Preface: I might take up modding to make my own skills soon, if it's not too complicated(there seems to be a lack of guides on this subject), in the meantime, here's some themes I've been thinking of. Pythonology - monty python skit references, if I make it, levels 1&2 are going to be trout slap, and now for something completely different. We'll see where it goes from there, so much to choose from. A Red Dwarf reference skill - but I lack distinct ideas on it, maybe based on a specific red dwarf character(Divadroid for Kryton, or Neurotic for Rimmer seem like the most obvious ones, heck it could make a whole suite of skills). Intergalactic Hitchhiker - obvious reference is obvious. Stick out your thumb, got your towel, Q in the bush, fall without hitting the ground, and of course the capstone ability, whatever it is, will have either a heal, damage, or buff with the number 42 in it. I'll add more later. Also feel free to add your own ideas, add comments, or steal ideas from here.
Warriors Metal Eye of the tiger: 5 in critical, counter and attack chance You know you want too: 1 in health regen Gods be my witness: 2 in aethereal resist and damage just meta it: Just grab something metal and hit like a madman krong be with you: 5 in strength You are the one: 10 in magic resist Joke's on you: 20 in magic What?: 1 in all damage Random Stuff Objection: see through walls Red or blue wire: 1 in tinkering Gold? GOOOOOOLD!: 1 in alchemy Sticks who knew: 1 in wands My hammer on your anvil: 1 smithing crafting genius: 1 in all crafting stuff Bird is the word: seriously why are you still here? (teleport/fly?) My God: summon a small god
I'd certainly like to see a Monty Python themed skill set, and the Intergalactic hitchhiker would also be quite entertaining (and could possible start with a towel helmet and big thumb gloves?).
Work has started on Pythonology... just tested with a single ability(And Now For Something Completely Different), a teleport meant to be rank 1 or 2 instead of 0, eventually. So that wasn't THAT hard... (liberal application of code theft). We'll see where it goes from here. No uploads until I've got it a bit more fleshed out.
Pythonology. OMG. "It's Just a Flesh Wound." -- grants a +HP buff in response to taking a hit from an enemy. "Always Look on the Bright Side of Life" -- has a chance of proccing Radiant Aura on you when you kill something??? "It's a Blancmonge!" (sic?) -- summons a recolored all-white Kleptoblobby to fight at your side, preferably with references to Scotland and tennis. "This is an EX-PARROT!" -- reanimates a bad guy so you can kill him again, and gives you a one-shot +XP buff on-kill. "Spam, spam, spam, spam..." -- A cooldown skill that summons a swarm of Cubes of Flesh around you, with a slim chance of also summoning a hostile Sanguiblobby or four. "But What if He Has a Pointed Stick?" -- defensive ability along the lines of Walk It Off or Mt. Self. "I want to be...A LUMBERJACK!" -- Grants some +crit and an activated skill that gives you Plaid Power. "The Funniest Joke In The World" -- grants a very long-cooldown skill that puts a MASSIVE DoT (asphyxiative, of course) on everything within template101 range. ...damn, those guys were f**king geniuses. Oh, and ANFSCD should totally stack upwards of a dozen Blink effects on you, so you end up halfway across the dungeon.
I'm intending the first(level 0) ability to be a buff. "The fish slapping dance", with a "trout slap" proc. I'm gonna steal the lumberjack idea for level 1. ANFSCD for level 2. After that it gets really hard to choose! Other ideas: "Holy Handgrenade of Antioc" - AoE attack, with a delayed action. "Flying Sheep" - Very large AoE from the Flying Sheep Airstrike "Dirty Fork" - Bonus toxic damage. "I'm Not Dead Yet" - Defensive proc that gives bonus life buff. "I'm Not The Messiah!" - Bonus radiant damage? "Crunchy Frog" - Debuff, with acidic damage(from throwing up). "I'm Going To Operate!" - Gumby Brain Surgeon buff, gives a large chance of sagacity debuff proc, medium chance of bleeding proc, and a smaller chance of stun(I forgot to anethetize you!)
Have to say I like some of Essense's ideas for skills, though I'm most familiar with the references to Monty Python and the Search for the Holy Grail, as well as Life of Brian. I've seen a few Monty Python's Flying Circus as well, however. Anyways, Whichever route you go, I'm sure I'll enjoy it.
