Conceding the bestiary

[Mafearaak]

We need true giants/colossi/behemoths/leviathans what ever you want to call them they should be exceedingly rare like one maybe in game had to find in remote places. I'm not asking do all of these, we only need one. But We just need something so huge that when you see it you will tremble in feared em in the greatest of fortresses something that dwarves all buildings/ships (depending on if we have oceans I think I'd actually prefer an ocean monster to a land one then Chris make it it huge and hide it easily). I mean I know no cheesy cliches and such but this game needs something that would be death except for the most powerful (or stupidly lucky and brave) people something that could wipe out a city or ship.

As far as hiding a land one if Chris would prefer a land on it could be like a large mountain and the creature generally sleeps so you'd have to wake it up (or the ai could)

[Hatsune_Neko]

or
just add Gojira

[Mafearaak]

Never heard of him

Ps just realized a typo in title it is suppose to be concerning.

[Set]

Never heard of him

Gojira = Godzilla

Better don't add it.....it's too powerful (+copyright)......but maybe a smaller version of this moving like a wolf pack would be awesome:

[Hatsune_Neko]

Never heard of him

O.O
OMG nuuuu!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Faints.

[Mafearaak]

K now I've heard of him just never as that. I just think we need something bigger like that serpent. Something the size if a a city not just the buildings

[PnzrNorm]

Honestly?
I think its an immense breath of fresh air when Chris wants to create beasts from nothing. It takes a lot of willpower, and creativity, to want full originality instead of just taking the Cerberus and calling it something else.

Chris also mentioned that he wants more carnivorous creatures than the "vegan-looking" ones there.
I think what Chris really wants is to attach wings to a couple of them for decoration and give them either venom or firebreathing powers.

[Santaissick]

I for one, welcome our new chutulu overlords.

[Mafearaak]

Honestly?
I think its an immense breath of fresh air when Chris wants to create beasts from nothing. It takes a lot of willpower, and creativity, to want full originality instead of just taking the Cerberus and calling it something else.

Chris also mentioned that he wants more carnivorous creatures than the "vegan-looking" ones there.
I think what Chris really wants is to attach wings to a couple of them for decoration and give them either venom or firebreathing powers.

I never said I want a already known creature.
I just want something absolutely massive on a terrifying scale.

[PnzrNorm]

I never said I want a already known creature.
I just want something absolutely massive on a terrifying scale.

Wasn't necessarily responding to you as much as the topic of beasts/wildlife in general.

Though it wouldn't be too "uncreative" to give an extremely large creature the maws powerful enough to crush a human in one bite.
Boom, first carnivorous creature and its an end-game raid boss level difficulty (except not really, but using that as a comparison xD).

[Hatsune_Neko]

how about the Bear owl creature from The Croods. or somthing along those lines.

[Mafearaak]

Nah something truly massive. Like along the lines of that picture if that ship is 1700 1st rate ship of the line 3 stories tall with 200 cannon (if I remember right maybe there were less cannons) but imagine that ship...... Not imagine something the size of that monster in in the picture and you can't even see it in its entirety. Now that is the size I'm talking about.

creatures something pike the size of MOUNTIANS. Imagine trying to fight something like that. You'd need an army. BUT they shouldn't be common far from it.

If he makes a land creature that is that big......... You could trick it into following you and destroying your enemies...... But then you have a really pissed off creature the size of a mountain chasing you....... Well nice knowing the people who try that.

[Damon-Vi]

Personally, I like everything in the "official" concept art on the topic post, especially the taller animals more because they all add a nice alien feel to what to expect, and adds more of a foreign look to the game. I would be thoroughly disappointed if I see any animals that already exist implemented into the game (ie: horses, cows, etc.). The game would gain more of a familiarity rather than the exciting mystery it's already offering. I also enjoy the thought that maybe hunting, skinning, leather working, capturing, domesticating, breeding, and cattle ranching would be excellent additions to the game's mechanics. Another way to generate resources and currency, mind you, multiple currency generating options, from just one implementation: animals.

Now the colossal animals presented look very interesting, but how would one hunt or combat them? It might be too soon for most to think of them, seeing as its more of an endgame task, rather than something more practical. They would present more danger, but the world is already dangerous enough with the frequency of bandits gangs just outside of home.

One thing i really have been fantasizing about is hunting. You gain meat from kills, hides from skinning, but what of rare items? Horns, claws, racks, fangs, etc? Trophy items that offer more financial gain just for the sake of value or decoration within builngs. So for starting hunters, this would be worth it when you make kills, maybe more so for dangerous creatures.

And speaking of dangerous creatures, I like how that majority of the concept creatures are herbivores, rather than carnivores. Herbivores are more abundant and prosperous in desolate environments, such as desserts. Although most may be docile, don't forget aggressive, territorial herbivores (rhinos, bulls, buffalo, etc.). We can't forget our carnivores, without them, the food chain wouldn't be, yet carnivores should be more scarse, especially due to how dangerous the land already is. I can't walk 500 meters from shark without being jumped by two squads of dust bandits, hungry bandits, and the occasional ninja. Why would a pack of scavenging animals (hyena equivalent) be fair on top of that?

