Store becoming a Castle (peacetime removal solution)

[Krom]

Inspired by neighbor topic, Jery from kamclub.ru suggested a new idea.

The plan is to convert Store into a Castle.

There can be only one castle per player - that is a store combined with a catapult. Castle is the heart of players town and it can't be built by player. Castle has a catapult to defend area around in a generous radius of ~20 tiles - enough to protect a building town from any wannabe-rushers. Surely Castle needs a graphics upgrade, so that it looked at least 1.5 times more epic than Barracks.

Pros:
- town gets a heart, a true castle for its ruler
- keeps wannabe rushers at bay

Cons:
- needs artwork
- may look weird with catapult
- shooting stones or arrows 20 tiles away may look odd in KaM universe

What do you say about this suggestion?

[Menszu]

I like it, if you would enlighten me in terms of technical stuff connected with colour masks for buildings I might try to paint it.
I think the catapult itself doesn't need to be visalbe, maybe just use balista arrows shoting from the windows. Or else if you really dont like uber range - when a threat arises in 20 tile radius - the team of ...let's say 10 knights go out from the castle, and they go back automaticly when there's no more threat. Let's just call it your retinue. They regenerate in a rate one for 90 sec.

[Shadaoe]

I like the idea of the storehouse becoming a defensive building for early rushes !

[Нутубурз]

Hi to all. We can use the image of Monastery instead of storehouse. We may cut the crosses and paint flagstaffs with banners. Look attentively, in the center of the building we can put a catapult. It could throw stones into enemies.
But i I am not able to draw. Somebody is able?
P.S. Sorry for my bad english.
Look it. http://kamclub.ru/_fr/12/3151187.gif

[Menszu]

One more disadvantage in my eyes after rethinking it, if we make it an epic looking, than the current fortress would look dull and loose it's flavor.

And I'm against visable catapult, to make it look natural, and even rotate, aint that a bit too much? In the case of shooting version, let it fire from windows.

[Islar]

But can it be use as a storehouse after it is become a castle?

[WollongongWolf]

Cons:
- shooting stones or arrows 20 tiles away may look odd in KaM universe

What do you say about this suggestion?

I would add to that con that there is also some significant delay when throwing? (thus there is more time to dodge whatever they shoot). However, with a very fast missile speed (perhaps better a ballista to shoot arrows, I mean, firing stones on your own city???) this problem could be solved.

Don't ask me about the looks though

I'd prefer this one over the slaves idea, perhaps play a little bit around with the range in beta.

[dicsoupcan]

20 tiles is actually not very far, only 8 tiles further then a normal ranged unit imo. (so basically for ranges units it will be a 8 tile radius)

[Krom]

Could be arrows from ballista, they can fly over anything and at a bigger speed to make a kill on impact.

[dicsoupcan]

I actually meant that archers can attack a building inside the catapult/ballistae range while being out of range themselves.

[pawel95]

Would be an idea, also to get the tpr sieges back. However which of these ideas will be implemented in the remake, please dont implement it in the Singleplayer mode, because it is not needed and would change everything. Its only "needed" on mp map when you wanna disable the Peacetime.

However I think someone said that already. About these all idea, what about a simple mutator in lobby, when you set PeaceTime to 0, that you will get a catapult or whatever at your storehouse. I am not sure about the community, but I like the PeaceTime and it would be bad in my eyes when you would delete this System completly.

[Jeronimo]

I personally don't agree with Jery's idea (I'm against the centralization concept of an "unique Castle").
I prefer serfs fighting idea... and later reintroduction of Townhall as alternative rush-counter.

With or without Castles... enemy Archers will step out of their range and still own your base.
We need mobile defense (+ units)... not static structures to secure a base, because you won't be able to expand.