Artificer

[deleryn]

This one's a little bit more serious than some of my other units. :rolleyes: ;)
It actually has a number of interesting differences from a furgon, though having both would be a little redundant. I have to admit that it bears some resemblance to the "Digger" and a few others too, but that's unavoidable I think and it isn't a rip-off at all.

Description: Instead of pouring over endless books or scrolls in search of ultimate power or enchanting many wards of great protection, the Artificers devise a cunning scheme that requires a less complicated ability. Because illusion magic is easy to cast, they use it most frequently. Unfortunately, most illusions can be swiftly dispeled by enemy spellcasters and require focus to maintain. On the other hand, they are easy to create and can provide an excellent diversion until thwarted.

The standard illusion used by many Artificers is the "Ward of Illusion". It is such an unremarkable ward that it is incredibly easy to create and maintain the appearance of the illusion--it actually looks like a shimmering mirror but lacks any reflection and is slightly taller than most people. The illusion's key is that it compels all enemies who see it to think that it actually is a wall and not just an illusion, which isn't much more difficult for magic to do than to make a person think that a wall is visible there.

Statistics:
Human Spell-Caster
HP: 37
Power: Ward of Illusion
Armor: 8
Blocking: 0%
Recovery: 2
Movement: 3
Range:
http://www.tacticsarena.com/units/attack3_0_1.gif

Ward of Illusion: The ward has statistics identical to a shrub except with 75% blocking from all sides. Allied units may choose to walk or attack through Wards of Illusion without being seen by your enemy. If an allied unit occupies the same square as a Ward of Illusion, the ward can attempt to block attacks for the unit or the unit can attempt to block, whichever has the most chance to succeed. Any damage done to the square fully applies to the unit and destroys the ward. Focusing abilities are disrupted every turn inside the Ward of Illusion. You can see through any allied illusions. Blocking still applies to attacks made from behind the illusion, if applicable. Wards of Illusion do not block allied LOS, though they will attempt to block a ranged attack made on their square. Finally, the special blocking bonuses and penalties fully apply to both the ward and the unit under it based on which blocking percentage was used.


Strategy: I'd like to think that it's more strategic than the furgon because they can't just be thrown around and forgotten about as easily. On the other hand, an intellegent enemy can't use the illusions against the caster. This should be balanced because the Artificer is probably more easily destroyed than the Furgon. It can't effectively be used with enemy scouts in range unless the Artificer targets his own square as well, in which case your units won't be as capable to move through the illusions. A pyromancer or dragon could always blast through (dispel) the Wards of Illusion if necessary. It is also kindof like a "Stone Golem for blocking" in my mind, but requires more to set it up. It might discourage the standard antirush form because it would own as soon as the muddy and dragon were destroyed.

It would have tremendous abuse potential to protect stone golems, except that allied units aren't capable of focusing inside the ward of illusion. Also, it isn't capable of creating the ward around itself. I'm thinking about changing it so that the Artificer can create the Ward of Illusion around himself, simply to prevent it from becoming scout food, but instead made the illusions block enemy LOS, though it is still vulnerable to the 5-1 trick shot. I was also thinking about making the blocking 100%, but decided against it because it would allow for cheap tricks to keep the game going forever.

The main problem with it is that the furgon is already there. :dry:
Xerent might think it's cool and add it to his game, at least. [/far-fetched]

[scb]

This is like an inferior barrier ward that allows the target to attack, in one sense. It could be used on the cleric continuously to protect him.
The illusion is focus, so as a blockade it is inferior to the other "focus invincible barrier" units that multi-target. However, I also see the possibility of hiding a mud golem beneath this to shake the ground.

What's the range? This is very important! If it is five or more, the opponent would be hard-pressed to protect himself from a blocking mud golem. If it is four it can still boost the muddy, but less effectively. If it is three, it might be effective, but not as much; two or one, it's useless except as a cleric guard.

[deleryn]

This is like an inferior barrier ward that allows the target to attack, in one sense. It could be used on the cleric continuously to protect him.
The illusion is focus, so as a blockade it is inferior to the other "focus invincible barrier" units that multi-target. However, I also see the possibility of hiding a mud golem beneath this to shake the ground.

What's the range? This is very important! If it is five or more, the opponent would be hard-pressed to protect himself from a blocking mud golem. If it is four it can still boost the muddy, but less effectively. If it is three, it might be effective, but not as much; two or one, it's useless except as a cleric guard.

I should have just said that the attack was just like the pyromancer. And there's not too much "hard pressed" about attacking a Illusion Warded muddy if the dragon destroys the ward and attacks the muddy first.

Another unit to add to my long list of too-complicated CAUs. :rolleyes:

[scb]

Pyromancer pattern... that's a good idea. You're right, it isn't overpowered... and it's effective enough against blockable units to be useful. I hate to admit it, but good job. ;)

[Lonely Tylenol]

It's ridiculously overpowered, actually...

Before I jump on that, I have to ask a few things:

1) Is it a Focus ability?
2) Can Enemy units walk through it?

