[Suggestion] Hero desertion

from Elemental Forums

I'd like to see hero desertion as an added rare risk when they fall in battle. Something along the lines of, if a hero falls there is:

  • 10% chance of no wound (Tis a scratch)
  • 70% chance of minor wound as implemented
  • 15% chance of hero deserting and becoming an independent neutral that you have to hire again or kill
  • 5% chance of hero dying

Modifiers of this risk could be new hero traits. A disloyal/cowardly hero would have a 25% chance of desertion after falling in battle. A loyal/brave hero would have only a 5% chance of desertion. There's already a female heroine whose flavor text tells you that she doesn't plan to stick around forever, but it doesn't actually do anything at the moment.

Heroes that desert would return to neutral status and you could try to rehire or kill them, but they would retain their items and abilities.

3,155 views 9 replies
Reply #1 from Elemental Forums Top

I like it.

Reply #2 from Elemental Forums Top

Not a bad idea, with the condition of being able to find/cast/something a geas on his heart, to make him loyal again under pain of death and eternal suffering. Yoshimo style :D

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Reply #3 from Elemental Forums Top

add a 5% chance of the hero flipping to the other side and I am all for it.

Reply #4 from Elemental Forums Top

They would need some protection after leaving.  If they go turncoat or leave, and they just get moved right next to the army they were in, they will just be promptly murdered by the player.  

Reply #5 from Elemental Forums Top

Well, they did fall in battle.  So they could just get warped to the nearest enemy city where they recuperate for x turns as usual.

Also, this should only happen if you lose the fight entirely.

Reply #6 from Elemental Forums Top

Quoting Lord, reply 4
They would need some protection after leaving.  If they go turncoat or leave, and they just get moved right next to the army they were in, they will just be promptly murdered by the player.  
End of Lord's quote

Not necessarily. A battle where you've lost a hero is likely to have winnowed your army quite a bit. Also, if it's a hero you've leveled a bit, you may prefer to pay the premium to get them back. A fun implication I hadn't thought through is that you would sometimes be able to recruit heroes you've defeated.

I like Unacomn's idea of a spell to increase hero loyalty. Perhaps a life spell with maintenance that inspires loyalty and a death spell with no maintenance that bends their will to yours, but causes a minor penalty to some other attribute.

Hm. Should faction reputation also be a minor factor desertion risk, or is that a step too complicated?

Reply #7 from Elemental Forums Top

Stealing an idea from another thread, there should also be the distinct possibility of losing equipment when the hero falls in a battle you lose.

Reply #8 from Elemental Forums Top

Quoting Spitz, reply 6

Quoting Lord Xia, reply 4They would need some protection after leaving.  If they go turncoat or leave, and they just get moved right next to the army they were in, they will just be promptly murdered by the player.  

Not necessarily. A battle where you've lost a hero is likely to have winnowed your army quite a bit. Also, if it's a hero you've leveled a bit, you may prefer to pay the premium to get them back. A fun implication I hadn't thought through is that you would sometimes be able to recruit heroes you've defeated.

I like Unacomn's idea of a spell to increase hero loyalty. Perhaps a life spell with maintenance that inspires loyalty and a death spell with no maintenance that bends their will to yours, but causes a minor penalty to some other attribute.

Hm. Should faction reputation also be a minor factor desertion risk, or is that a step too complicated?
End of Spitz's quote

 

Yea, you are probably right, somehow the obvious point of your own army being pretty damaged or destroyed to set this scenario in motion somehow eluded me. lol

Reply #9 from Elemental Forums Top

Quoting Spitz, reply 6
Hm. Should faction reputation also be a minor factor desertion risk, or is that a step too complicated?
End of Spitz's quote

Not too complicated for me. And I especially like the idea of the occasional game where I got to win over a rival's champion instead of simply killing him or her.