the truthseeker 1,560 Posted February 11, 2014 Can't say I thought of most myself: Merm/Pig Relationships We have already seen signs of war between Merms and Pigs, given the heads on spikes around the map. So why not make these two races battle it out? Very, very occasionally, a horde of Merms will attack random pig houses on the map. Even ones you've built. If the pig(s) kill the merms, the siege ends. If the pig(s) die, the merms destroy their houses. Of course, it can happen the other way around. This would add more dynamicness to the world - imagine heading to the local pig village to find everyone dead... Merms will occasionally send embassies to the Pig Capitol. They can be recognized in that they carry a small, dingy white flag everywhere. Pigs will not attack this Merm, and this Merm will not attack pigs. He will walk to the Pig King and hold council with him, maybe giving offerings and the like. After the meeting is over, there is a 50% chance that the merm will be executed. Otherwise, he will go back to the main Merm village. Pigs - Having pigs build an additional pig house in the villages does make sense. Maxwell did say that was like their only trick. Also having the pigs walk along the roads to the other pig villages would just make the world feel more lively as well. I'm not sure I like the idea of pigs destroying each other on their own, but how about the idea of pigs taking fallen merms and constructing additional merm heads on sticks and vice versa? Merms vs. Pigs - I don't like the idea of the houses being destroyed by either faction, but I do like the idea of pigs and merms being in open warfare. I'd also like a way to change sides. Maybe have a merm king and if you offer enough things to him, the option to make pig houses is replaced with the option to make merm houses and now pigs are hostile when you get to close to their houses instead of the merms. Then again, that sounds like a programming nightmare. How about just make the likelihood of a merm infested swamp being really close quarters to a pig village so the odds of them fighting is increased?I know, Merm Kings! It would look sorta like a pig king and act like it but be a merm. (duh) But a "Merm Leader" like there is a "Pig King" would be awesome, as well as us to "change allegiance" to Merms Neutral until fed Fruits/Vegetables (Merms are vegetarians) and have Pigs straight out hostile to us until "switched" again (assuming we can't switch just once!) Unlike Pigs, I'd like it if they stayed quiet. No Deep Ones speech please Merm Guardians are always hostile and as tough as Pig Guardians guarding a field of Reeds and (uncommon) Transplanted Berry Bushes (vegetarians remember,) and use Merm poles for light which are made of the same ingredients as Guardian Pig Totems but rot instead of manure. Perhaps we could give the leader fruits/vegetables and they could give us a semi-valuable item (that I would love for Klei to decide if my suggestions aren't right) such as that "yet to be eaten" special meal of a Mandrake or additional fireflies we gotta catch? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Hugo M. 843 Posted February 12, 2014 Weird, merms always seemed anarchists to me, government is bad 'n' stuff. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Luggs 668 Posted February 12, 2014 Question is. How would we get close enough to the queen/king to switch allegiances without the other merms mauling us. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
the truthseeker 1,560 Posted February 12, 2014 Question is. How would we get close enough to the queen/king to switch allegiances without the other merms mauling us.the same way Guardian Pigs "Allow" you to visit their king. Any other villages until then would be insta-hostile (and always for other Guardian Merms.) Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
DeadpanQuinkan 214 Posted February 12, 2014 Weird, merms always seemed anarchists to me, government is bad 'n' stuff.Yeah they wreaked their own houses and most likely have terrible short term memory. Even if they did have a leader i'm just picturing this nervous skinny guy who's all like "I'm bad at my job". Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
the truthseeker 1,560 Posted February 12, 2014 Yeah they wreaked their own houses and most likely have terrible short term memory. Even if they did have a leader i'm just picturing this nervous skinny guy who's all like "I'm bad at my job".They'd likely use the same King model, so a (silent) "fat guy" like this dude who thinks "I'm bad at my job...what's my job anyway?" Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
DeadpanQuinkan 214 Posted February 12, 2014 They'd likely use the same King model, so a (silent) "fat guy" like this dude who thinks "I'm bad at my job...what's my job anyway?" I said skinny mostly for the sake of contrast, but he could probably forget to eat a lot too. The swamps are not exactly a great source of food anyway. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Fanciful 1 Posted February 12, 2014 I've always wanted them to flesh out the swamps a bit and add a character like Waverly that worked well with the merms. I want a reason to settle in/around a swamp! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Spinorex 376 Posted February 12, 2014 I personally wouldn't want to see a merm queen just because I can expect what that kind of thing would end up looking like (*shudders*) but I can understand a merm king/queen's purpose. A good question would be, "Is the merm king/queen a stationary entity or a moving one?" Because if its a stationary creature then a "throne" of sorts would have to be designed, similar to the Pig King's. If it was a moving being, then it could be escorted by personal guards of some kind in a comparable fashion to the Pig Guardians. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
TRENTOMINOUS 540 Posted February 12, 2014 I wish the swamps were more L4D2-ish with merms hiding in the ferns and such. and I do believe that there will be a merm queen/king. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
the truthseeker 1,560 Posted February 12, 2014 I said skinny mostly for the sake of contrast, but he could probably forget to eat a lot too. The swamps are not exactly a great source of food anyway. Are you kidding?! Between the spiders, the Merms and the tentacles, it's an endless food bonanza! I meant...respect the circle of life and feed off of what you must Seriously, it's SO prevalent, they made a survival guide for living in the Swamps. You'll thank them come winter! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Tonguetyd 68 Posted February 12, 2014 Are you kidding?! Between the spiders, the Merms and the tentacles, it's an endless food bonanza! I meant...respect the circle of life and feed off of what you must But Merms are vegetarians. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
MycoLogical 1,070 Posted February 12, 2014 Yep, I want this implemented; we need nobility on both sides of the pond! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Sporb 1,009 Posted February 12, 2014 Well, I'd like to see merm society fleshed out a bit, but I don't really want to see merms simply mirror pigs. Different merms would be nice, but not necessarily merm guards or a merm king. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
puppet_rivers 3 Posted February 12, 2014 Imagine instead of grave items etc, you trade your manure, spoiled eggs, rots, wet goop etc in exchange for gold i can pictur in my head a fat lazy merm sitting in a crown made of old wood etc Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
The Letter W 5,442 Posted February 12, 2014 If it ends up being royalty, can there be (non-destroyable, they won't attack you) tentacles fanning him/her? Just for comedic effect. Pretty sure the art team at Klei could come with something more appealing than a... obese merm on a rug but you get the idea. Maybe it could be called Chief instead or something. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Spinorex 376 Posted February 12, 2014 If it ends up being royalty, can there be (non-destroyable, they won't attack you) tentacles fanning him/her? Just for comedic effect. merm_chief.jpg Pretty sure the art team at Klei could come with something more appealing than a... obese merm on a rug but you get the idea. Maybe it could be called Chief instead or something.Well, at least I know what my nightmares are going to be tonight... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
The Letter W 5,442 Posted February 12, 2014 Well, at least I know what my nightmares are going to be tonight...My work here is done. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
jbeetle 1,872 Posted February 12, 2014 in my opinion, adding another king/queen is just uninspired. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Shoggoth 177 Posted February 12, 2014 Don't the merms already have a king named Dagon? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
F3RR1S 1,191 Posted February 12, 2014 BEHOLD HER BEAUTY! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
d3v1n96 107 Posted February 12, 2014 Ah the intewebs Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Hugo M. 843 Posted February 12, 2014 So before being allied to pigs they'd say "you is neutral" or something like that? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Spinorex 376 Posted February 12, 2014 BEHOLD HER BEAUTY! I'm not sure if I want to... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