If the answers to those questions are both no, you've created a Furgon with longer range, that creates walls Allies but not Enemies can walk through, ups Allied blocking, blocks Allied LOS shots (but not Enemy LOS), and can't be seen.

Overall, the unit was concise and well thought out; however, that doesn't retract from its overpowered-ness.

[deleryn]

It's ridiculously overpowered, actually...

Before I jump on that, I have to ask a few things:

1) Is it a Focus ability?
2) Can Enemy units walk through it?

If the answers to those questions are both no, you've created a Furgon with longer range, that creates walls Allies but not Enemies can walk through, ups Allied blocking, blocks Allied LOS shots (but not Enemy LOS), and can't be seen.

Overall, the unit was concise and well thought out; however, that doesn't retract from its overpowered-ness.

I could've sworn that I put "focus" in there somewhere. It just about always increases allied blocking unless you can attack the unit with a dragon tyrant first (because then the illusion is destroyed, without not causing damage to the unit). And it blocks enemy LOS, can't be moved through by enemies, and is visible to both players. In fact, the enemy can's see what's underneath it. On the other hand, the square in the middle of the five-square illusion can't be hit by the DT. But it can be frosted or wisped. Paralyzation and poison don't kill shrubs though so maybe it wouldn't be exactly like a shrub.

I think I'll change it so that if any part of the Illusion Ward recieves unblockable damage, the whole thing is removed. Then again, not many people are even going to look at it so why bother making things crystal clear?

[uniquinous]

No, it's not ballanced. You're revving up a created unit (the ward itself) and weakening its caster. That doesn't ballance. If a furgon's shrubs had 100 health and the furgon itself had 1 HP, it's an unballanced unit.

As LT said- you give your side a tremendous advantage as soon as one of these is up, which only applies to you, and not the opponent. You're essentially creating barrier wards and immunity spots for your units. Tisk

[deleryn]

No, it's not ballanced. You're revving up a created unit (the ward itself) and weakening its caster. That doesn't ballance. If a furgon's shrubs had 100 health and the furgon itself had 1 HP, it's an unballanced unit.

As LT said- you give your side a tremendous advantage as soon as one of these is up, which only applies to you, and not the opponent. You're essentially creating barrier wards and immunity spots for your units. Tisk

"Tisk?" There's no tisk in CAU. I can make unbalanced units if I want, and often times, the most interesting units can be unbalanced. :p
Plus, it's at least a little bit different from the furgon because it's a focus ability and all the illusions dissapear until new ones are made or when one of them is hit. People make plenty of units that change power, why not make one that gives better blocking?

Besides, nobody's making units anymore. :(
Why don't you take a hand at it if you're so good, uniq? :p

And about the "tremendous advantage"- the barrier ward or the stone golem do better jobs of making "barrier wards and immunity spots". The furgon can make more effective barriers. This is a compromise of strategic units that can prove useful. Because the Artificer is in focus, there's trouble with movement on your side unless you want to just let him be scout food. The blocking modifiers mean that two hits max would destroy all of the Wards of Illusion.

And what's with "ballance"? :confused:

[Lonely Tylenol]

I could've sworn that I put "focus" in there somewhere.

Nope--I thought you did at first too, and I had to ctrl+f the word to make sure, but the only mention you make of focus is that allied units can't use Focus abilities while in it.

It just about always increases allied blocking unless you can attack the unit with a dragon tyrant first (because then the illusion is destroyed, without not causing damage to the unit). And it blocks enemy LOS, can't be moved through by enemies, and is visible to both players. In fact, the enemy can's see what's underneath it. On the other hand, the square in the middle of the five-square illusion can't be hit by the DT. But it can be frosted or wisped. Paralyzation and poison don't kill shrubs though so maybe it wouldn't be exactly like a shrub.

That the enemy can see what's going on is pretty much all that was corrrected. It still blocks enemy LOS and movement, but not allied, so you can have it Focus near the corner with a decent LW placement and you're invulnerable as long as you have a Scout and maybe a Cleric. It's still too powerful, even if it IS Focus, to even compare it to the Furgon.

I think I'll change it so that if any part of the Illusion Ward recieves unblockable damage, the whole thing is removed. Then again, not many people are even going to look at it so why bother making things crystal clear?

I think that makes sense. I mean, it really only affects the Dragon Tyrant, since all other unblockables bypass LOS, but that it can be broken helps from godlike abuse situations, like a Scout vs. DT, or invincible late-game Cleric (those are a pain, you know--fighting a Cleric you can't kill, when it keeps healing those elusive final few attackers), but more importantly it opens up potential for the Dragon to be useful for allowing Knights to attack it. I mean, it's a start, definitely. :)

[uniquinous]

I'm no Mozart, but I can certainly tell when music sucks. So no, I won't be making units of my own, but I will comment on the strengths or weaknesses. Yes, a *good* unit needs to be ballanced. The fact that none in this subforum ever are is the reason so many people dislike CAU. People make redic units all the time. I think there should be a large distinction between "units that could be added to this game" and "I felt like making a background story to a cool sounding figure which wouldn't ever work in TAO".