[WIP] Divine Aid : Looking for Suggestions
Posted: Sat May 22, 2021 1:46 pm
I recently started writing a Divine Aid mod because I wanted to address the lack of summoning in the game, and I didn't like the way later Elder Scrolls games implemented summoning.
The more recent games allowed Conjuration summoning spells, but I don't like the idea of snapping your fingers and summoning creatures that throw their lives away on the character's behalf. I also don't like the predictability and level of control the spells offer. (Note: I may write a Create Atronach spell mod after completing this mod)
I am nearing completion of the Divine Aid mod, with most of the basic mechanics already implemented. At this point I would like to invite any additional suggestions/comments before polishing it up and releasing it.
Here is the rundown of how the mod currently functions:
-If the character has a reputation higher than zero with any god at character creation, they will be granted a divine Focus item to use for prayer/summoning; this is usually achieved by answering the 'What god, if any, do you worship?' question with something other than 'None'. The item itself uses the standard ReligousItem/Talisman graphic, except that it is considered to be a summoned item to prevent the player from accidentally losing it. The reported item condition is directly correlated with the character's reputation with their chosen deity(e.g. item condition 'New' implies high reputation with the chosen divine). The divine reputation is used to determine success when praying for a boon.
-When the player Uses the Focus item, a boon *may* be granted depending on divine reputation and current conditions. Most boons (like summoning) only occur when the character is in combat.
-If a summoning is granted, the summon type is particular to the character's god, the character's language skills, and the location of the summoning (ground units, air units, underwater units). The possible summon types are correlated with the language skills offered at the Divine's temple. If the character doesn't have any appropriate language skill, they will be limited to animal (non-speaking) summons only. The reason language skill is needed is because the summons is not guaranteed to be allied with the player; the god is less likely to grant the summon unless the character has some measure of appropriate language skill. At higher levels, animal summons are no longer provided, so the character must have language skills to continue receiving summons. Furthermore, all gods can potentially provide an appropriate human summon, if the character is able to get their etiquette/streetwise skills high enough.
- More than one summon might be granted if reputation is high enough and/or there are multiple enemies.
-There is a time limit to the summons, dependent on divine reputation, after which they are unsummoned and returned to whence they came. If a summoned creature is reduced to zero health, they will be whisked away to prevent them from dying, and presumably healed.
-The character can only pray for aid so often, typically every few hours dependent on divine reputation. If a significant boon is granted, the character will likely lose a bit of reputation with their god. Divine Aid is meant to be an occasional tool for the player to use, it is not a crutch.
-Other general boons that all gods can grant include healing, fatigue reduction, curing paralysis, and breath (when swimming).
-There are other deity-specific boons that might be granted in lieu of a summons, currently these are:
Akatosh: Increase player speed, decrease enemy speed in area
Arkay: pacify undead (dependent on willpower)
Dibella: charm human-like enemies (dependent on luck)
Julianos: restore magicka
Kynareth: levitate indoors, fly (fast levitate) outdoors. Currently the only non-combat boon available.
Mara: pacify humans (dependent on personality)
Stendarr: pacify humanoids (humans, orcs, etc.) (dependent on willpower)
Zenithar: likely to find extra gold on enemies
...of course I'm open to other ideas.
-Current list of per-deity summons:
Akatosh: Dragonling, Fire Daedra, Daedroth, Knight, Monk
Arkay: Frost Daedra, Daedroth, Sorcerer, Assassin
(Note: I toyed with the idea of giving Arkay undead summons, but that smacks of necromancy and Arkay is supposed to dislike that)
Dibella: Nymph, Lamia, Daedra Seducer, Orc Sergeant, Orc Shaman, Orc Warlord, Spellsword, Bard, Burglar, Acrobat
Julianos: Imp, Dreugh, Mage, Battlemage, Frost Daedra, Fire Daedra
Kynareth: Dragonling, Harpy, Fire Daedra, Daedra Seducer, Archer, Healer, Acrobat
Mara: Nymph, Lamia, Harpy, Fire Daedra, Daedra Seducer, Spellsword, Bard, Ranger, Burglar, Thief
Stendarr: Healer, Frost Daedra, Daedroth
(Note: Stendarr is somewhat less combat-oriented)
Zenithar: Centaur, Fire Daedra, Daedroth, Giant, Gargoyle, Harpy, Spriggan, Warrior, Barbarian, Rogue, Nightblade
-Other notes:
-I'm looking into having the player/character occasionally summoned by another, a little tit-for-tat so to speak.
