1120 replies to this topic

[mike_]

First off what is it and second why would it be a good idea?

[Neth]

The dwarfs should get a spellcaster guy i think, they should be mostly defensive because dwarfs arent exactly the most magical people but it would be realistic, the dwarfs relied on staying behind their walls.
I also think that the earth hammer would be an awesome last fortress upgrade.

[Floris]

I like Earth Hammer as Fortress ultra last upgrade thing better than Migth Catapult.
And as a Dwarvish spell caster -> Rune-Keeper?

[{IRS}Athos]

@ mike_: The Earth Hammer is a giant weapon that basically explains itself: It powers up and hits the ground really hard, causing an earthquake in the vicinity of your fortress. The Earth Hammer is featured in the BFME 2 Evil Campaign- Fornost, where you need to destroy it. I thought that the Earth Hammer was a great idea, and should have been implemented into the Dwarves as their omega weapon, but alas, they got that stupid giant catapult. The Earth Hammer is basically the embodiment of the dwarves' engineering, and their focus on siege and defense, because it would be the ultimate last gasp... unlike the physics-defying giant catapult on a stick that they have now. That would have absolutely no structural integrity, and the force of launching it would make the thin little tower they have for it crumble. Meanwhile the Earth Hammer is lower to the ground and wouldn't blow apart every time it was used. I rest my case.

Edited by ithilienranger732, 20 December 2008 - 02:39 PM.

[mike_]

Well considering that Tolkein's Dwarves (not Salvatore's, D&D's, or Lewis') were not the great, massive engineers EA has made them out to be, I don't really see the point. They fought similar to the Dark Age Norsemen - popping up wherever seemed a good spot and slaughtering everything in sight with a careless abandon, except when marshaled into holding back by their leaders. Just replace longboats with mine-shafts and BAM

I personally think it's... okay as it is. I don't see the point in them making a big earthquake around their fortress when a lot of their buildings are mostly underground

[Devon]

They were good engineers...

[mike_]

Quote it!

EDIT: Only examples I can think of are the terraces and towers built on the sides of Erebor, as well as the 'magic' doors to be found in the West-Gate to Moria and the hidden passage on the eastward side of the Mountain. Nowhere are 'earth hammers' or even 'catapults' mentioned.

Edited by mike_, 20 December 2008 - 03:45 PM.

[Devon]

I never said catapults or earth hammers, just that they were good engineers

[mike_]

Prove it...

[Argeleb]

Well, Moria was a good example of good engineering

[mike_]

Of structural engineering, yes. Not of offensive make-a-super-weapon engineering. For that we need to consult the latter-day Greeks

[{IRS}Athos]

Yes, but I still think a super-engineer weapon would make more sense than a catapult on a stick...

[mike_]

Why?

[{IRS}Athos]

Because a catapult on a stick JUST WOULDN'T WORK. I mean, think of the physics of it: if the recoil of the catapult was too great, the stick would snap, and down goes your fortress. The Earth Hammer, on the other hand, is low to the ground and can just pound it without... snapping.

[Rafv Nin IV]

I hate to break it to ya, but the Earth Hammer is even less realistic than the mightly catapult. By pounding the ground, you create a force that radiates outward according to the Inverse Square Law (force=distance*distance). That means that if the force at 1 yard is 1, the force at 2 yards is 1/4, the force at 3 yards is 1/9, etc. Thus, even if you could make a giant hammer that caused an earthquake, the only thing you'd do is knock down your own fortress.

If the idea is to cause enough force to unleash potential energy in the ground, causing a greater seismic force as a result of your interference, Isengard would be the faction to do it, because they have explosives to set the reaction off. That and the recharge time would only be a few million years.

[Argeleb]

I think dwrven catapult look cool, they don't need to change. Or maybe color....

[{IRS}Athos]

All right, I concede that there are big holes in the Earth Hammer thing... I hoped that I could just avoid it by leaving it out... But it's so much cooler than the MIGHTY CATAPULT OF DOOM and... well... *fades out* Which catapult, Argeleb?

[Argeleb]

All catapults

[{IRS}Athos]

I feel like such a dork...

Yeah, go with the feeling.

Well, I guess we'll have to keep the catapult-on-a-stick...

[primeminister03]

Even though the Earth Hammer at a fortress would not work, You could make a mobile one as a sort of support siege weapon. Like I said before, I what I imagined was something that looked somewhat similar to the demolisher that could cause a 5 second stun effect or something to a small radius of enemies troops(excluding heroes). How or why you would put it in to the game is in your guys' boat. After all, if I could mod I would probably be contributing more than just my suggestions.


Anyway, are the Dwarves almost completed? I haven't really seen anybody write or post pics about any updates or additions with the exception of the first few pages.

BTW, @ Mike: Didn't Helm Hammerhand help with the building of Helm's Deep? Even though it wasn't an example of offensive engineering, it definitely was applicable in combat.

Edited by primeminister03, 22 December 2008 - 09:01 AM.