Thinking more about the practical creatures and our encounters with them should be the main focus as of development stage, rather than the "glory" animals. Think of how the game is on a basic level. I would be completely disappointed with the dev if he put in a "mountain" scale creature in. In regards to the technology - era the game is in, I don't see anything past gunpowder being put in, honestly, it would be obsured. If I see anything develop past flintlocks and muskets, I will boycott them. This game isn't about technology, it's about immersion. Sure, there's electricity, but it's moderately archaic. We don't need swords being implemented with batteries to deal elemental damage, it's like having a middle schooler develop the game. "Now, once you put tanks into the game, let them fight godzilla, and add jet planes, and sky fortress boats too, that'd be soooo kewl." As of now, the game is 'down to earth'. Look at Monster Hunter. Although they get pretty racey with their weapons, they're still pretty basic. Sure, animals the size of elephants to swarm and slay would be interesting, but think of the weapons already in. I don't see how zerging a colossus with men equipped with katanas would seem plausible. You'd just be hacking it's feet. Bows, crossbows, and spears only go so far, especially for an animal like an elephant.

Think of the all around design, with what's already prevalent in the game. Melee combat is the majority. I can understand hunting and fighting a pack of scavengers, maybe a rhino or lion - like creature rarely, but nothing on scale of the *Lao Shan. So less gimmicks, more practicality.


*monster hunter endgame creature

[Voynich]

Well said, Damon-Vi.

[Damon-Vi]

Well said, Damon-Vi.

Sorry if it was really long, I was actually just finding that everyone shooting so high for giant creatures is a bit distracting to the fundamental level of adding animals and mechanics to validate adding said animals.

[Voynich]

No, it wasn't too long. It was right on point. The implications of animals being implemented alone, and all the bells and whistles that come with it, are far more important than having a sort of Moby Dick of the desert to hunt, imo. While it would be cool to come up against something like a Sandworm...it just doesn't sound very "Kenshi" to me. It turns the focus of the end-game away from what I think the game is really going for, which is going from a nobody to the leader of a dominant faction, a force to be reckoned with. You're not a heroic dragonslayer though. I think realistically nothing could take out a monster that big short of big explosive weapons, which I doubt we'll see in game.

[PnzrNorm]

I want to deviate the topic a little bit by just throwing these ideas out there..

Creatures big enough to climb on top and continue fighting atop the corpse

AND

Creatures that need to be killed 'Shadow of the Colossus style'

[Damon-Vi]

I want to deviate the topic a little bit by just throwing these ideas out there..

Creatures big enough to climb on top and continue fighting atop the corpse

AND

Creatures that need to be killed 'Shadow of the Colossus style'

I still don't see ant-swarm tactics as a plausible thing, mainly in regards to the current weapon and combat system. When it comes to killing something, vital points are where deathly blows are made, and without weapons able to penetrate deeply into a creature, or to be able to cripple a creature of large size, I see no point in adding a colossal animal.

Should/could it be added later, most definitely, only when we have the means to kill it, and killing it has some form of benefit or mechanic to the game, so that it's rewarding to have spent all the time you did to slay it.

No, it wasn't too long. It was right on point. The implications of animals being implemented alone, and all the bells and whistles that come with it, are far more important than having a sort of Moby Dick of the desert to hunt, imo. While it would be cool to come up against something like a Sandworm...it just doesn't sound very "Kenshi" to me. It turns the focus of the end-game away from what I think the game is really going for, which is going from a nobody to the leader of a dominant faction, a force to be reckoned with. You're not a heroic dragonslayer though. I think realistically nothing could take out a monster that big short of big explosive weapons, which I doubt we'll see in game.

And the statement made here is also why large creatures wouldn't be practical in this type of game. "It's not kenshi". This is 200% true. Kenshi ISNT about slaying giant creatures. It's about survival and prosperity. Right now, the survival aspect hasn't been fully added. People can go indefinitely without sleeping, nor do they need to consume food or water. The sustenance aspect is crippled due to the lack of being able to produce food and water at an early stage. Going to the bar or 'trade' building are the only options for beginners to purchase food and drink, which is all well and good, but puts a major speed bump on making money to advance you further.

If animals were introduced, you could hunt early on for low grade animals to cook and keep you well fed, but it takes a lot of time to get to the point of building a well or growing crops. Animals as a food source would help things to start with, which makes them functional to the goal of a survival game, surviving. Not to forget, if skinning (and the other mechanics involved I mentioned earlier) were also added, you could supplement money to purchase early-game food from vendors.

My point is to suggest more fundamental additions to the game, that actually enhance the game in its current state rather than "grand - scale, epic battle of ultimate glory" creatures.

