Style questions about Custom Critters
By
Dechs Kaison,
Posted on: 2009-05-21 06:38 in Mission Architect
I have always thought that a well rounded enemy group should have a Minion/LT/Boss ratio of 3~4/2/1 for good variety. The first Mission Arc I made with a full custom group had a 4/2/1 ratio, but it took a lot of file space, and I only had room then for 1 Custom Contact, and 1 Custom Ally.
Not really sure. My first custom group had 2 minions, 3 lts, and 4 bosses, and I really like the way that worked out. 
So basically: do what you want. Stick in whatever critter you feel is more appropriate. Personally, I'd recommend you add another boss, but don't put it on any 'fight a boss' objectives so that larger teams will get a slightly different experience out of your arc than soloists. 
"If I had Force powers, vacuum or not my cape/clothes/hair would always be blowing in the Dramatic Wind." - Tenzhi
Characters
OK, I just had an idea that will easily fit my theme and give me a great 4/2/1 ratio, but now I have the slight problem of space.
Devious: Right now I have two custom groups and a contact/ally. The first group is the army of robots, and the second group is the special boss of that army group.
The grand total right now is 2 minions, 2 LTs, 1 boss, 2 special bosses and an elite boss.
Do you think I can fit two more minions if I already have 82%?
Where to now?
Check out all my guides and fiction pieces on my blog.
The MFing Warshade | The Last Rule of Tanking | The Got Dam Mastermind
Everything Dark Armor | The Softcap
don'T attempt to read tHis mEssaGe, And believe Me, it is not a codE.
I've seen 6% as the rough space cost for a custom critter, so it should work.
p.s. If you are just looking for variety, you could duplicate one of the minions and just tweak a couple of features like hair-style or a color here and there to create variety without adding a completely new concept.
QR
I used 4/2/2 in my custom group and added in a few skulls to keep the minions from being too repetitive. Add in 2 bosses, an ally and the contact together with the ... you know... story... and I'm at like 98%. And I have 4 missions too.
I can't imagine the limits you'd be under with 4 missions and 2 unique groups... or did I read that wrong?
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I can't imagine the limits you'd be under with 4 missions and 2 unique groups... or did I read that wrong?
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You read that right, there's 2 unique groups. One of them is just three special character bosses though, and that's to keep them from appearing in with the regular spawns with large groups.
Like I said, I basically have 9 custom critters total right now. Adding two minions will make it 11, or 66% by the calculation from above. I have a LOT of text in this, so I'm a little worried.
Where to now?
Check out all my guides and fiction pieces on my blog.
The MFing Warshade | The Last Rule of Tanking | The Got Dam Mastermind
Everything Dark Armor | The Softcap
don'T attempt to read tHis mEssaGe, And believe Me, it is not a codE.
In my arcs I have roughly 2/2/2. I tend to be verbose with my text, and use more custom critters than just those 6, however.
I give precedence to minions, then lieutenants, since everybody has to fight them. Bosses will only show up on teams, which will get even more minions and lieutenants. I managed to squeeze in 3/3/2, and also a standard critter for each rank, in a four-mission arc with a custom AV and a custom contact, a zillion extra objectives and lots of text.
Eva Destruction AR/Fire/Munitions Blaster
Darkfire Avenger DM/SD/Body Scrapper
Arc ID#161629 Freaks, Geeks, and Men in Black
Arc ID#431270 Until the End of the World
I ended up using a custom group with 3/3/1 minion/lt/boss ratio in my Pentarchy of Punishment arc. They're all thematic, and despite it being a somewhat wordy 4 mission arc I managed to squeeze those 7 custom mobs plus 5 more EBs for a second custom faction into approx. 100% space. I say approximately because the actual size used fluctuates from 99% to 101% depending when I load it. 
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[ QUOTE ]
Devious: Right now I have two custom groups and a contact/ally. The first group is the army of robots, and the second group is the special boss of that army group.
The grand total right now is 2 minions, 2 LTs, 1 boss, 2 special bosses and an elite boss.
Do you think I can fit two more minions if I already have 82%?
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If you already have everything else you need, that's 18% to work with, which should be just fine for a pair of minions. Generally, those take only 6 to 8 percent, so I'd say you're good.
"If I had Force powers, vacuum or not my cape/clothes/hair would always be blowing in the Dramatic Wind." - Tenzhi
Characters
There are canonical groups that are only 1/1/1, and that's entirely reasonable -- if, and only if, it's something like a military unit where everybody would use the same combat style and wear the same uniform. The less excuse your mission gives for why everybody would be the same, the more you benefit from having a wider variety of enemies.
On the other hand, player expectations are implausibly high. I mean, come on: sure, the Circle of Thorns has dozens of minions, dozens of lieutenants, about a dozen bosses. But at any given level range, it's 2 to 3 minions, 2 lieutenants, 2 bosses. We could wish otherwise, but given the need for the servers to story a copy of the story arc file as it existed at the time you started it, for every player who's started it, and to transfer that file to the client every time they log in until they're done, even if they're on dial-up, the art form has built-in constraints.
For what it's worth, 3-5 minions, 2 lieutenants, and 3 to 4 bosses makes for a very varied set of random spawns, even on difficulty 2 or 4. But, then, that's so many custom characters that you have to squeeze to get in even 3 missions with dialog.
Alright, I've managed to get a set of 4/2/1, plus 3 special bosses and an ally. All four missions fit, I didn't have to remove any text and I'm at 98%. w00t!
I'm still ironing out some kinks; expect the arc to be up later this evening. If you care.
Thanks all for your help!
Where to now?
Check out all my guides and fiction pieces on my blog.
The MFing Warshade | The Last Rule of Tanking | The Got Dam Mastermind
Everything Dark Armor | The Softcap
don'T attempt to read tHis mEssaGe, And believe Me, it is not a codE.
Alright, so I'm almost ready to publish my first arc (4 missions), but I want to ask some more questions.
How many minions, LTs, and bosses are appropriate? Right now, the main group of enemies has 2 types of minion, 2 types of LT, and one boss. Is that enough variation? Should I try to squeeze in another minion or a boss?
I'm at 82% right now, but I've finished all the text I need. I'd imagine I should be able to fit one more type of critter, but it will be tough to fit a minion in the theme.
Where to now?
Check out all my guides and fiction pieces on my blog.
The MFing Warshade | The Last Rule of Tanking | The Got Dam Mastermind
Everything Dark Armor | The Softcap
don'T attempt to read tHis mEssaGe, And believe Me, it is not a codE.