Fantasy Friday IX - Human Siege & Counter-Siege

[Alex Walz]

FANTASY FRIDAY IX
Human Siege & Counter-Siege

http://reverieworld.com/screenshots/ff9/siegethumb.jpg (http://reverieworld.com/screenshots/ff9/siege.jpg) http://reverieworld.com/screenshots/ff9/siege4thumb.jpg (http://reverieworld.com/screenshots/ff9/siege4.jpg) http://reverieworld.com/screenshots/ff9/takingdagborthumb.jpg (http://reverieworld.com/screenshots/ff9/takingdagbor.jpg)

Hey guys. :) I have a feeling you're all like this showcase, as we take a look into a whopping eight new units. Siege and counter-siege both play a huge role in Dawn of Fantasy, so we decided to introduce the units for some background information before we start getting into the gameplay mechanics.

Enjoy!

SIEGE

The Trebuchet

Description: A ranged machine which is great against buildings and battalions, but has little health and armor. <img src="http://reverieworld.com/screenshots/ff9/trebuchet.png" align="right"> Trebuchets are the human ranged siege units, and are useful for clearing off towered enemy archers from a distance before bringing in your rams and infantry.

Initial Statistics:
Health: 750
Stamina: 0
Damage: 300
Accuracy: 127
Defense: -
Armor: 20
View/LOS: 1580
Range: 1100
Speed: 41
Charge: -

Unique Abilities:
Scatter Shot – Launches a dozen of small rocks toward the enemy. Good against infantry.

The Battering Ram

Description: Heavy siege unit which is great against buildings, but useless against units. <img src="http://reverieworld.com/screenshots/ff9/ram.png" align="right">Rams are best used to quickly take down enemy gates.

Initial Statistics:
Health: 3900
Stamina: 0
Damage: 130
Accuracy: 32
Defense: -
Armor: 20
View/LOS: 340
Speed: 41
Charge: -

The Belfry

Description: Siege unit which provides a strong, mobile ladder for scaling enemy walls. <img src="http://reverieworld.com/screenshots/ff9/belfry.png" align="right">To use a belfry, move it over to an enemy wall and right click a wall segment to lower the bridge, allowing access. Your units can climb up the belfry and access the wall via the lowered bridge.

Initial Statistics:
Health: 8500
Stamina: 0
Damage: -
Defense: -
Armor: 20
View/LOS: 340
Speed: 58
Charge: -

The Escalade

Description: A common ladder deployed at the base of enemy walls for an easy scaling solution. <img src="http://reverieworld.com/screenshots/ff9/escalade.png" align="right">While quicker and cheaper than belfries, escalades will fall quickly to enemy attacks.

Initial Statistics:
Health: 750
Stamina: 100
Damage: -
Defense: -
Armor: 20
View/LOS: 340
Speed: 70
Charge: 86

COUNTER-SIEGE

The Bastion Trebuchet

Description: This trebuchet is similar to the siege trebuchet, but is permanently mounted to a wall bastion or keep, for the cost of 260 Wood and 100 Gold. <img src="http://reverieworld.com/screenshots/ff9/towertreb.png" align="right"> Bastion trebuchets feature significantly heavier armor than their mobile counterparts, but have a reduced range. Good against both siege weapons and infantry.

Initial Statistics:
Health: 750
Damage: 300
Accuracy: 127
Defense: -
Armor: 82
View/LOS: 1520
Charge: -

The Stone Tipper

Description: A counter-siege mechanism that releases its load of stones onto enemy units in proximity. Good against infantry. <img src="http://reverieworld.com/screenshots/ff9/stonetipper.png" align="right">After launching, there will be a short delay before the stone collection is replenished and the mechanism can be used again. Stone Tippers can be purchased as upgrades to wall segments for 80 Wood and 50 Gold. Costs stone to fire.

Initial Statistics:
Health: 450
Damage: 175
Accuracy: 127
Defense: -
Armor: 82
View/LOS: 275

Unique Abilities:
Flamed Projectiles – Stones can be enflamed, increasing their damage.


