[Archived] New Hero Ideas I! (READ THE OP)

[Impious_Iron]

If it means anything, my current Krel is based off of a female character I created in Spore.

One thing I didn't care for about Spore was that you couldn't ever change the gender of your creatures. Heck, you couldn't even make something look female unless you really, really tried (the girly creature on the game's box being nothing but a tease).

As for this game... well, just look at my Sage. >_>

I meant one of my mech creations I'm known for.







Also.... Lol wow.

[Stammer6]

I just realized...

I'm pretty sure that legally Maxis isn't allowed to use our ideas. I'm sure no one here would sue them or anything, but I remember there was an episode of Extra Credits (skip to 3 minutes in) that mentioned how game developers are legally obligated to reject listening to ideas to implement into games.

[kurliew]

I just realized...

I'm pretty sure that legally Maxis isn't allowed to use our ideas. I'm sure no one here would sue them or anything, but I remember there was an episode of Extra Credits (skip to 3 minutes in) that mentioned how game developers are legally obligated to reject listening to ideas to implement into games.

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Anywho, nice sage

[Evex_Wolfwing]

I just realized...

I'm pretty sure that legally Maxis isn't allowed to use our ideas. I'm sure no one here would sue them or anything, but I remember there was an episode of Extra Credits (skip to 3 minutes in) that mentioned how game developers are legally obligated to reject listening to ideas to implement into games.

I had a feeling that would be the case... by what about the Raktha? The template was used to make the Pyrachnids (Sp?)

[Stammer6]

I had a feeling that would be the case... by what about the Raktha? The template was used to make the Pyrachnids (Sp?)

I dunno the whole story behind that. Maybe they got a ton of legal stuff out of the way for a couple things (maybe they'll end up flagging us down to their HQ to get us to sign a bunch of legal documents if they decide to take one of our hero ideas). Maybe hero ideas aren't legally a big deal compared to other things. Or maybe Maxis isn't under the same obligation that James from Extra Credits is under.

[ElecManEXE_555]

I doubt they would just randomly come to the forum, copy+paste a specific character into the game and call it done without potential legal ramifications. The idea of someone actually making a successful lawsuit over a non-patented idea like a random fanmade character for a game is rather farfetched regardless, but I still don't think they'd take the chance with all the rediculous lawsuits flying around.

However, I don't think it'd be much of an issue for them to simply ask the creator of the hero to sign over the idea to them. Have 'em sign a waiver giving exclusive rights to the character to Maxis / EA. If the individual won't do that or wants some kind of royalty for it, then Maxis can just refuse. If they sign it over, then problem solved.

There have been fan-created characters in games before. Off the top of my head I know Mega Man 6 had 2 fan-made robot masters that were submitted to Capcom via contests (Wind Man and Knight Man, IIRC). I think Mega Man 8 did as well, maybe even the whole robot master cast for that one. Mind you, those are older games (MM6 especially), but I don't see why it wouldn't be possible even today for a fan-made idea to get into a game. Heck, there are probably more recent games with fan contributions in them, but I don't keep up too much with that sort of thing for most games.

Besides, aren't some of those special elite enemies fan designs, some kind of press contest? Or was that contest for Maxis employees and I'm just remembering wrong?

On a completely different note...

As long as I'm posting in this thread anyway, let me ask you guys a balance question. I'm working on another hero design and I'm going to give him a tornado attack that will function similar to Andromeda's Gravity Storm (channelled, holds enemies in place for the duration and keeps them unable to act). Do you think something like that would be overpowered as a squad ability? Thinking about it, there really aren't very many crowd control squad abilities (Vex's, Sage's, and Magnos / Andromeda's kind of, possibly SRS'), and other than Vex's which has a rather small AoE and a fairly short duration, none of them are actual disables but just movement impairing or temporary knockbacks. Do you think thats intentional for balance purposes, or do you think its just something where there just happen to not be any heroes with such an ability? I'm not sure, personally.

On one hand, I'm all for expanding squad abilities and adding as many new types of squad ability as possible. I've tried to make the squad abilities of my created heroes at least in some way distinctly different from existing squad abilities (Poleous has a charge squad ability which nothing else has, Gigavolt has the only squad ability that does both types of damage without a DoT and the only taunt squad ability, and Gemini has the only buffing squad ability that can be applied to allies). Having a channelled CC squad ability would certainly be unique.

But on the other hand... maybe giving every character access to a powerful crowd control ability would be too much. Right now a character either has a great CC move, or doesn't. Squad abilities do little to change that. You can get a few limited CC abilities via squadmates, but for the most part you need them naturally either as your unique ability or variant ability (for Plasma heroes anyway). And maybe thats a good thing, requiring you to actually use a CC character rather than just putting a character on your squad and being able to CC with anything.

But as the counterpoint to that... you aren't really required to use a specific character for much of anything besides whether their basic attack is physical or ranged. Any character can heal with the right squadmates, any character can be given pretty good AoE damage moves or pretty good single-target moves via squad ability, so maybe anything should be able to CC as well.

I really don't know. Any input you guys have on the matter would be appreciated.

