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Creative Fantasy Unit Ideas

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Fhizban
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I have the base units for my upcoming fantasy wargame almost ready. Some of you already know it - its called gods & minions and will be a collectible dice game that uses dice to display the troops (yes, a crazy idea - even more crazy trying to build this thing actually!).

So, here we have a list of the three starting races. There are currently 8 units per race, but i want 4 additional units for each race and you could help me brainstorming! as the base units are already done, i need something shiny that really stands out and is fun to collect, but it may not be too "uber".

that would be 36 dice in the coreset, wich is enough to provide the players with something to collect and play in a while. i would like to do more, but this is also a cost issue.

DWARVES
1. Halfbeard, light infantry
2. Crossbowman
3. Ram Rider Cavalry
4. axeman
5. pikeman
6. hammerman
7. gunner with musket
8. longbeard, heavy elite infantry
9-12. ???

WOOD ELVES
1. scout
2. wood elf savage
3. archer
4. spearman
5. swordman
6. cavalry
7. wolfkin / elf-wolf crossover
8. bearkin / elf-bear crossover
9-12. ???

NIGHT GOBLINS (working title)
1. scout
2. wolf rider
3. raider, light infantry
4. warrior, heavy infantry
5. archer
6. spearman
7. fanatic, ball & chain
8. kamikaze, with bomb on back
9-12. ???

Okay and now the real challenge, the new units may NOT be of certain types - as these types are reserved for future expansions of the game. the forbidden types are:

A. Big War-Machines or Artillery
B. Spellcasters
C. Personalities or unique Characters
D. Elementals or big monsters
E. standard bearers or musicians

I am looking forward to your creative ideas (this could become a cool brainstorming thread actuallly).

Redcap
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Dwarves: Miner

Dwarves:
Miner (Pickaxeman)
Rock Hurler
Berserker
Beastmaster
Shieldmen
Padfoot (Spy/drawven equivalent)
Hammer Wielder
Tactician

Wood Elves:
Raven-kin
Serpent-kin
Owl-kin
Tree-kin?
Herbalist
Horsemen

Night Goblins
(My first thought is that there is nothing too special about your goblins, they seem like the typical stero-type goblin. Maybe brainstorm some cool ideas that make the night part of their name be more thematic. For example have them ride bats instead of wolves, and then also give them units that aren't already in the game. I.E. Scout But just my initial thought) Anyway, your game sounds awesome all the same so back onto some ideas.
Bat Rider
Shadow Stalker (Assassin)
Cult man (Sacrafice units for special ability?)
Needler (Poison darts)
Spider Rider
Tunneler

Just random thoughts, enjoy.

Fhizban
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hey, thanks for the reply -

hey, thanks for the reply - already very useful!

ah - no spiders for the goblins (because there will be swamp goblins too later on, they will get all the spidery stuff)

yeah, the units have much cooler names in the game but i thought you wont be able to understand/imagine if i post the original name (right now they all sounds quite sterotypical, but it doesnt help when i call them "defender of the kings hall" here)

the bat rider is cool and there will be a eagle rider for the wood elves.

i also take your idea of the "rock hurler" and combine it with the bat rider instead. so we now have rock hurling giant-bat rider that is part of the night goblin army. thats a cool dice - in game and also to collect!

we could have some steam stuff or the dwarves - like "steam knights" or something like that, but i dont want to add too many cavalry to them.

Redcap
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Sent you a pm so check your

Sent you a pm so check your messages. ;)

I usually don't so thought to just give you a heads up.

Fhizban
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@redcap *feels honored*

@redcap *feels honored*

deFunkt29
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Looks like a really neat

Looks like a really neat game! I think the dwarf and elf units are coming along really nicely, but the goblins could use a bit of work. They seem a bit too usual/warhammer-y to me. Bat riders sound like a really sweet idea to me though, as does an assassin type unit. Maybe a crazed goblin? Or a horde or smaller goblins? I'm sure you'll think of something.

For dwarves what about a larger gun on a ram-rider? I don't mean artillery (as you are saving this for an expansion) but maybe just like a big dual barreled hunting rifle or something that also has the mobility of a ram. Might have some interesting rolls to it.

Awesome idea!
deFunkt

heavyrocks
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I like Wolfkin and Bearkin a

I like Wolfkin and Bearkin a lot.

