + special?

[Xietor]

Where to start?
Improved sprites by endoperez; descriptions completely redone. They are more thematic and much improved. typos were corrected, and 2 new heroes:

The Fallen Angel of Pythium(theme and parts of the description credited to Bandar Lover)

The Monkey King of Bandar Log(done by endoperez and slightly toned down from the one used in his Monkey King mod since this hero is present from the start).

So Epic Heroes now represents 6 of the 22 races. Enjoy! and feedback is important. It will allow me to make this mod better for you! I have tough skin, if you see something you think can be improved blast away.

[Xietor]

I plan to release a new beta version of the Epic Hero Mod every time I make 2 new Epic Heroes. After 22 Heroes are made,
beta will be over and then regular versions will just tweak for balance. Anyone is free to submit an idea for an Epic Hero for a race, and if it is better than a hero already created, it will be added, as long as the Mod is still in beta.

This hero is already done, and he may make you want to play Mictlan:

"A Jaguar Warrior is a devoted guardian of the Mictlan Temples. In battle he dons a Sacred Jaguar Hide. When wounded the blood from his wounds merges with the Sacred Jaguar Hide turning him into a Were Jaguar. The Were Jaguar is half man, half beast, and sacred.

The Blood-Cursed Champion was once a Jaguar Warrior and the bodyguard of an Onaqui, a powerful blood mage of an earlier era. Beset by Vampire assassins, the Onaqui performed an archaic blood ritual on his bodyguard, imbuing him with the tools to defeat any assassin. The Blood-Cursed Champion did not need to sleep or eat, and had night vision.

But the ritual was a blood lust curse, dooming him forever to Were Jaguar form. After making this discovery, the Blood-Cursed Champion slew the Onaqui and his Beast Bat minions, and then went into hiding.

Centuries passed-a new age dawned-and the Blood Cursed Champion heeded the new god's call, and returned to protect the High Temple. He is a legend to the Jaguar Warriors."

I have not started the 2nd additional hero yet, but hopefully he can be finished in the next day or 2. I am thinking of an immortal assassin for a weak mp race. Any thoughts?

[Endoperez]

Very nice descriptions! The Obsidian Medium's theme changed a bit too much, though. I thought it too alien to feel, or to be pleased. I'll PM you the description I want to use in the stand-alone mod. Any way, few typos, to be updated for the next version:

"Beowulf cut out the creature's heart and ate it to insure it remained dead." -> ensure
"Liking the scorched land, the Black Phoenix has come to view the Abysians as a kindred race." -> Would it be better as "Taking a liking to the scorched land..."?

The Blood Jarl of Niefel is currently just few hundred years older than the other Niefel (who all have maxage 1000). I'd increase his maxage by quite a bit, to perhaps 2000 or so. Startage would have to also be changed, of course.

I think the Fallen Angel is a bit too powerful as-is. For one, he's physically more powerful than Virtue pretender that Pythium can take, has good magic that's probably easier to use in battles (Twist Fate, Luck, Body Ethereal, Fire Shield). It can also bless itself, and prophetizing it would give Pythium a flying H4 prophet. And while it might not be able to take provinces on first turn, a bless, Alteration 1 (Personal Luck) or any armor (Construction 2) will greatly increase its power.

There are many things you could change or get rid of. Changing Fire magic to Air would keep him more in line with Pythium's other mages.
Getting rid of the Holy magic would give at least some reason not to make him your prophet (Arch Theurg would be the only way to reach Holy 4).
You might get rid of either Fire or Astral, making it less a mage and more a warrior.
Getting rid of the Awe would severely limit its power as an early expander.
Most if not all angels are Magic Beings, which makes them weak against certain spells and items. Giving him the Demon tag would give even more counters.
It might have lost its lightning resistance (vulnerable to the wrath of heavens).