Just finally checked this out in-game, it looks good. However, I'd change the teleport fog to something else, and fix the bulletpuffs in the death state.

For its attacks, I don't think the three-shot projectile and the charge attack are really needed. Its bats (which could probably use a bit more speed, a bit larger spread and maybe 1 point more damage) fit perfectly well as its basic attack and make the tripleshot projectile attack seem redundant. I really like the bat attack, however.

The charge attack seems counter-intuitive to how the monster works. It has mostly ranged attacks, and its melee attack isn't strong enough that getting close isn't really a bad thing. All the charge attack really did was give me a clearer shot. If you want to keep it, I'd make a variant of the teleport attack where it moves to you (a la the Doom 3 Wraith I submitted) instead of A_Wander-ing, and increase melee damage by a little bit (instead of 6~48, maybe more like 18~48?).

But this thing is really impressive as well. After it's completely finished and added, would you be willing to make that melee animation for the Disciple of D'Sparil?

I don't think the triple shot attack should be removed. The bat attack could get a little too powerful if he just keeps using it over and over again. But Ghastly may have a point about the charge attack. Either way, I think it's good.

By the way, I never mentioned this, but I like the ears.

I knew what you meant; I was just agreeing with you.


Sure! I'm willing to adapt the melee animation to the Disciple; how should I go about distributing or submitting it? Beastiary? Some other source? It won't be done immediately, but probably within the week.

As to your other points, I'll look into alternatives for the teleport fog and death smoke puffs, and the suggestion for modifying his teleport is good; but, I'm rather fond of the triple-shot and charge attacks--I think the charge attack gives it some cool character. Maybe once I adjust his attack preferences they'll seem more useful. I guess we'll see what happens!

The attack is fine with me, and I think it is practical. There is a significant damage increase, but it does seem a lot weaker than the bat attack. Maybe he could shoot 4 projectiles instead, or you could make them faster or stronger.

I also realized I never answered your question about the laugh. I listened to it again and it still didn't seem to fit even for his sight sound. If you want a laugh for his sight sound, what about the undead warrior? He has a good laugh sound that fits with the sounds
from the Disciple of D'sparil that you're using.

Ok, so I updated the submission with some of the suggestions given. Here's a list of changes:

• Modified attack preferences. He should definitely favor his projectile attacks more often now.
  
• Increased bat damage from 1-8 to 1-12. Also increased spread of dispersion. (Note that since they are homing missiles, they will eventually tend to converge on one target.)
  
• Increased number of standard projectiles in multi-shot from 3 to 5.
  
• Increased melee damage from 6d8 to 8d8.
  
• Added a teleport variant where he specifically tries to get close to the player (rather than just A_Wandering and then A_Chasing back).
  
• Replaced teleport BFoG with a variant of the Heretic/Hexen version (recolored so as to be thematically in line with the original, and to be distinct from stock Heretic/Hexen teleport fog).
  
• New death puffs.
  
• Improved his ice death frame.

You'll note that I've increased his overall attack power some. His bats and melee are stronger, and he produces more standard projectiles. I think he's still pretty well balanced (and I think that the original version's damage output was a bit on the conservative side to begin with); with that said, I'd like to hear your opinions. I'm willing to knock his attack power back down a notch if I went too far in the other direction. Also, please let me know if the current attack preferences seem better. If you've got further suggestions on his behavior, feel free to share them! I'm willing to further tweak his attack patterns if they just don't feel quite right yet. (I sorta suspect I'll need to increase the spread on his multi-shot slightly.)

I haven't done anything with his SFX yet. I'm really hesitant to get rid of the Iron Lich laughing sound used for his sight and idle, since I'm fond of it...maybe we can agree to disagree on it. But, I'm open to recommendations, of course.

Very good job, I love it

Good work! His attack preferences are very good, and his teleporting is used much more aggressively. His projectile attack is much more damaging, and the smoke and teleport effects look much better. His melee attack is better, too.

And about that Iron Lich sound, if you like it, then I'm fine with it.

As requested, I've started working on the melee animation for the Disciple of D'Sparil from Heretic. Here's a preview:

Since it's more of a resource rather than a submission of its own, I was thinking that I'll probably start a thread on The Workshop chronicling its progress and feedback, rather than making a Beastiary thread of its own (or clogging up this specific submission's thread). Is that OK, or do you guys prefer something else?

That sounds fine. When it's done, post a submission thread in the Beastiary. Looks awesome by the way.

Disclaimer: This is not a comment on how it looks, someone just pointed this out on IRC and I thought it was funny:

D'Sparil: So, who wants to hunt the Heretic?

Disciple: Oh! Oh! I do!

Heh heh, yeah, the same general joke popped into my mind as soon as I posted; I was actually contemplating editing my post to include some kind of "high five" joke if you hadn't beaten me to it. It should look a bit more convincing in action, with any luck.

Anyways, once I get a few more frames done, I'll set up a thread in the Workshop so it can get some feedback and criticism, and I'll submit it to the Beastiary once it's good and done.

Oh, and did you have any opinions on the new assets I put in for the Nosferati, or the last round of DECORATE changes I made? I swapped out the teleport fog and death puffs.

EDIT: Actually, if the Disciple's updated version will be submitted to the Beastiary, I might as well skip the Workshop thread; the Beastiary thread should suffice.