CAU Unit Ratings: Shapeshifting Concept

[scb]

The central thread (http://www.tacticsarena.com/forum/showthread.php?t=31259)

Use this thread to discuss the best shapeshifter units. No unit currently in the game shapeshifts.

Shapeshifting is transforming a unit into another regular unit. This can be either temporary or permanent.

Some shapeshifter units to get the discussion started:
Planeswalker (http://www.tacticsarena.com/forum/showthread.php?p=951279#post951279)
Shapeshifter
Shapestealer (http://www.tacticsarena.com/forum/showthread.php?t=24223)
Faceless (http://www.tacticsarena.com/forum/showthread.php?t=25980&highlight=transforms)
Mist (http://www.tacticsarena.com/forum/showthread.php?t=31244)

[HierophantNexus]

You should add Mist (http://www.tacticsarena.com/forum/showthread.php?t=31244)

Also shape shifting is a challenging concept for me to think of an implementation. What handicaps should shape shifting have? What benefits should it have or does it have? What benefits would it have over simply putting the unit you'd shape shift into into the game at the start of the formation?

I think the ability to shape shift would kinda be like the football exchange. You'd be able to line up either your defensive line up or your offensive line up depending on the circumstances of the game.

For this reason maybe a Shapeshifter does need a whole unit space handicap. A properly tweaked Planesman my suit well for the shape shifting balance.

Or maybe making the Shapeshifter have to have contact with a new form would be handicap enough. Making a Shapeshifter have contact with a new form would force the Shapeshifter player to use valuable turns in order to set up the shape shifters new form.

I think when it comes to Shapeshifting the unit number limits should still apply. The Shapeshifter should not allow the user a 4th knight or a 3rd scout.

[HierophantNexus]

Oops sorry. I meant to edit not double post.

[scb]

I didn't think of the mist as a shapeshifter unit because it didn't copy the whole thing, but I guess that's a poor distinction. I think the Planeswalker is the best, and that's the only one you gave a compliment to, so are we agreed that it's the best for now?

The Echo has a slightly different concept than the rest. Perhaps we should consider it Resurrection instead of Shapeshifting?

[Shadowkill]

You added Echo here, so you decide if its shapeshifting or not. I think that it has almost nothing to do with shapeshifting. I dont like shapeshifter and faceless too, because they allows you to break limits on knights, scouts and so on. Shapestealer is an interesting unit, i dont know if over or underpowered, but definitely interesting. Plainswalker is a great idea, but it shouldnt count as regular unit. And mist... if we count it as a shapeshifting unit, i like it.

[Walrus]

Gonna add my Dreamwalker (http://www.tacticsarena.com/forum/showthread.php?p=563844#post563844) to the mix on this one.......carry on

[scb]

I think completely self-contained units (that switches between specific forms that are distinctly that unit) deserve their own category - possibly "transformer." I think of shapeshifters as units that steal the forms of current game units.

[HierophantNexus]

I'm with scb. Self contained switches new catagory. :)

Interesting Unit walrus.

A unit that switches between a defencive build with a need to infiltrate enemy units and a offencive build where he can attack from defended positions.

I give to you rate.

[Walrus]

I think completely self-contained units (that switches between specific forms that are distinctly that unit) deserve their own category - possibly "transformer." I think of shapeshifters as units that steal the forms of current game units.

you may be right here - concepts can be very broad, like the dreamwalker i linked to, he also has a lifestealing element to him.