The Oil Pot

Description: A counter-siege mechanism that pour boiling oil on nearby enemy troops. The oil pot can be built on enemy walls and towers for 90 Gold.<img src="http://reverieworld.com/screenshots/ff9/oilpot.png" align="right">After a period of time, the oil is replenished and the pot can be used again. Good against siege units.

Initial Statistics:
Health: 400

Unique Abilities:
Automatic Pouring – Toggle auto-pouring and leave your oil pots alone, or take control to fire the oil at the most strategic moments.



The Wall Hoarding

Description: Hoardings can be built on wall segments for 40 Wood to provide cover for archers and other units underneath. <img src="http://reverieworld.com/screenshots/ff9/hoarding.png" align="right">The hoarding protects units by providing them with a 25% pierce armor increase while in proximity. Hoardings have a low transparency in-game to allow you to still work with units underneath.


















http://reverieworld.com/screenshots/ff9/siege3thumb.jpg (http://reverieworld.com/screenshots/ff9/siege3.jpg) http://reverieworld.com/screenshots/ff9/siege2thumb.jpg (http://reverieworld.com/screenshots/ff9/siege2.jpg)

http://reverieworld.com/screenshots/ff9/siege5thumb.jpg (http://reverieworld.com/screenshots/ff9/siege5.jpg) http://reverieworld.com/screenshots/ff9/pultakthumb.jpg (http://reverieworld.com/screenshots/ff9/pultak.jpg)

[Josh Warner]

another cool showcase alex, enjoyed reading it :)

One thing I wanted to remind people of is that height = increased range, the bastion treb will normally outrange the mobile treb.

My favorite is the boiling oil.

[Alex Walz]

Ah, yes, good catch!

[Henry Martin]

Great showcase. Can't wait to do a siege myself. I agree josh warner, boiling oil is awesome and can't wait to use it.

[Jonathan Werk]

In the previous showcase, people were wondering about archer friendly fire.
While you can't kill your own guys with archers, you definitely can kill your own guys with siege, so be careful where you're launching those rocks.

I'm a big fan of the stone tipper.

[GPS51]

Terrific preview. I love fridays :) . Will the height increase the range of such things as boiling oil or the rock droppers..er stone tippers or will it simply increase the range of archers and counter trebs? Also do the elves and orcs get different wall defenses or will they be the same? or some percentage of the same siege units?

[The Witch King of Angmar]

Wow, this makes me want to play Men even more. I can't wait to see more on them. Great job, keep it up guys!

[blackfang]

great:) now i am even more eager to play it:rolleyes:

[Darathor]

Very nice! Glad to see that men will be quite interesting. I like the wall hoardings and I've never seen them in a game before, and they're cool. But I personally like the stone tipper the best, especially with the stones on fire!:D

I also like how you named the siege towers and ladders uniquely.

[LiTos456]

Very nice.

[Puppeteer]

Uh that's sexy.
One thing I wanted to remind people of is that height = increased range, the bastion treb will normally outrange the mobile treb.
I was going to ask that when I saw 'reduced range'; that's great.

[Jack]

cool pictures and information
can't wait until i can launch a rain of rocks :D
form the wals and to the walls :p

[massenic]

:eek: Just look at the maps in the bottom corner. It's gonna be great to attack those HUGE fortresses

[rolzuc]

Sieges will be so damn epic! :cool:

[Kire]

Nice pictures, looking forward now to elf bastion defense mechanisms. Actually i havent seen on any picture that elves has any x.x . But i say again, human units look to casual for me =P gogo elves!
One question .... do siege stuff burn if for example you put it in wild fire or on magic fire? Or will there be some sort of magic for anti sieges (more for elves =P)?


Terrific preview. I love fridays :)

Its/was saturday. =P

[SvN]

that orc gate is brutal.:)

[Darathor]

Yeah, the orc gate is so huge and is spiked. Looks awesome.

[nickson104]

Wow, looks awesome! :) great to see this! :)

[massenic]

Yeah, the orc gate is so huge and is spiked. Looks awesome.

I was already wondering if you could open the gate to crush all units standing in front of it:p
Doesn't sound smart to do, but when your opponent is almost out of units and has most of them in front of the gate it might be good.

