Making Uniques cooler.

[PureQuestion]

Right now, in ToME, there are a lot of random unique "minibosses" that can spawn, including old favourites like Burb and Rungof, to more recent additions like Khulmanar and the Forest Troll Hedge-Wizard. It's actually been quite a while since there was a new one, but looking back on them, I'm noticing a running theme: Far too few of them are threats.

I'm thinking some of them could use a sprucing up, so this is a call for anyone who has any crazy ideas for your favourite Unique, or even an idea for a brand new one!

So far I've only really touched up one of my own, having buffed up Ak'Gishil a fair bit (this is not yet on the repository), so any comments on him are probably not relevant. Anyone else is fair game.

[HousePet]

Give them all shades?

[Stition]

grillick (sp?), the tentacle guy got a huge nerf when he lost perfect chasing. Seems like he should have tentacle grab and some of the new tentacle related talents. If he summoned tentacles behind you he'd be horrible to fight.

Some of the uniques I remember I haven't seen in ages. I recall a phoenix, but think it's gone.

I haven't seen any dreaming horrors this patch either, were they removed?

The ant queen isn't very threatening, but some hive mind abilities or being able to burrow/jump around would be good, so she could at least threaten to stun you. The ants got buffed but she didn't get any of their abilities. Maybe she should get all of them?

I like the wyrmic unique, he's been pretty scary, but give him a couple of wyrmic guards and he's scarier.

These uniques should be scary since they're worth so much xp, and besides the ant queen, drop some pretty good loot.

[grmblfzzz]

I'd go even further, PureQuestion and say that almost none of the unique minibosses are threats. That orc wyrmic used to by terrifying, pretty sure he got nerfed hard somewhere along the line though. Probably the scariest guys pre 1.05 was the slinger in dreadfel, but the scaling changes hurt him much more than the players. In fact, only one I can recall dying to in recent history is Harkor'zun, because I was incautious and got pinned (he's still one of the coolest/hardest of the minibosses).

Aside from all around buffs, giving them more skills, and what Stition suggested, here's a few ideas:

Have one of the rogue-esque bosses spawn with a bunch of traps placed around the level or in his vicinity. Also give at least one of them gravity trap!

Give more of them posses/minions/companions, always makes things more interesting.

I've always wished there was a giant 2x2 boss of some sort!

Lastly, and most importantly: Perhaps finish designing/implementing the boss inside the void portal at end of game. Super endings! Still one of the only things other roguelikes have over ToME, non-linear/super endings, that is. Should have a choice of closing it for regular victory, or charging belligerantly to your death vs some godlike being

[HousePet]

A unique Dreadmaster.

[Grey]

More companions is definitely a big thing for keeping them interesting. Single targets aren't that much of a problem in ToME, with many classes being especially adept at shutting them down and spiking damage against them. Groups of enemies are much more fun!

[PureQuestion]

grillick (sp?), the tentacle guy got a huge nerf when he lost perfect chasing. Seems like he should have tentacle grab and some of the new tentacle related talents. If he summoned tentacles behind you he'd be horrible to fight.

Some of the uniques I remember I haven't seen in ages. I recall a phoenix, but think it's gone.

I haven't seen any dreaming horrors this patch either, were they removed?

The ant queen isn't very threatening, but some hive mind abilities or being able to burrow/jump around would be good, so she could at least threaten to stun you. The ants got buffed but she didn't get any of their abilities. Maybe she should get all of them?

The tentacular horror could probably stand a couple upgrades. We'll see.

Pheonix and Dreaming Horrors are still entirely present, just quite rare (as they've always been).

I like the Ant Queen ideas, will probably do one or two.

Lastly, and most importantly: Perhaps finish designing/implementing the boss inside the void portal at end of game. Super endings! Still one of the only things other roguelikes have over ToME, non-linear/super endings, that is. Should have a choice of closing it for regular victory, or charging belligerantly to your death vs some godlike being

Not my job, sorry

[IvenGray]

Groups of enemies are much more fun!

A unique glowing horror group.

[Doctornull]

A unique glowing horror group.

Lh'ary, Kh'urly, Mh'oe.

[overgoat]

A unique glowing horror group.

I don't think we can be friends.

[Faeryan]

I'm not familiar with add-ons but would it be possible to have an add-on with only unique monsters in it that would appear randomly and maybe carry accompanying artifacts?

[The Revanchist]

There is an All Rare addon, which can set it to only generate unique mobs. Fun times...

They tend to drop 6-8 randarts each, are usually a few levels higher than you, can and will spawn in groups... Vaults are safer.

[HousePet]

It should be fairly easy to add extra uniques monsters and artifacts to the game.