First off, all of what I am about to say is based on the assumption that Maldrood and Eriadu will get some sort of tech progression like the other factions. If this is not so, then forget all of what comes below.
With that out the way, here goes…
Generally, the Imperia Remnant’s roster doesn’t change much. Up until era 4, it has ssds in one form or another, defenders and scimitars come and go, but retains imperials and victories and a good complement of frigates. Even in era 5 it has these craft with a few other older ships. The land roster is mostly unchanged. Generally it seems that the remnant’s dire straits occur from territory losses rather than the roster changes. An isd versus a nebula is survivable. Two is preferable, but they can’t produce those kinds of numbers.
For the warlords, I saw an opportunity to create something different, that not only allows for an increase in difficulty for players as technology is lost, but to show these factions diverging from the remnant in philosophies and capabilities, gradually becoming different powers in their own right. Furthermore, I saw in these factions a chance to show what remains after Daala scoops up most of their equipment, post Tsoss beacon massacre. Essentially showing the post- civil war warlords without putting too much effort into yet another imperial faction.
Perhaps most importantly, to do something really daring, and actually having the build bar significantly decrease in units. If even the suggestions below don’t work, I really would argue for a loss of capitals and other large craft to minimise the choices for the warlord players as times get tougher. Maldrood provides the most obvious changes. A faction partially dependent on pirates, it seems likely that they would depend on them SLIGHTLY more as they lose equipment. Wookipedia makes it obvious enough that the warlords and renegade elements after the P-G treaty eventually turn semi-piratical (
http://starwars.wikia.com/wiki/Attacks_on_Imperial_holdouts).
On the other hand, it is NOT explicitly a ‘pirate faction’, as Corey has made clear. Non-imperial equipment would NOT have to be pirate aligned, it could possibly include law enforcement craft and corporate security forces. I personally am sick of seeing other mods suggest that pirates could be an organised force. Nonetheless, its imperial flavour would be heavily diluted as it scrambles for equipment- and given that there are now 6 factions with imperial equipment, I would absolutely be arguing for some factions to change over time.
The 5th era would thus represent those left behind by Daala. The ultra-diehards (
http://starwars.wikia.com/wiki/Replacement_warlord). They might have old cloakshape fighters (
http://starwars.wikia.com/wiki/CloakShape_fighter/Legends), Pursuers (
http://starwars.wikia.com/wiki/Pursuer-class_enforcement_ship), and Razor fighters (
http://starwars.wikia.com/wiki/Razor_Fighter), depending on where such craft are generally made and used. Certainly the invids made use of uglies other than the tie clutch, so they might have access to those (though those are pirate craft, so probably not).
Essentially, you get hyperspace capable fighters like the remnant’s preybirds, but these are immeasurably inferior.
On the other hand, they might build very durable craft, irrespective of speed or firepower, dog-fight capable corvettes, to prevent further equipment losses. They might also have shuttles to steal or scavenge (
http://starwars.wikia.com/wiki/Imperial_Assault_Shuttle) ships of frigate size and below after they have been reduced to low health- without capitals they would need to do everything to survive.
If a change in heroes post-Delvardus was appropriate, the replacement warlords page above makes it clear that Brakiss and the Shadow Academy sought help from the warlords- a mobile barracks building dark jedi? Whatever, thought the academy looked aesthetically impressive at least.
Remember, in Dark Saber the warlords are so cash strapped that 15 or so isds is seen as a significant force. Harrsk is proud of making one star destroyer on his own, and Delvardus, one of the most powerful warlords, has focussed all his material into the Night Hammer. Substantial, yes, but he is still comparatively limited in other forces, as Daala comments. This is around era 4. It seemed to me that taking away the ability to make isds and vsds in the final era would show how low these warlord fortunes have fallen. Yes, it would make things immeasurably harder, but every faction otherwise has capitals, and these ones would also do so prior to the last eras.
Eventually Maldrood would be extremely distinctive. Some Ties and maybe a few older imperial frigates with non-imperial equipment filling the rest of the meagre roster. No capitals.
Extremely difficult to use as faction. For those that might disagree, consider it a challenge- how skilled are you?
(and yes, conquering the galaxy and retaining this roster might seem off, but Pelleaon can do the same and be incapable of building tectors or SSDs. Artistic license has to be used some time)
I was also wondering how Eriadu would progress. Their roster seems slightly more geared towards rare or experimental units. Would a declining Eriadu faction slowly turn to more advanced yet rarer units, becoming unable to sustain their industrial base or defend it?
Then I came across this:
http://starwars.wikia.com/wiki/IGV-55_surveillance_vesselSomething used for recon, crewed by lobot-type cyborgs. Perhaps instead of probe droids, eriadu might have this, revealing units in surrounding systems (but very expensive).
It hit me- Eriadu would devolve towards tech solutions that reflect automation. Expensive cyborg infantry and officers (
http://starwars.wikia.com/wiki/LT-319) supplementing stormtroopers, manning awacs ships and other craft, and a greater use of droids (might they be able to hack and take over droid units as a special ability?). Such craft might slowly develop more unique features and special abilities compared to other factions, with droid crewed vessels being outwardly similar to other warlord ships, being cheaper but slightly less powerful (reflecting the smaller but less capable crew on board). Might dark troopers and tie-droids be used as well? Perhaps cyborg units, both in space and on land, might have a special ability that reveals the map or a unit for a very short amount of time (due to their hacking/recon abilities).
Ultimately, the nadir of Eriadu would be era 4 and 5- the remnants that Daala couldn’t hoover up, using a mixture of very cheap droids that are not very good (these?
http://starwars.wikia.com/wiki/Terror_Droid http://starwars.wikia.com/wiki/Nek/Legends http://starwars.wikia.com/wiki/Warcrawler), and extremely capable tech that can only be produced in small numbers (like this?
http://starwars.wikia.com/wiki/Nemesis-class_gunship More powerful and tougher than a republic gunship, but less manoeuvrable, more expensive and with a build limit).
One final thing to add to this- I keep seeing people recommend clone wars stuff. Surely there’s plenty of old imperial equipment like the TIE/gt (ground-targeting) starfighter (
http://starwars.wikia.com/wiki/TIE/gt_starfighter) that could be used instead? This example would be a faster more numerous yet less powerful/ weaker tie bomber, perhaps replacing the tie bomber for a particularly resource-strapped faction (PA?).
These are just some thoughts, and they are probably too elaborate, non-canon and would add to the mod’s loading lag for minimal gain. Nonetheless, I thought I’d put these things out just in case people found something useful in them. Is it ok to discuss this and hack out something from this that works?
If none of this is useful (though no matter what, I stand by the idea of taking away capitals and reducing the build bar in eras 4 and 5 for the warlords) then feel free to tell me to stop posting ideas. I’m
not keen on forcing Corey to wearily crush every uninformed idea again and again. I don't like sounding unreasonable.
And that's it for now! Cheerio!
Topic: Maldrood and Eriadu era progression. (Read 7200 times)