Conceptual Balance Series (Mod)

[Daynarr]

Nataraja is just fine IMHO.

[Edi]

Nataraja needs a +2 attack or something like that, it has very weak attack skill compared to almost anything (just 11 attack natively, not much better than regular human infantry), but otherwise it doesn't need anything more.

Zen, did you get my emails with the CB:S readme files? If you've taken a look at it, some feedback would be nice? Also, if you have made no changes to the Pretender mod, do you want me to organize the mod code for you?

Edi

[Kel]

With 4 arm slots, if you don't use a lot of long weapons (thus over-reaching ambidexterity), your attack skill has a lot of room to improve, via the weapon bonuses.

- Kel

[Endoperez]

Kel wrote:
With 4 arm slots, if you don't use a lot of long weapons (thus over-reaching ambidexterity), your attack skill has a lot of room to improve, via the weapon bonuses.

Not any more than if you only had one weapon, or two. Attack is calculated for every weapon, and weapons' attack rating only affect its own attack rating. With many attacks you hit more often, but using Nataraja with eg. two-handed weapon, weapon and shield should be applicable too. I think his att/def Ratings could easily be improved a little, four arms do have lots of uses and he is quite skilled at using them all (just take a look at his ambidextercity value!).

[Peter Ebbesen]

Turin said:

2)nataraja is also useless.
Compare it to a wyrm. wyrm has twice as much hp/regeneration, far better stats, and costs the same.

Useless?

The only pretender who can happily wield a wraith sword, a charcoal shield, and a shield of valour at the same time, useless? (or any other number of devastating combinations? You can even make a four-shield variant with insanely high defense, trampling, quickness and high reinvigoration fairly early in the game if you want to; again, charcoal, luck, valour shields are favourites for this)

The Demi-god semi-archmage wanna-be who can dual wield the elemental magic boosting staves (one of each type) when needed for specific rituals, useless? [Nobody would take the Nataraja just for this, but is is just one of the many things the Nataraja can do]. There are a lot of path boosters that can be carried in the hands, and the Nataraja has more than his fair share

The Wyrm is better at what it does best: Early-game expansion with extreme prejudice. On the other hand, it sucks at magic and can only wear few path-boosters. The Nataraja's strengths are entirely different - he is one of the most versatile pretenders since you have so many opportunities for equipping him due to his extra arms. Combat-melee, combat-magic, ritual magic - with the right kit he is excellent in each Category. The two extra arms are worth far more than the miscellaneous slot he loses.

The Nataraja is one of my favourite pretenders. Don't ask to make him stronger - he really does not deserve it.

[Daynarr]

Peter Ebbesen said:

Useless?

The only pretender who can happily wield a wraith sword, a charcoal shield, and a shield of valour at the same time, useless? (or any other number of devastating combinations? You can even make a four-shield variant with insanely high defense, trampling, quickness and high reinvigoration fairly early in the game if you want to; again, charcoal, luck, valour shields are favourites for this)

The Demi-god semi-archmage wanna-be who can dual wield the elemental magic boosting staves (one of each type) when needed for specific rituals, useless? [Nobody would take the Nataraja just for this, but is is just one of the many things the Nataraja can do]. There are a lot of path boosters that can be carried in the hands, and the Nataraja has more than his fair share

The Wyrm is better at what it does best: Early-game expansion with extreme prejudice. On the other hand, it sucks at magic and can only wear few path-boosters. The Nataraja's strengths are entirely different - he is one of the most versatile pretenders since you have so many opportunities for equipping him due to his extra arms. Combat-melee, combat-magic, ritual magic - with the right kit he is excellent in each Category. The two extra arms are worth far more than the miscellaneous slot he loses.

The Nataraja is one of my favourite pretenders. Don't ask to make him stronger - he really does not deserve it.

Amen!

[Nagot Gick Fel]

Endoperez said:

Not any more than if you only had one weapon

Nothing related to weapon ATT bonuses, but it should be pointed out that when fighting big critters (of the sort that won't bow to a single blow), every attack (even unsuccesful attacks - IIRC) will reduce said critter's DEF by 1. In that special case, this is equivalent to granting a +1 ATT bonus to the second Naty attack, +2 ATT to the 3rd, +3 ATT to the 4th.

[Huzurdaddi]

I think the best quote about the Natty is from Alex Podger:

"I give him 4 thumbs up!"

Pretty much sums up the Natty and why he is so good.

very attack ... will reduce said critter's DEF by 1

Are you sure about this? I thought it was -1 per ATTACKER. This makes a rather large difference.

[Graeme Dice]

Huzurdaddi said:
Are you sure about this? I thought it was -1 per ATTACKER. This makes a rather large difference.

It's -1 defense per attack, which is why sleep vines are so great.

[Turin]

ok didn´t really think about the extra slots and got the costs wrong too. Still I think the nataraja is somewhat lacking compared to other titan sized pretenders.