[Supreme]

You open the gates, and rush out with the king and his last remaining trustworthy orcs on wargs bravely into certain death rushing to the sea of infinate men to make your last stand when suddenly the white wizard appears...wait..what? :P

Nice screenshots + stories, im curious bout the other races.

I think the elves have trees (ents-like) as the human counterpart to the belfry. Dont know about the other siegunits from elves.

[SvN]

yeah, but I guess the spikes are only for aestethic purposes.

[Justin]

Uh that's sexy.

One thing I wanted to remind people of is that height = increased range, the bastion treb will normally outrange the mobile treb.

I was going to ask that when I saw 'reduced range'; that's great.

I was going to ask the same question. The preview looks great

[Konstantin Fomenko]

The Orcish gate does kill everything under it once it opens. But the units under it will have a behavior to try and run away from certain death.

[massenic]

wow great! just what I had in mind!

[Henry Martin]

Awesome! I was also thinking that would be cool if that gate did that.

[Darathor]

The Orcish gate does kill everything under it once it opens. But the units under it will have a behavior to try and run away from certain death.

Just plain awesome. The depth that you guys are adding to sieges is astounding.

[massenic]

I'm really considering orcs now... if they are the only ones with such awesome gates...

[GPS51]

Wow. What a great way to boost the orcs in a siege. A quick question though, if the elves are beseiging an orc stronghold and both armies are at max units doesn't that just about guarantee an elven win? Since their soldiers are so much stronger? Unless they happen to stand in front of the gates....

[Alex Walz]

The orcs have a significantly higher population cap (at least 2x), so it will never come down to a scale of 1vs1 at max population.

[szebus]

The orcs have a significantly higher population cap (at least 2x), so it will never come down to a scale of 1vs1 at max population.

And the humans and elves will have their own ways to combat orc numbers, right ?

[Alex Walz]

Elves and humans have stronger units so they can stand up to orc hordes.

[massenic]

The orc units are weaker, but cost less.

Humans and elf units are stronger but more expesive + they have a lower population cap

edit: Seems like Alex was a few seconds faster

[GPS51]

Well it was 1 elf to 6 orcs at least in archers iirc. But that's good to know about the pop limits.

[Generation]

Oil Pot for the win! Now how come I don't see any elves siege weapons or is it just the treant?

[blackfang]

You didn't know that the elves are POWERFUL and the HUMANS are jack of all trade, the orcs suck but they got numbers. Humans does everything average and the elves plays up with their powerful soldiers but really cant make as massive armies as the orcs.

[Henry Martin]

Yeah I think I am stayin with the humans. This reminds of starcraft's gameplay. I played the protoss with it was the most powerful, but expensive. I ended up playing with the terrian or humans.

[Darvin]

Nice; probably one of my favourite showcases so far.

[wills370]

Have to say great job the siege equipment looks varied so should bring many aspects to the game. I like the boulder and the increased protection on the walls. What happens when the wall shielding is burned though however does that inflict damage to the units beneath qas i noticed it was made of wood?

And if so it may be better to have a clear wall then one that has flammable death traps above there heads :P? Just a thought.

[Puppeteer]

For the next preview I want, but don't want, magic again. I'd love to see it, but don't want to fully know the system before the game comes out. Ah the ambivalence! What to do?

[blackfang]

wait till the game comes out and you can have both:D

[Henry Martin]

I want to know more about magic. I haven't seen to much on it.

[blackfang]

i want to know everything about this game! so i want to play it!!!!

[SvN]

You often give us pictures of battles and sieges. Recource collecting, creeps and naval are being left out a bit. :P

[massenic]

Wrong Blackfang, (although you think you do) you really don't wanna know everything. It always makes the game a whole lot cooler when you suddenly find out that <insert an awesome feature here> is available in the game.

or that's what I think. You might not agree now. But I'm sure when you're in the game and find some cool feature you didn't know about, it will make you happy ;)

[blackfang]

nope, i seriously mean I WANT TO KNOW ALL so release the game!!! :D Can't wait to know what everything is:rolleyes:

[Henry Martin]

I agree with massenic as when I find out something in a game that I did know, I'm like a deer caught in the headlights and then I am like a cat with yarn amazed and I play around with it.