Netology Social Networker - All of your working with people has paid off- You can use this skill to create a throwable Net item, that deals no damage but keeps people rooted down so you can gab about your feelings to them. Cooldown is 65. (Also adds 1 to attacks) Memetic Spread - Your humor is so powerful, so moronic that you practically make people slaves over the same joke! Gives you a passive ability to stun with laughter that procs occasionally (45%) when you counter attacks. (Adds an additional 1 to attacks, gives -1 as well.) 'That' Part of the Dungeon Again - This is where all the weirdos are, isn't it? This skill grants you the ability to randomly introduce an enemy to a different location of the dungeon, additionally dealing ((Stubbornness) % 2) damage. Cooldown 30. High Post Count - Ha ha ha! I am soooo much better than all of you!! No, I'm not delusional, you plebian! (Gives 2 , 5 , 3 and -5 ) Series of Tubes - You understand now. That's all it is, and ever was. This knowledge is almost empowering. This skill gives you the ability to change metal pipes into either Health Potions, Mana Potions or Potions of Steeling. This is always random. High cooldown. (Also gives 2 )
Personally, I was disappointed when Realm of the Diggle Gods failed to include a spoof of the gods of chaos Essentially four skills that would let you become the champion of Chaos god spoof. E.g. Krorne, the Diggle God of Minor conflicts Level 0 - Mild Disappointment When you pledged your immortal soul in exchange for the power of a greater diggle god, you thought you were making a good deal. As it turns out, the only thing that happens in Dredmor-land is the odd drill fight. You feel cheated. That makes you angry. Anger makes less accurate, but when you do hit.... (25% chance of proc'ing "I HATE MY LIFE" when hit, which Adds +1 piercing/slashing/crushing damage for a few turns), and a permanent -1 chance to hit, +1 burliness. Level 1 - Major Disappointment You have had time to think things over, and you have realised that since Diggles fight with drills, and you lack the necessary appendage, there is only so much Krorne can give you... which was not much to begin with. Which makes you angrier. Which makes you even less accurate, but... (25% chance of pro'ing ARGGGGGGGGGGG when hit, which buffs your next attack with +10 Melee damage). Permanent -1 chance to hit, +1 Burliness Level 2 - I R DISAPPOINT Having killed a few hundred of them by now, you are utterly disgusted by just how weak the servants of Krorne are. That reminds you of how bad of a deal you have made. Most of time, you can ignore it, but sometimes, something hits you and you just snap. (25% chance of procing "YOU WANT SOME OF THIS?" when hit. Puts a -5 hit penalty on all adjacent enemies, and gives you a +5 counterattack buff for a few turns). As with all levels of This tree, -1 hit, +1 burliness Level 3 - High Blood Pressure Your anger is beginning to exceed the limits of what your body can tolerate. You can keep yourself under-control most of the time, but sometimes the urge to just let go is overwhelming. It's bad for your heart, but as long as you get to more diggles die, you do not care. Active ability - Let it all out. Activating this gives you two buffs - adrenaline rush, which gives you a big buff to burliness like 20+, and cardiac complications which gives you a burliness debuff equal to half that amount, but lasts twice as long. As always, -1 hit, +1 burliness Level 4 - Favor of Krorne Your anger has transcended all mortal limits. Even Krorne knows your name now, and The Diggle God is impressed by what he sees. He is intrigued by your mindless destruction frenzy, and has decided to assist you with a helping flipper every now and then. Litterally. 25% chance of procing "Divine Flipper" when attacking. Deals 5 existential damage, and adds an irresistible 4 turn debuff. It's called "Diggle Slapped" and gives a -5 penalty to existential resistance. You see where this is going, right? Oh yeah, -1 hit, +1 burliness Level 5 - Chosen of Krorne Having watched you butcher your way through the armies of Dredmor, Krorne has begun to second guess his support for diggles. If a lone human can achieve this much with a mere fraction of his power, then what could an army of humans champions do? Gives you +2 existential damage and +2 existential damage resist, over and above -1 hit, +1 burliness. Procs "The first of many" whenever you get a kill. Adds +1 burliness for 10 turns, stacks 5 times. Flavor text reads (The last thing your enemies see is a glimmer of the darkness that is to come...) Level 6 - Champion of Krorne Your anger has taken a life of its own. Sometimes, possesses the corpse of one of your victims and joins the mayhem. Meanwhile, your digglicidal tendencies have been seeping into your Patron, who is now convinced he needs to do away with the diggle weaklings and seek human servants instead. You are of course happy to oblige. Gives a 25% chance of spawning a demon on kill (preferably the oil-like ones). The stats for the monster should mirror that of later level monsters (say level 10 or so), but last only 1-2 turns. -1 hit, +1 burliness Level 7 - The XXXXX God of war demands VICTORY You have become the living embodiment of the urge to kill, and Krorne is not far behind. The former Diggle God of Minor Conflicts is considering changing his name and title to one that is more fitting of his newfound ideals, but first, all evidence that he was ever the patron of weaklings must be eliminated. That means the dungeons must be purged of all life and unlife. Once that is done... -1 hit, +1 burliness. Gives a 25% of procing VICTORY! on hit, which gives a 100% crit rate on your next attack. Edit - I thought I'd just make it clear - I like python too. "I'll bite your legs off" - Melee attack that stuns an enemy for one turn, then leaves him rooted on the spot for a few turns or so. Free to cast, but gives you a debuff "it only cost you your dignity" - which gives penalties to roguishness.