For Dwarves:
-Blacksmith (armor enhancer?)
-Miner (as mentioned, possible combo with Blacksmith)
-Super-armor-clad Berserker

For Elves:
-Tree kin/Herbalist/Woodcutter (maybe not a spellcaster, but someone who can use/make trees)
-Tree glider

For Goblins:
-Zombie Goblin ("Zomboblin"?)
Maybe better for an expansion with spellcasters, a Necromancoblin could create them

Fhizban
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A ram with a gun or a

A ram with a gun or a ballista on it sounds cool. I have seen this in another game i think, but who cares!

I would also add a Miner to the dwarves (two of you mentioned it, and i already thought about - who does not when designing dwarves?) - but, what would be so special about miners?

ah berserker for the dwarves is also a good idea

and maybe stag riders for the elves?

heavyrocks
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A miner could give you

A miner could give you resources, as could an elven woodcutter

Cogentesque
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I was thinking that you could

I was thinking that you could probably get a lot of mileage out of _riders. As you have done already,
Stag-Riders
Drake-Riders
Dragon-Riders
Phoenix-Pilots
Lizard-Cavalry
The Tortoise-Brigade (slow but powerful)
Elephantines
Wyrm-Tamers
Lion-Drivers
Insect-Warriors

anything like that could bolt in pretty easily I think man (perhaps standard units but slightly increased movement?)

If you wanted something awesome and cool and shiny but not uber-powerful you have to think what is popular and cool and something you could just go "wow..that's cool" even if it's not a powerful unit. People like pets and people like hybrids. People also like super powerful things or weird creatures too. So all suggestions so far sound pretty cool :)

Also some kind of trapper would be cool. One for each race even?

Dwarven UnderMiners
Elven Trappers
Goblin Primers

-Each one lays traps for the enemy units

heavyrocks
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What about a unit that's a

What about a unit that's a Elf traitor working for the Goblins, or a spy of some sort?

Fhizban
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thanks so much for your

thanks so much for your replies!

so after exchanging a few thoughts with cogentesque, i thought it would be a good idea to incorporate two concepts in the base set wich where reserved for the future expansions: war-machines and magic. i will tap only a little bit into these concepts (1 unit each, with the exception of dwarves who have no magic but one additonal war-machine), but enough to provide players with an extra layer of tactics and possibilities. so the additional units so far are:

DWARF
1. ram rider with gun
2. a dwarven artillery (maybe a mortar)
3+4 still ???

ELF
1. eagle riders
2. a magician
3+4 still ???

GOBLIN
1. bat riders
2. catapult
3. magician
4 still ???

do you have anymore ideas?

heavyrocks
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Goblin Cannibal - consumes

Goblin Cannibal - consumes friendly units for boost

Flagbearers - give bonus to nearby friendly units

Gideonbob
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More ideas

Sorry if any of these are repeat suggestions. It's a big list to keep a hold of...

Hunters, gatherers, or farmers - boost life for friendly troops
Blacksmith - builds or improves weapons
Burrower / builder - adds defense but limits movement
suicide bomber .. I think it's clear what he does
Saboteur - bonus to destroy machines
Entertainer / juggler - focuses enemy fire on himself

Catelf
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Some from me, too.

Dwarves:
* Miner/UnderMiner
First time they are used, they get a bonus to their attack, representing that they dig up from below, causing an enemy unit to fall down into their hole, which they then attack.
The chosen unit should be random.
After that, they climb up, and may continue fighting, but they don't get any second bonus.
* Baker
Makes stone-hard bread, edible to Dwarfs ..... may heal other dwarves, and may also use cookies as thrown projectiles, and a loafer for fighting.

Wood Elves:
* Dryads
They use Trees, Roots .... and themselves ... to bind, or otherwise (ahem) occupy the opponents.
The bound are not removed, but may return if the Dryad that bound them gets busy with another opponent/unit.
* Log people
Looks like elves with a wooden appearence .... and murky holes in their backs.
In non-war time, Dryads use them to easier seduce humans ... but this is war.
They are essentially a kind of "wood robots", that during war is controlled by tiny pixes.
They are very slow, but counts as armored.

Goblins:
* Spewers
Just for battle, they have eaten something really .... bad ...
* Poison Arrowers
Must wait turns to prepare the poison, and after that, their attacks are more powerful than other arrowers.