[Stammer6]

I see nothing wrong with a crowd-control squad ability as long as it's balanced in terms of power cost.

If Shadow Cloak, Strangling Briars, and Sporogenesis are allowed to be squad abilities, having something powerful like that shouldn't be problematic.

Also, Vex's squad ability is a full disable. Enemies can't attack or move, and even their projectiles freeze in place. It's not a long duration, but it is a full stop.

[Evex_Wolfwing]

However, I don't think it'd be much of an issue for them to simply ask the creator of the hero to sign over the idea to them. Have 'em sign a waiver giving exclusive rights to the character to Maxis / EA. If the individual won't do that or wants some kind of royalty for it, then Maxis can just refuse. If they sign it over, then problem solved.

There have been fan-created characters in games before. Off the top of my head I know Mega Man 6 had 2 fan-made robot masters that were submitted to Capcom via contests (Wind Man and Knight Man, IIRC). I think Mega Man 8 did as well, maybe even the whole robot master cast for that one. Mind you, those are older games (MM6 especially), but I don't see why it wouldn't be possible even today for a fan-made idea to get into a game. Heck, there are probably more recent games with fan contributions in them, but I don't keep up too much with that sort of thing for most games.

I remember that when Godzilla: Unleashed was being developed, a poll was held to decide which one of four original kaiju would be in the game. Not exactly the same, but still, I suppose the Devs could offer to put one of our guys/girls/hermaphroditic thingys in the game. (I'M not too sure on Strep's gender, and I made him...)

... Sigh... Off topic, but I wish Lightning Bug had won the poll... Serious lack of females in that game. But hey, Obsidious is cool...

Anyways, I've pretty much got most of my guys figured out, I just need to do a few more, and do artwork for most of them. I'm just going to run them by to see what you guys have to say.

(Please note that these are all WIP, and may change drastically.)

In no particular order...

-Revind, the Temporal Stalker (Quantum Sentinel, Deals energy damage and shuts down opponents.)
-Conquer, the Steel Behemoth (Cyber Sentinel, melees, yay.)
-Motion, the Kinetic Anomaly (Quantum Sentinel, female, different build from most sentinels, can deal increased damage by taking hits with one ability.)
-Roask, the Pyrokinetic Swordsman (Plasma Sentinel, fire based, looks like Godzilla with a FLAMING BROADSWORD)
-Diomedas, the Ravenous Nightmare (Necro Sentinel, creepy as #$%& female, drains health and consumes corpses for enrages, makes up for comparatively squishy defenses.)
-Krieg, the Thunder Wing (Plasma Ravager, ranged Lightning,temporary Atk spd buffs for killing enemies. DRAGON.)
-Thunder, the Charged Menace (Plasma Sentinel, lightning, slow, but with a long reach, also huge. I mean huge.)
-Gevauda, the Beast of Verdanth (Bio Sentinel, trying to make her usable, unlike Arborus and Savage. Xp)
-Saturn, the Halo Mage (Quantum Tempest, heals)
-Floresta, the Petal Blade (Bio Ravager, female, melee, charge/teleport Squad ability.)
-Cancer, the Decaying Beast (Necro Sentinel, slow, but with pets that suicide bomb to deal damaging curses.)
-Gilese, the Particle Marksman (Quantum Ravager, Sniper)
-Rouge, the Berserk Combot (Cyber Ravager, Melee,female, high damage, but recoils sometimes, EVANGELION UNIT-01)
-Nyralaziest, the Unspeakable Horror (Necro Tempest, fears, your basic Lovecraftian horror)
-Mark-7, the Laser Gunslinger (Cyber Ravager, Ranged, low damage auto, but really fast cooldown. Looks a bit like a cowboy Raytheoid)
-Locust, the Swarming Hunter (Necro Ravager, melee, can make a copy of himself)
-Talos, the Impenetrable Shield (Cyber Tempest, grants defensive buffs to allies.)
-Spike, the Thorn Launcher (Bio Ravager, ranged, projectile pierce)
-Fyre, the Enkindler (Plasma Tempest, Female, heals)

That should be everyone...

[Terminal_6]

Ok, I have an answer to our problem. Have Maxis HIRE us. They don't have to pay us, but can use our creations, right? I'm kidding, ok?
OK now, back on topic.

Taua, The All-Seeing Master
Female, Bio Sentinel

Taua was a Verdanthi scientist studying anatomy, until a field experiment brought her to Crogenitor Astra's labratory. Astra altered Taua, enabling her to use her knowledge as a weapon, corrupting her enemies from the inside out. Taua injected her enemies with powerful toxins, or distorted their brainwaves by projecting her own.

Appearance: Alright, take a velociraptor, and make it larger in general. Add five decently sized spikes to the tail, extend the arms, and make the head slightly larger.

Weapon: Lance

1st Abilty: Toxic Slam --- Taua injects the target with poison via her lance, dealing high damage and poisoning the target.

Passive Ability: Energy Replenish --- Increases amount of party member's energy by x amount.

Variable Ability: Enrage, Virulent Vines, Life Leech --- Steals health from all nearby enemies, and uses the health to restore nearby friendly units, Parasite Bomb --- Taua fires a projectile that deals high damage to an enemy after threee seconds.