The more recent games allowed Conjuration summoning spells, but I don't like the idea of snapping your fingers and summoning creatures that throw their lives away on the character's behalf. I also don't like the predictability and level of control the spells offer. (Note: I may write a Create Atronach spell mod after completing this mod)
I am nearing completion of the Divine Aid mod, with most of the basic mechanics already implemented. At this point I would like to invite any additional suggestions/comments before polishing it up and releasing it.
Here is the rundown of how the mod currently functions:
-If the character has a reputation higher than zero with any god at character creation, they will be granted a divine Focus item to use for prayer/summoning; this is usually achieved by answering the 'What god, if any, do you worship?' question with something other than 'None'. The item itself uses the standard ReligousItem/Talisman graphic, except that it is considered to be a summoned item to prevent the player from accidentally losing it. The reported item condition is directly correlated with the character's reputation with their chosen deity(e.g. item condition 'New' implies high reputation with the chosen divine). The divine reputation is used to determine success when praying for a boon.
-When the player Uses the Focus item, a boon *may* be granted depending on divine reputation and current conditions. Most boons (like summoning) only occur when the character is in combat.
-If a summoning is granted, the summon type is particular to the character's god, the character's language skills, and the location of the summoning (ground units, air units, underwater units). The possible summon types are correlated with the language skills offered at the Divine's temple. If the character doesn't have any appropriate language skill, they will be limited to animal (non-speaking) summons only. The reason language skill is needed is because the summons is not guaranteed to be allied with the player; the god is less likely to grant the summon unless the character has some measure of appropriate language skill. At higher levels, animal summons are no longer provided, so the character must have language skills to continue receiving summons. Furthermore, all gods can potentially provide an appropriate human summon, if the character is able to get their etiquette/streetwise skills high enough.
- More than one summon might be granted if reputation is high enough and/or there are multiple enemies.
-There is a time limit to the summons, dependent on divine reputation, after which they are unsummoned and returned to whence they came. If a summoned creature is reduced to zero health, they will be whisked away to prevent them from dying, and presumably healed.
-The character can only pray for aid so often, typically every few hours dependent on divine reputation. If a significant boon is granted, the character will likely lose a bit of reputation with their god. Divine Aid is meant to be an occasional tool for the player to use, it is not a crutch.
-Other general boons that all gods can grant include healing, fatigue reduction, curing paralysis, and breath (when swimming).
-There are other deity-specific boons that might be granted in lieu of a summons, currently these are:
Akatosh: Increase player speed, decrease enemy speed in area
Arkay: pacify undead (dependent on willpower)
Dibella: charm human-like enemies (dependent on luck)
Julianos: restore magicka
Kynareth: levitate indoors, fly (fast levitate) outdoors. Currently the only non-combat boon available.
Mara: pacify humans (dependent on personality)
Stendarr: pacify humanoids (humans, orcs, etc.) (dependent on willpower)
Zenithar: likely to find extra gold on enemies
...of course I'm open to other ideas.
-Current list of per-deity summons:
Akatosh: Dragonling, Fire Daedra, Daedroth, Knight, Monk
Arkay: Frost Daedra, Daedroth, Sorcerer, Assassin
(Note: I toyed with the idea of giving Arkay undead summons, but that smacks of necromancy and Arkay is supposed to dislike that)
Dibella: Nymph, Lamia, Daedra Seducer, Orc Sergeant, Orc Shaman, Orc Warlord, Spellsword, Bard, Burglar, Acrobat
Julianos: Imp, Dreugh, Mage, Battlemage, Frost Daedra, Fire Daedra
Kynareth: Dragonling, Harpy, Fire Daedra, Daedra Seducer, Archer, Healer, Acrobat
Mara: Nymph, Lamia, Harpy, Fire Daedra, Daedra Seducer, Spellsword, Bard, Ranger, Burglar, Thief
Stendarr: Healer, Frost Daedra, Daedroth
(Note: Stendarr is somewhat less combat-oriented)
Zenithar: Centaur, Fire Daedra, Daedroth, Giant, Gargoyle, Harpy, Spriggan, Warrior, Barbarian, Rogue, Nightblade
-Other notes:
-I'm looking into having the player/character occasionally summoned by another, a little tit-for-tat so to speak.