[arthoz]

I for one, welcome our new chutulu overlords.

Yay! We share the same faith !

Lovecration creatures are insane...reading the literature doesn't give me any sense of horror but for a long time afterwards it felt like my mind is unhinged trying to absorb his writings...

If you talk about bestiary then I think Dark Souls 2 could give nice examples of scary creatures...got hooked on it by a friend...never knew such game ever existed...it's terrifying and you could die at any wrong step you took...the boss fight...felt like smashing my face into the keyboard...back to the point, not only the bestiary should look great (artful design could only go so far) but it's behaviour must be so scary that even with a team of veteran squad the players will always stay cautious.

Every gamers over time will develop a certain playstyle... certain cookie cutter technique...but a game like Dark Soul 2, you must always stay focus and readjust your playstyle...I played as sorcerer and had to learn SHIELD PARRY just to defeat a bos after a dozen or two of defeat...it took me days to overcome my attachment to magic user mentality of dodging the hit and learning to take it head on...

Back to the point in relation to the aforementioned game, not only the bestiary should look great (artful design could only go so far) but it's behaviour must be so scary that even with a team of veteran squad the players will always stay cautious.

Ok let me contribute something which might be useful for the game design since chris is looking for carnivourus creature...


+Poisonous bloated bullfrog monster:
-skin is poisonous or acidic which could hurt or damage/destroy weapons. Body is also bloated with corrosive poison. The poison also cause affect fighting skills.
-Sharp weapons could kill it quickly but might cause damage which is bad on the long run especially during travel.
-Blunt weapons would work but there's a chance that a critical attack would cause it to burst with gut juice that cause poison and damage armour.
-Range attack would work too but allow for it to be able to close in to the shooter and have a massive hitpoint. Also sharp range hits cause it to give out corrosive poison spray.
=>You could trap this animal and use it as material to make exotic products...yep it's hard to defeat in fight but you could trap it but since it lives a group...there might be other's close by...
=>You could domesticate it into sort of a boobytrap guardog...good to damage enemies' arms and armours and could hurt a crowd.


+A large Centipede:
-a centipede doesn't sound so original...a large centipede the size of a large snake...well could be scary...but what makes it scarier is that it could do sudden jump/lunge and latch onto a squad member for a few moments or maybe longer...causing that person to go into a crazy dance...like what people do when a bee climb down the back of their shirt...
-Make it a swarm of centipede...a solo unit would be helpless as it will have centipedes latching on and off and would soon be consumed by the swarm...
-Good dodging, reflexs or parry could prevent it from latching onto the body and high endurence would reduce the time it would latch on....
-Using range attacks? Centipede likes to hide and could move very fast...so you better not be alone when you come across one...
-Make it rare in other parts of the world where only a few appear (1-3) but the swarm (5-10) are spawned in several random location but that location should have a certain type of environment so players would be able to guess...and also the swarm will go on active hunting mode and very agressive at night...so you could spots the signs from dead animals and bones...
=>trap them or rear some from their eggs...crunchy food supply...but also think of the chaos you could do with a centipede launcher/shooter against a group of enemy.


+A starfish...on land
-it's more like a pest that prey on domesticated animals(spawn near farm or habitation) and garbage pile (so you could add garbage function that would attract and spawn this creature)...it doesn't kill animal but nip at them making it diseased and not producing any material is processed. Also cause damage to farms and reducing its productivity.
-maybe not a dangerous thing but annoying like a bug moving on its five leglike tendrils...emits a miasma that cause skills and stats penalties along with slower healing rate to anyone close to it...(having a few of it crawling in your compound near the beds would not be good...) if attacked it will fight back with painfull sprays of spikes...
-could also spawn a massive/collosal version that moves slowly as it turns the soil underneath it barren and kill any animals close to it...also drops smaller spawnling as it move...so players must deal with tiny spawns circling it while whitling down this big monster.
=>here you could place an environmental issue into the game...cause a lot of damage/garbage/dead-bodies-from-big-wars and these scavengers will be around spreading disease and spawning....a large enough concentration will spawn a larger one that will slowly grow and left alone have a chance to become so masive that the players could not ignore it as it turns the countryside into a lifeless wasteland...
P.S. cannibals are immune to this creature...they got lots in their camp...


So what I'm also trying to point out is that animals should also have a wide range of link that would affect the player's world and provide a good selection of things we could interract with it....also to prevent it from disrupting NPC you could program them to avoid each other with a small percentage of aggresive confrontation...

[Mafearaak]

First off. I do NOT want copies of other creatures I want Chris's own creature kenshi style on an absolutely massive scale.

Second off. They should not be creatures that you would willingly seek out they would be the hardest creatures in game that could wipe out a city in minutes if they wanted.

Third. I'd prefer a sea creature simply because then it can hide, and you aren't going to be expecting an attack of it attacks your ship is probably done for. What I want it a kenshi style sea monster that is as nigh as MOUNTIANS.