Squad Ability: Neuron Divider --- Taua telepathically disturbs multiple enemies brainwaves, inflicting a random disease. i.e. Fear, Poison, etc.

[Cavalier639]

Nice to see so many new faces around here. Keep up your good work.

i once hosted a community poll for the heroes from this thread, and made it through the first set (A set consists of forty with eight rounds with five choices each) before people lost interest and it drifted back into obscurity. The first set's winner was Voltek-051, a cCyber Ravager. I've debated about reinstating set two or not. it all depends on how many people would participate. Would any of you?

[Stammer6]

I would.

Would we be allowed to submit all of our ideas or just like one or two of our favourites? I've already got five heroes going, and Mr. Wolfwing over there has got like twenty XD

[CrogenitorSeims]

Nice to see so many new faces around here. Keep up your good work.

i once hosted a community poll for the heroes from this thread, and made it through the first set (A set consists of forty with eight rounds with five choices each) before people lost interest and it drifted back into obscurity. The first set's winner was Voltek-051, a cCyber Ravager. I've debated about reinstating set two or not. it all depends on how many people would participate. Would any of you?

I might, I forget what's in set 2 though.

I think more people would've voted in the other rounds if the poll option hadn't glitched-out.


Anyway, I forget which round my Ravatron was in, but I've been working on him lately. Any feedback?

[Terminal_6]

I would definitely participate. I wasn't veiwing this thread during your last polls, but would sure as heck vote.

[ElecManEXE_555]

I think you need to make a new thread if you decide to start up the poll again, and make the name a bit more obvious and straightforward.

The old topic's name is just a bunch of letters and it makes it incredibly cryptic. I know its an acronym for the title, but a topic name consistent of a bunch of random (random to someone who doesn't already know what it stands for, at least) letters isn't going to do much to draw anyone in.

Putting it in the General forum instead of the Spotlight forum would help too, since that forum seems to get the most people, though I'm not sure if it would actually belong there and might end up getting moved back here to Spotlight by the mods anyway.

As for Stammer's question of whether we'd be able to submit multiple heroes... the way he ran the first poll was by simply going through this thread (New Hero Ideas) and listing, in order, every complete hero posted. If he did round 2 using the same bracket (the round 2 bracked is posted in the voting thread), then the cutoff would be well before this page, so unless you posted a hero earlier in the thread then it probably wouldn't make it into round 2. My first hero just makes the cut for round 2 because I posted him a while back. But nothing says it can't go to round 3 and beyond if there's actually a decent amount of people voting (unless he doesn't want to go that far).

That is, assuming the vote is run like before.

[Stammer6]

the way he ran the first poll was by simply going through this thread (New Hero Ideas) and listing, in order, every complete hero posted. If he did round 2 using the same bracket (the round 2 bracked is posted in the voting thread), then the cutoff would be well before this page,

Fair enough. Yeah, my first hero post was like two pages ago so they wouldn't be in.

Oh well. I've got three more incoming :3
Chronus, the Time Legionnaire -- Quantum Sentinel -- Uses a spear to attack and manipulates time to his advantage
Vesuvius, the Igneus Ancient -- Plasma Sentinel -- Uses a giant hammer to attack and uses his rocky hide to tank damage
(and a Cyber Ravager who is on the drawing board... it flies with wings and attacks with talons on its feet)

[Cavalier639]

As long as people make heroes and vote, I'll keep organizing sets. Remember, every part of the sheet needs to be completed.

[Stammer6]

As long as people make heroes and vote, I'll keep organizing sets. Remember, every part of the sheet needs to be completed.

"every part of the sheet needs to be completed"? o.O

[Cavalier639]

...and its up.

[Terminal_6]

I made a guy on page 21 called TBE-4. I made an illustration of him, here.
http://feralinstinct.deviantart.com/art/TBE-4-215914690
Sorry about being lazy with the link. The picture is enlarged, so it looks somewhat crappy. The original is very small, less than 4" by 4".

[Stammer6]

Oh yeah, by the way guys, I've got a tip for everyone making new heroes:

The names of heroes are all very closely related and can be categorized by various ways in each genesis. As I'm sure many people have been coming up with really unique names, making them less unique may actually improve your chances of your hero being accepted by Maxis!

Cyber heroes have "greater" names. Names corresponding to Biblical events or somehow related to dieties. (Even the "42" in SRS-42's name can be affiliated with a greater meaning).

Quantum heroes have astronomical names. Andromeda, for example, is a galaxy, while Orion is a constellation.

Plasma heroes have energy- or fire-related names. "Blitz", for example, meaning "doing something with a lot of energy".

Necro heroes are named from things typically related to darkness and evil. Self-explanatory.

Bio heroes have plant- or poison-related names. Again, pretty self-explanatory.

Consider all of these when naming your heroes. You of course don't have to take it seriously, but I thought it might help you out when naming them. I was going to name my Cyber Ravager something along the lines of "Talon" until I realized that Cyber hero names went by a specific pattern. Now I'm naming him "Heron", after a bird referenced in the bible.