[blackfang]

why would i not want the game to FIND everything? I think its a good argument, so you guys only want to play the game without exploring the features... Up to you i am going all out finding everything:rolleyes:

[massenic]

No, you got me wrong. I meant that you don't want to know everything before you play it. When the game is released it's just logical that you want to explore it.

Anyway, to get back on the tracks, I'm really wondering how much of a difference there will be between all race's (counter) siege equipment

[blackfang]

i thought you didn't want to know everything before the game? Contradictions = Confusions:p

[Negthareas]

Looks really great guys! By the way, I have not been able to get into Dofsource, is there any particular reason?

[Generation]

They're doing maitenance on site or updating it one of those I'm sure

[wou129]

looks nice guys
ever thought of roling trees it is one of the best antie siege units in stronghold

[Josh Warner]

looks nice guys
ever thought of roling trees it is one of the best antie siege units in stronghold

The stone tipper is rather similar in functionality, but it would be cool to see a bunch of logs falling and rolling over anything below.

[wou129]

the diference in my opinion is that logs roll futher and you gan set logs on fire you cant do with rocks as fas as i know but it is a fantasy game so :D

[blackfang]

you can cover a rock in oil:eek: :rolleyes:

[welshie]

the diference in my opinion is that logs roll futher and you gan set logs on fire you cant do with rocks as fas as i know but it is a fantasy game so :D

Aye but logs are easily removable compaired to stones.

[Darathor]

Rocks could easily be covered in pitch, oil, or tar, lit on fire, and dropped from something onto the enemy, thus burning, crushing, and emotionally disturbing those below.

[Alex Walz]

Rolling logs aren't something we've necessarily decided against. They're in our concept along with a couple other mechanisms, just not in the game yet. Whether we put them in or not will depend on available resources and balance.

[Henry Martin]

Ah, the rolling logs remind me of the scene for assassin's creed when the templars are standing in front of the gate and you have to walk across the planks and climb the tower to cut the logs loose.

The rolling logs would be interesting.

[blackfang]

what about rolling bodies? they should cause death:D Or maybe rolling armors, rolling stones? they should make lots of noise at least:D Perhaps rolling squares would be fun to watch them too:) Or maybe rolling gunpowder:rolleyes: That is all the rolling i can figure out that would be cool to see in game:D

[Supreme]

Im having trouble envisioning rolling gunpowder... maybe gunpowder barrels?

[Generation]

Yeah gunpowder barrels ftw!

[Darathor]

But I thought in another thread, that they said that there is no gunpowder or substances to make it in the land of Mythador.

[blackfang]

then lets make explosive an explosive just for dof:D and put it in a barrel:D

[Kire]

Mcgyver could create a bomb just from cone =) so its not so impossible =P.

[SvN]

Are there any magical siege weapons/spells?

[Jack]

i will be humen and orcs
elves are in low numbers and human are between orcs and elves
so i will pick human and orcs

[Darathor]

I suspect that the siege strategies will reflect the population limit. Orcs will be to overwhelm the walls and/or gates, elves will be to overwhelm them, but with more finesse, and humans will be the standard siegers.

[welshie]

i will be humen and orcs
elves are in low numbers and human are between orcs and elves
so i will pick human and orcs

Yeh but it all works out as in like 1 elf warrior = 2 humans which = 5 orcs or some thing so you wouldnt need the numbers but again your choice. I on the other hand will (if i get in) use the beta to find my race as im struggling between humans and elves. As the humans are the all rounders meaning i can apply all the trades or i can be a hermit with the elves which i normal end up doing in games...

[Supreme]

Mcgyver could create a bomb just from cone =) so its not so impossible =P.

Thats not true. A cone, elastics and a scissor.

A-team > Mcgyver though. Making a tank of a steel bar, 2 wheels, an ak47 and some welderstuff.

[blackfang]

Actually everyone knows mcgyver needs his swiss army knife and the duct tape! or else he won't make anything, tough he can use a duct tape to make anything he wants

[lol129]

do the elfs exuly have siege engens becose i have only see those walking trees

[Khan kreiger]

I love oil pots:p and the hoarding is a very good idea for defence