Tribalxgecko
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Let's see what I have in my

Let's see what I have in my inventory of unused names at the moment...your welcome to any.

Goblins:
-Goblin Brawler
-Goblin Grunt
-Goblin Brigand
-Goblin Giant
-Night Caller
-Night Runner
-Darkling
-Shadow Scout

Dwarves
-x-bow Sniper
-Boulder Warden
-Axe Thrower
-Forgemaster
-Cavern Guard
-Steelhelm Warrior
-Steelhelm Berzerker

Elves
-Maplewood Sniper (or any other type of wood)
-Dryads, Nymphs, or other fey?
-Morning Scout
-Archer-Mage
-Elven Trailblazer
-Elven Pathfinder
-Winter's Guardian (Or other seasonal guardian)

About all I have at the moment that is not setting specific.

Fhizban
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thanks tribal, there is quite

thanks tribal, there is quite a lot in this list i can use

also i want to thank all others, my list is quite full now!

i keep you informed about future developments

Cogentesque
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Tribal wins the prize for the

Tribal wins the prize for the most awesome names

Maplewood Sniper = Genius btw.

Fitz, you totally have to have a "Maplewood Sniper2 in honour of our friend here, I really dig that name ^^. Perhaps he can be the upgraded/named/god version of a Maplewood SharpShooter or something?

-ace.

Fhizban
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haha - okay, i just wrote a

haha - okay, i just wrote a note to include maplewood sniper in one of the expansions

i also like how tribal builds his unit names, he used this concept for his own game (there is thread about his coreset elsewhere in this forum). i really like the double word combination names like Steelhelm/Warrior - this way you can make a whole subset of warriors prefixed with "Steelhelm".

but, cogentesque, your rider ideas where also good - as well as the ideas of the other posters too! i took notes and copied it into a special "names" file on my pc.

Cogentesque
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^_^ hooray! :D remember Fitz,

^_^ hooray! :D

remember Fitz, it's super easy to get lost in too much stuff!

I asked BGG for card ideas for my postapocalyptic caravan game called AtomPunk - I think we stopped at about 120 card ideas o_O

But Maplewood sniper = Definite!

heavyrocks
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It's better to have too many

It's better to have too many ideas to pick from than not enough. More fodder for expansions!

Tribalxgecko
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Haha, thanks Cogent & Fhiz. I

Haha, thanks Cogent & Fhiz. I do try ;)

I do use a lot of double named type stuff within a single faction, since it gives it a expansive sort of feel. Like factions within factions. And you can also build more story and fluff, or give character to different sections. For example, in my game the savage humanoid faction (made up of orcs, trolls, ogres, etc) has a section known as Steelclaw's (Steelclaw Ogre, Steelclaw Savage, Steelclaw Treejumper). Nothing major on their own, but people find them interesting due to the story aspect of this side faction. They are basically the ogres (rulers of the savage races) scientific hybrid experiments. They remove limbs from various individuals and graft weapons of steel in place. So the Steelclaw Ogre, for example, has huge blades that replace its forearms. You can actually see a sketch I did here:

The pic is crap cause I don't have a scanner, so it is a photo, but still. Gives you an idea...

http://acskirmish.com/Images/Steelclaw_Ogre.png

HandwrittenAnthony
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If you're still looking for suggestions...

If you're still looking for suggestions, I have a couple. Sorry for the delay, but I only saw this thread tonight!

Even if you don't need them any more, maybe they'll be helpful later for you or someone else?

DWARVES
Runesmith
Clockwork Guard
Hammer-Bearer
Fire-whiskey Brawler (think Dwarf crossed with drunken monk combat)
Diamond Blade

WOOD ELVES
Lore-Knight (warrior librarian)
Arboreal Shaman
Webspinner Rogue
Leaf Paladin

GOBLINS
Faerie-Catchers (big net, maybe a hapless fae attached by a string)
Rockback (goblins who carry a boulder for so long it sinks into their back)
Firewheel Spinner (a goblin who spins dynamite firewheels...we don't credit goblins with much survival instinct, do we?)
Globulant Hulk
Goblin Law-Master

Good luck with Gods & Minions!

Also, +1 Tribal's suggestion of Maplewood Sniper - that's a really clear, evocative name.

Fhizban
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@HandwrittenAnthony: Thanks,

@HandwrittenAnthony: Thanks, but my list is full already - i keep some of the ideas for later.

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