Idea: Elven Marksmanship (Special Ability)

[Ceasar Gubius]

One thing that I never thought appeared right with the elves as a special ability is Fire-Arrows. I mean, I think elves may be the predicessers of Green-Peace and would not wish to risk burning any trees !

But I thought of a replacement, what if you were to make their arrow lobbing as skilled as most human units (Lobbing takes almost no skill, LOL) and replace fire arrows with a new ability. Elven Marksmanship...

This special ability would make them cease lobbing (Therefore decreasing the range) and fire direct shots at targets at a distance. Increasing the accuracy and the damage inflicted though. The disadvantage is that it takes longer to shoot than a normal arrow lob (Like fire-arrows)... I would advise editing the physics of the projectile so that it could incorperate a longer range strait shot (Kinda like increasing the range of a crossbow)... So what do you think ?

+ Rep me if you like this

[Morrolan]

It's not like the fire arrows are any good :p
I like the idea! I hope someone will make this as a submod

[Souka]

I believe this is hardcoded, not something that could be solved with a mod

[YassirX]

I dont think its possible to switch the Trigger of the Fire Arrows into a brand new Shooting-Behaviour.
Every Unit has their cohesion and it cannot be switched in a battle, only with editing their stats.
You could edit the Elven-Archer to shoot like Crossbow men but that cannot be done infight, only via editing the files.

I think it isnt possible.
(to late)

[Aikanár]

Special abilities are hardcoded. And there's absolutly nothing you can do about it.

[Ceasar Gubius]

Ok then if it's hord-coded, then instead, why not change it to where elves automatically shoot their arrows strait at a target, that seems more like their techniuqe anyways . Just increase the range a bit so it isn't like a crossbow... Well, maybe you should save that for your elven Elite units, and make your lower tier units still lob their arrows...

OH! I thought of a better idea! How about changing the special ability of the Elven archers to (Instead of Fiery Arrows) to "Blessed Arrows". Make it to where it does almost the same exact thing as the former, only the accuracy doesn't suffer (Infact it is inhanced) but it can't light stuff on fire. Instead of fire, give it a blue glow!

Now how is that for an idea ?

[Morrolan]

Ok then if it's hord-coded, then instead, why not change it to where elves automatically shoot their arrows strait at a target, that seems more like their techniuqe anyways

And could this be possible?

[xian]

Ok then if it's hord-coded, then instead, why not change it to where elves automatically shoot their arrows strait at a target, that seems more like their techniuqe anyways .

Someone tell him, I want to know it too.

[A1_Unit]

How are you going to do that?

[Augustus Lucifer]

The special ability itself is hardcoded. The projectiles aren't. Theoretically, if you have the elven units using a different projectile set than the other units, you could change the flaming variant of that projectile to be more accurate and have different firing properties. I haven't tried it myself but you'd want to edit the export_descr_unit.txt (to give the elves a different projectile), the descr_projectile.txt (to define a new projectile and modify the flaming variants properties), and potentially some of the effects files.

[Taro_M]

It IS possible (I think) to this like that, in Data folder you have descr_projectiles you have something like this:

projectile cav_composite_arrow

effect arrows_new_set
end_effect arrow_impact_ground_set
end_man_effect man_impact_tiny_set
end_package_effect arrow_impact_wall_set
end_shatter_effect arrow_impact_ground_set
end_shatter_man_effect man_impact_tiny_set
end_shatter_package_effect arrow_broken_impact_wall_set

effect_offset -1.5
damage 0
radius 0.1
mass 0.05
accuracy_vs_units 0.065
affected_by_rain
min_angle -75
max_angle 65
velocity 20 48
display aimed
effect_only

projectile cav_composite_arrow_fiery

flaming cav_composite_arrow
effect arrows_fire_new_set
end_effect arrow_flaming_impact_ground_set
end_man_effect man_impact_tiny_set
end_package_effect arrow_flaming_impact_wall_set
end_shatter_effect arrow_flaming_impact_ground_set
end_shatter_man_effect man_impact_tiny_set
end_shatter_package_effect arrow_flaming_broken_impact_wall_set

effect_offset -0.85
damage 0
radius 0.1
mass 0.05
;accuracy_vs_units 0.075
affected_by_rain
fiery
min_angle -60
max_angle 65
velocity 20 48
display aimed

Create two new projectiles that would be used by elven units and in EDU edit thei primary to change what kind of "arrows" the are using

stat_pri 6, 2, arrow, 150, 30, missile, missile_mechanical, piercing, none, 0, 1

I think this should do.

