Asian marauder ant /// Carebara affnis
Potentially as a 6th tier? I understand they aren’t likely due to the Matabele being worked on, but I think they’d make a perfect addition to the roster
For the 6th tier, you play as the Carebara affnis, in the jungle floor of Borneo. To distinguish the tile set from that of the third tier, it could use more rocky and rooted-filled soil, along with murky brown water. Though the other species of ants, beetles and amphibians will be ready to feast on you, you have a powerful cast to drive them back.
Starting with the marauders themselves, they are know for their huge supermajors, significantly larger than even the Attas. These would be what you would add to your formicarium, and would be the highlight of your offense. Though I do not know numbers for health/damage/attack speed, I can say with confidence that supermajors should cost ~190 food to place (19 or 20 to hatch). This cost is more than worth it, as not only are they monsters in head-to-head(despite a very slow attack speed), but also have the special ability to carry other soldiers on their back, slowing the supermajor slightly, but still putting them well ahead of other ants walking speed. During campaign missions, they could carry other soldiers (100 food, also very strong) on their backs. This would allow the soldiers to either directly mount large enemies or gain an attack speed buff when dismounting. The options you could pick from would be Leader or Chariot. Leader would cause the supermajority to “roar”, similar to the leaf cutters, causing a movement speed and attack damage boost for a couple of seconds, and at level 3, also allow a fraction of damage done to be healed back to all units under its effect. Chariot would allow more ants to be carried on the marauders back, not slow down the marauder if it is carrying ants and giving a stronger/longer dismount boost duration. At level 3, they would give a movement speed boost akin to Vigorous fire ants to nearby ants, stacking with the Invicta’s boost (this is inportant). Finally, in the formicarium, they would be able to carry wood ants and/or fire ants, only carrying ants in the same pheromone group. If wood ants are on their back, wood ants will not dismount and will instead gain a safety net, where the marauder would have to be killed before the wood ants, allowing them to be positioned more aggressively. Alternatively, when carrying fire ants, they would drop the fire ants off at the battlefield, applying the drop-off buff, which would cause the ant to gain the Vigorous status movement speed and toned-back resistances, but not damage to keep Pervasive not outright better.
I feel that I’ve already talked enough, so if you are curious and want to see my ideas for levels and enemies, check replies! Though I feel this idea is sound, I understand your choice and still admire your work.
Looking forward to tier 5!
Edit: idea for first level. In 6.1 (maybe called “Get out of my swamp” ), you play as a Carebara affnis, positioned on top of a hill, with three ramps to the lower grounds. The level objective is to defeat three Solenopsis colonies. These could be Invicta or a new species, but they would work mostly the same. With your nest at the top of the hill, you would have to drop a level where the most food is, however this middle level would be contested by the fire ants. These fire ants would send daytime raids to their sister colonies, as well as you, at the top of the mound. At night, you would have some down time, to work on the nest or gather food from nighttime enemies. This objective is completed only when all 3 Solenopsis have been defeated, by each other, creatures, or you. After all enemy colonies have been defeated, the following night, a titan would invade the nest, no longer deterred by the extreme concentration of ants. This is your last objective, and after that, the level ends. A vinegaroon, or Mastigoproctus giganteus, would charge up the hill. It has extremely large, forward claws, reducing damage from whatever direction it is facing. Additionally, after its health begins to drop, it starts using an extremely potent acid spray, deleting all but the strongest soldiers and confusing the ones it doesn’t. To beat it, the idea is you send a force to halt it as it walks up the hill, then send a large attack force around to attack from behind. Then, the level ends. Level is based off native species vs invasive species, and also a sort of sequel to 2.2 Queen of the Hill.
Potentially as a 6th tier? I understand they aren’t likely due to the Matabele being worked on, but I think they’d make a perfect addition to the roster
For the 6th tier, you play as the Carebara affnis, in the jungle floor of Borneo. To distinguish the tile set from that of the third tier, it could use more rocky and rooted-filled soil, along with murky brown water. Though the other species of ants, beetles and amphibians will be ready to feast on you, you have a powerful cast to drive them back.
Starting with the marauders themselves, they are know for their huge supermajors, significantly larger than even the Attas. These would be what you would add to your formicarium, and would be the highlight of your offense. Though I do not know numbers for health/damage/attack speed, I can say with confidence that supermajors should cost ~190 food to place (19 or 20 to hatch). This cost is more than worth it, as not only are they monsters in head-to-head(despite a very slow attack speed), but also have the special ability to carry other soldiers on their back, slowing the supermajor slightly, but still putting them well ahead of other ants walking speed. During campaign missions, they could carry other soldiers (100 food, also very strong) on their backs. This would allow the soldiers to either directly mount large enemies or gain an attack speed buff when dismounting. The options you could pick from would be Leader or Chariot. Leader would cause the supermajority to “roar”, similar to the leaf cutters, causing a movement speed and attack damage boost for a couple of seconds, and at level 3, also allow a fraction of damage done to be healed back to all units under its effect. Chariot would allow more ants to be carried on the marauders back, not slow down the marauder if it is carrying ants and giving a stronger/longer dismount boost duration. At level 3, they would give a movement speed boost akin to Vigorous fire ants to nearby ants, stacking with the Invicta’s boost (this is inportant). Finally, in the formicarium, they would be able to carry wood ants and/or fire ants, only carrying ants in the same pheromone group. If wood ants are on their back, wood ants will not dismount and will instead gain a safety net, where the marauder would have to be killed before the wood ants, allowing them to be positioned more aggressively. Alternatively, when carrying fire ants, they would drop the fire ants off at the battlefield, applying the drop-off buff, which would cause the ant to gain the Vigorous status movement speed and toned-back resistances, but not damage to keep Pervasive not outright better.
I feel that I’ve already talked enough, so if you are curious and want to see my ideas for levels and enemies, check replies! Though I feel this idea is sound, I understand your choice and still admire your work.
Looking forward to tier 5!
Edit: idea for first level. In 6.1 (maybe called “Get out of my swamp” ), you play as a Carebara affnis, positioned on top of a hill, with three ramps to the lower grounds. The level objective is to defeat three Solenopsis colonies. These could be Invicta or a new species, but they would work mostly the same. With your nest at the top of the hill, you would have to drop a level where the most food is, however this middle level would be contested by the fire ants. These fire ants would send daytime raids to their sister colonies, as well as you, at the top of the mound. At night, you would have some down time, to work on the nest or gather food from nighttime enemies. This objective is completed only when all 3 Solenopsis have been defeated, by each other, creatures, or you. After all enemy colonies have been defeated, the following night, a titan would invade the nest, no longer deterred by the extreme concentration of ants. This is your last objective, and after that, the level ends. A vinegaroon, or Mastigoproctus giganteus, would charge up the hill. It has extremely large, forward claws, reducing damage from whatever direction it is facing. Additionally, after its health begins to drop, it starts using an extremely potent acid spray, deleting all but the strongest soldiers and confusing the ones it doesn’t. To beat it, the idea is you send a force to halt it as it walks up the hill, then send a large attack force around to attack from behind. Then, the level ends. Level is based off native species vs invasive species, and also a sort of sequel to 2.2 Queen of the Hill.
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