Split-Upgrade tree / buildings for existing units

185 votes

The idea comes from Disciples, where you choose a path for units. That could be a way to get new exciting units, with special traits, or even change their function.

Like the Rana hunters, when upgraded to storm guards the next path could be a split upgrade (only one upgrade path can be taken) - one path would grant them lightning javelins to throw at enemies, the other path would make them equipped with heavier armor and shields.

The Crawlers could be upgraded to one path giving them a ranged poison spit attack and the other path could lead them to gain the ability to burrow into the ground (gaining 50 defense) and the round after appear in another tile dealing damage to the unit next to it.

Should be researched to unlock the path, so it counts for all buildings on the entire map or could be on building basis, so you would have even more options (just not more units)

Currently not planned Suggested by: Game kNight Plays (16 May, '22) • Upvoted: 16 Apr • Comments: 11

Comments: 11

16 May, '22
butttface
yes I would like this or have more varied units eventually
16 May, '22
Samuel Turrentine
I also feel that this would quite literally double the epicness of Songs of Conquest. I am reminded of an oldschool rpg tactics game called Vandal Hearts in which each hero had a path you could take. Then, when you reached a certain level to advance your class it split off into two options, allowing you to make that hero fill an even more specific role. Later, even, depending on your previous choice of class you could split off into another subclass of the class you picked.
16 May, '22
Game kNight Plays
I agree, it would also make each players path different, resulting in - even if you play against another Loth player - possibly an entirely different opponent!

Thanks for the comments! Keep voting!
16 May, '22
HarryFrazee
Yeah I wouldn't mind seeing something like this, especially if the game is only going to have 4 factions.
17 May, '22
Vaultjumper
so would each town be able to go down a different upgrade path or would it be empire wide?
17 May, '22
Game kNight Plays
@vaultjumper
It would be up to the devs, but I would suggest that it would be empire wide.

If you chose that path, in this game, you've dedicated to it. That means that another player, of the same faction, might bring a different combination of units than you, resulting in more diversity overall.
17 May, '22
Lukasz M.
Loth Barony:

I really like Blessed Bones to have ability to burrow. Maybe secondary upgrade will turn him to new unit --> CRAWLER. He can use his ability to burrow ( it will be only a gravestone visible ) to attack other units by the suprise. In his burrow state, he will be unable to move, but he will receive some bonusses, like 70% resistance to shooting units.
Necromancers could have another upgrded, in which can bu turned to undead unit --> Lich. It will be powerfull unit, but from now, he will gain only bonuses to undead units.
Spectre could be upgraded to Crimson Ghost. It will have a lot more movement points but it will be more fragile than Seneschal. In addition, he could drain the living energy from attacked units in order to heal himself.
Legion could have alternative upgrade --> The Dark One - he will lose his area attack but every time when another unit is killed ( our or enemy) he will automaticaly heal himself.
18 May, '22
Ezzekhiel
the crawlers from the Rana faction should have a burrow ability, ignoring terrain and ZoC.
01 Jun, '22
vanHooijdonk
I would disagree.
SoC is much like HOMM, not Disciples. You have 9 monster slots, multiple units in each - it's just totaly different.
Each fraction has 8 units + upgrades - if you add a tree to each - that would be too much, and too unbalanced, just a motley pack of monsters confusing any player. Disciples had just 4 units for fraction, and that change make this game a different game.
Still, a feature request for alternative upgrade for part of monster is nice - if not too much units have this feature, say top 3-4 at each fraction
12 Jul, '22
Chris
Although disciples had less monsters it had a very deep tree of upgrades mostly. Maybe for this game it should allow for some customisation but only have a less deep tree of branching options. Like have a base unit with one upgraded as it is right now and then the choice between 2 "master" units for each. Or maybe even only some. This feature in disciples was hella fun and allowed for soo much replay-ability.

It also allows the devs to play with diversifying the different playable factions. Honestly id rather have this than more factions to play if the gameplay is flatter and more straightforward for each faction.
30 Nov, '22
Moderator Admin
We've considered it, but it is simply a lot of work and we are not sure if would add that much player joy compared to the amount of work for design, programming and art creation + balancing and bug fixing/QA. So, for that reason we will not pursue this.