[axnsan]

people say it's hardcoded before even thinking
every culture has a separate UI file, so changing the special ability icon for flaming arrows is very simple

then, in descr_projectiles you can change the effects and looks for "fiery_elven_arrow", the only problem being you need a model for it
then in the various effect and impact files, you add some speciall effects, and voila

[YassirX]

people say it's hardcoded before even thinking
every culture has a separate UI file, so changing the special ability icon for flaming arrows is very simple

Of course you can toggle the icon to look like a Monkey with a Gun if you want. But that's not the point, you can change the icon but you cant change the effect caused by the icon. You can change the Flame-Arrows into Blue glowing Arrow's of course, but you cant change the Shooting Behaviour of the Archers with clicking on the Icon.

Just because theres a Monkey with a Gun on the Icon does not mean that your elves transform into a Money and shoot with a 9mm Pistol.

[Abyrvalg]

@axnsan


@Ceasar Gubius
I can't give you rep but I like your idea.
But flame arrows is very useful for routing orcs Especially in early game, when elves have not enough archers for decimating orcs at distance. So, may be, 1 tier archers (light elven archers) still will use flaming arrows and others will use your EM (since they are high-trained military units, not self-defence forces).

[axnsan]

no, but you can transform the effects and look of the arrow shot
so you can make it more accurate then the normal one

[Blackomur89]

As long as we are suggesting arrow ideas I know this isn't a topic for this but the idea is to stupid to put in an new thread. It's probably an idiotic and impossible idea but because the orc archers are hopelessly weak, is it possible to give them a poison arrow ability(like fire arrow but more accurate and the flames of the fire arrow colored in green)?

[Louis Lux]

As long as we are suggesting arrow ideas I know this isn't a topic for this but the idea is to stupid to put in an new thread. It's probably an idiotic and impossible idea but because the orc archers are hopelessly weak, is it possible to give them a poison arrow ability(like fire arrow but more accurate and the flames of the fire arrow colored in green)?

I actually like this idea, it is known that orcs used poisoned arrows, I think the green flame is not needed. Change the icon and have the arrow look the same except that it will have the same effect of a fire arrow, but perhaps with an even bigger effect on morale or increased damage (the accuracy could be lowered to compensate)

A special ability for the elves sounds good too, I don't think this would turn the game into a BFME but make playing each culture feel even more unique.

[Ceasar Gubius]

I actually like this idea, it is known that orcs used poisoned arrows, I think the green flame is not needed. Change the icon and have the arrow look the same except that it will have the same effect of a fire arrow, but perhaps with an even bigger effect on morale or increased damage (the accuracy could be lowered to compensate)

A special ability for the elves sounds good too, I don't think this would turn the game into a BFME but make playing each culture feel even more unique.

I actually like the poison arrows as well, and make it to where it's special ability is that it lowers moral. Because currently, Orcish archers are USELESS . No Green Flame, but what about a little green glow at the tip of the arrow. Most poisions (Fantasy anyways) are normally described have a greenish, incandescent glow... + Rep for the guy who came up with that

With Elven Arrows "Elven Blessing" will increase the damage and increase the accuracy. What would be the special effect for it though? A Blue or Golden glow I would think. Most useful against beasts like Trolls and Mumakil...

[SigniferOne]

I actually like this idea, it is known that orcs used poisoned arrows, I think the green flame is not needed. Change the icon and have the arrow look the same except that it will have the same effect of a fire arrow, but perhaps with an even bigger effect on morale or increased damage

Or it could make the enemie turn green, like vanilla cow carcasses.

[A1_Unit]

Maybe...