Asian Marauder ants!

[fat sigma]

Hi everyone!

I am a huge fan of your game Empires of the Undergrowth too! I am also a 10 year old antkeeper and I would really like to see my favorite ant species added to the game:
The Asian Marauder ants!
I love them because they are polymorphic with many different casts of ants equipped with powerful bites and stings.

I wonder how many of us would like to see that happening!
Could you please reply if you are interested as well to get some traction and have a chance to make that happen?

Thank you!!

Fat Sigma






Best,



Olivier

 

[ahyesants]

Asian marauder ants are an interesting species;
If they were to be added, they wouldn't be part of the story.
Could be part of an ereptor colony, but we'll see a devs/mike's opinion on this.

 

[ahyesants]

Not part of the story since the story has finished, btw.

 

[fat sigma]

Yes, that was what I was thinking too. However, once more players finish the story mode, they will be playing in skirmish/freeplay. Thus, this colony could be potentially added in freeplay or skirmish. What do you think?

 

[ahyesants]

Yes, that was what I was thinking too. However, once more players finish the story mode, they will be playing in skirmish/freeplay. Thus, this colony could be potentially added in freeplay or skirmish. What do you think?

Hm, maybe, as a full colony I'm not very sure,
Don't know about the whole ants riding supermajor feature either, could just be mounting but with a few changes.
I think the most probable option if it were to be added would be an ereptor unit.
Also probably not on the primary colony, since that one has all the units it needs.
Maybe if an ereptor editor (being able to customize which species are in an ereptor colony for Freeplay) comes, the devs might add additional units that you could select.

 

[fat sigma]

Oh! That is a good idea. What are your insights regarding what could go wrong if the Marauder ants were to be a full colony?

 

[ahyesants]

Oh! That is a good idea. What are your insights regarding what could go wrong if the Marauder ants were to be a full colony?

Not that anything would go wrong, for a full colony I think it has to be like this:
-Works with EotU's nesting and pheromone system.
-Brings something new, like the supermajor mounting for said marauder ants.
But just because a species meets these criteria doesn't mean the devs will add it. And making a whole new species takes time.
Usually I'd say to put it over on the discord, but you're not 13 yet, so I'd say wait until mike (the community manager) sees this and he'll maybe reply with a better answer.
Marauder ants are suggested a decent amount of times, although I don't recall mike giving his opinion on this.

 

[fat sigma]

Ok, I will take your advice and wait for Mike/devs to drop a comment. I also chose this ant species because according to my research, Marauder ants' nesting systems and their pheromone trails are compatible with EotU's nesting and pheromone system. Yet, they do have special features that would make them a great addition to the game such as mounting with supermajors and a knock back effect with the supermajor slamming its head on the ground stunning all enemies (including itself) within a short range.

 

[ahyesants]

Ok, I will take your advice and wait for Mike/devs to drop a comment. I also chose this ant species because according to my research, Marauder ants' nesting systems and their pheromone trails are compatible with EotU's nesting and pheromone system. Yet, they do have special features that would make them a great addition to the game such as mounting with supermajors and a knock back effect with the supermajor slamming its head on the ground stunning all enemies (including itself) within a short range.

The driver ants in tier 5 have a knockback, but your concept seems interesting.

 

[fat sigma]

I have given a lot of thought to this possible addition.

May I suggest the following:
- workers cost 30 food to place and 3 food to hatch
- soldiers cost 40 food to place and 4 food to hatch
- sub-majors cost 80 food to place and 8 food to hatch
- majors cost 170 food to place and 15 food to hatch
- super majors cost 350 food to place and 40 food to hatch

- Workers will help around in the nest and collect food at the start of the level
- Soldiers will be one of the main attack forces of the colony, foraging for food and adding to the overall threat level.
- Sub-majors are part of the major cast and will help defend the soldiers while looking for food. These ants are good for defending food sources such as aphids and caterpillars.
- Majors are good for gathering food, posing as a much more powerful soldier, and for attacking stronger enemies. They are similar to the Leafcutter Ant Media. However, it is slightly larger and much more powerful.
- Super majors are extremely powerful, acting as a tank with its crushing jaws and deadly sting. These ants can collect food but are much more efficient when being used for offense and defense.

All types of ants will have one ability or more such as listed below.

- worker: sting (All stings are an instant burst of damage instead of DOT or poison.)
- soldier: sting
- sub-major: sting and confusion (Confusion is when the ant stings and the enemy becomes temporarily confused or distracted like when the rove beetles spray those fumes.)
- major: sting, execute, and carry (Carry is when a larger ant such as a major or a super major can carry other smaller ants on its back.)
- super major: sting, execute, carry, and knock back (Knock back is when a super major slams its head on the ground launching enemies backward, stunning them and itself temporarily.)

Ants can collect different amounts of food per level.

- worker: 6, 8, 10
- soldier: 10, 13, 16
- sub-major: 17, 20, 23
- majors: 25, 27, 30
- super major: 30, 35, 40
(This does not count with any type of food that the ants can carry such as maggots or seeds.)

These ants vary in sizes so I will be comparing them to the sizes of already existing ant species although the design is very different.

- worker= bullet ant worker
- soldier= bullet ant medic
- sub-major= bullet ant soldier
- major= Leafcutter ant media (level 3)
- super major= Leafcutter ant super major (from arcade level)

That was a lot to read. Congratulations if you survived the journey. Let me know your thoughts!

 

[ahyesants]

Concepts seem interesting, however, bullet ants don't have workers nor medics.
You've put a lot of thought into this. Hopefully mike can answer your question soon.

 

[fat sigma]

Sorry, I meant the Matabele ant, not the Bullet ant.

 

[ahyesants]

Sorry, I meant the Matabele ant, not the Bullet ant.

Ah, then, the sizes seem good, although I don't remember the exact size range of the marauder ants.
Nice suggestion though.

 

[carp worker]

А як буде виглядати королева мурах мародерів?

 

[ahyesants]

А як буде виглядати королева мурах мародерів?

I'd assume it would look like what it does irl.
Just like every other queen except the trapjaws and ereptors.
Since ereptors don't exist and the trapjaw queen is just a big worker model