I don't know if it's possible to code this but... "The Department of Silly Walks" - cooldown skill, largest AoE, debuff, centered on the player. Makes all the mobs move in random directions for a while.
I think you could effectively do that with a massive de-aggro effect (which would result in monsters running around randomly). Add a piece of damage that scales off Nimbleness/Caddishness related stats and you have a winner. (Flavor Text and/or possible debuffs: Possible side effects include Ankle sprains, broken knee caps, loss of dignity, and Fall-on-face-and-break-neck related death. Silly walks are not for everyone. Consult your doctor before use)
Actually, I was thinking about making four skill trees inspired by Warhammer's Chaos gods. While I don't know if such things are possible, I have already laid basic concepts for three of them. They are a "serious" concept without any attempt at humor, that can come later if I will be able to get a bit further.
If i had the time to mod, I'd probably do it, but full-time work gives me a limited amount of time left over for anything, so you are welcome to go ahead with it. That being said, not too sure if "serious" mods have a place in DoD. This whole game has that 'fan based parody of a fan based parody" feel to it. I'd be happy to offer feedback too, but i'm currently too lazy to hunt for the relevant thread. Links are appreciated. I'd like to see silly walks do damage to you too, just to keep the maximise the comedic flavor, and off-set the inherent Op-ness of such a tree. I mean with the aoe that we seem to want out of that, that would be the Bolt of Mass Destruction equivalent of crowd control abilities.
My concepts are on paper for now, so I cannot provide any links. However I can send you a PM with more info. I was thinking along a few abilities (spells, attacks or even summons) mixed with passive bonuses (daemonic gifts). I own latest Chaos Space Marines codex and Black Crusade RPG core rulebook, so I have some materials to start with. As for the fun, I think that you're right. On the other hand when we get some working skill trees, then we can think about other stuff. Warhammer has spawned quite a lot of running gags, inside jokes and memes, that means that we have something to choose from.
PM works for me, but you should probably start a thread outright if you want to work on it proper. There's a lot of War40k fans out there who'd happily come out and speak for the franchise. The big thing I like about DoD is how modding is essentially a community thing. Even if they don't know the fluff behind the mod, the coding gurus should still be able to chip on how to do X, Y, or Z.
Technomancy: Magitech(final fantasy) references, and also: dancing! Also seems like a good place to fit in a "knock" spell. Auramancy: A whole magic tree based on buffs that run on you but that happen to your enemies(IE: they run a self-dot that calls template spells).
Soul Magic (a bunch of 70s references with images of a black hero with an afro) Chocolate Rain use the raindrop sprite except recolor it so that it's brown. Soul Train summon a 3x3 area of friendly ghost heads that pelt the enemy with magic attacks Purple Haze not sure what to do, figure out a spell and name it purple haze Lawyering starting equipment "legal briefs" pants slot spells that involve delaying your enemies and blocking their movement. a self-ressurecting summon a banish spell sends an enemy far away for a few turns, and then teleports them back to the player voodoo curse a "zombie" type skill that gives the player poison, putre, asphyx resistance, but gives penalties to sagacity, savvy, and fire resistance. capstone would be an onkill effect that ressurects slain enemy animals as friendly.
