Changes for more accurate and balanced Greek Heroes

Age of Mythology: Retold Discussion
1

The following changes are for the most passionate and history/mythology nerds like me, that are bothered with some heroes’ choices for the various Greek Major Gods.

Also, I believe that with myth units buff of retold, the greeks could use a little buff to their hero, which could also differentiate them more.

I understand that the Greek heroic system has been this one for years, but one can dream, and it might still be a source of ideas for a future fourth greek major god.

Here are the bulletpoints my changes:

  • All age I to III heroes now also get an ability. They unlock such ability one age after they are unlocked, so for example, Jason get it’s ability just on the second age, Atalanta on the 3 age, and Chiron on the fourth age. Age 4 heroes are still unlocked with their abilities right away.
  • The Zeus and Poseidon age 4 heroes are switched, in the sense that the former get a more tanky area of damage unit, and the latter a more fast burst damage unit (and also that specific hero).
  • some aesthetic changes to some heroes.

Here are the how I would like to see the rework of the Greek Heroes:

ZEUS:

Age I

  • Jason: he gets the ability to slowly heal himself and nearby allied units.

Jason found the golden fleece, which had the ability to heal every injury or disease.

Age II - NEW HERO

  • Aeneas: new hero, with stats similar to present Heracles. It gain the ability to disappear in a fog cloud and reaper at a short distance.

Aeneas was a devoted hero, and it was often saved by various gods during the siege of Troy, even by the ones that supported the greeks.

Age III

  • Odysseus: he gets a ranged attack that fire a straight arrow, which deal divine damage to all units on its path. The arrow also go past its intended target to until it reaches its maximum range.

The bow of Odysseus required such strength, that he was the only one able to draw it. And it was the ultimate test to prove his identity against the usurpers of Ithaca.

Age IV

  • Heracles: in all stats and abilities he replace Polyphemus (which is removed) but with the same appearance as now (maybe a little bit bigger…).

The man literally molded the greek mythology, helped the olypian gods kill the giants, held the sky in the place of Atlas, and then ascended to god hood… and he is just an age 2 hero? The man is also a Marvel character, come on…

POSEIDON:

Age I

  • Theseus: it gain the ability to poison an enemy units every 10 secs.

Theseus killed the minotaur with a poison dagger.

Age II

  • Atalanta: as now. It gains the ability to summon a bear (hero) to fight on her side.

As it was abandoned as a child, Artemis sent a bear to nurse her.

Age III

  • Ippolita: she become a mounted archer. She gain the ability to shoot 2 additional stray arrows, with high bonus damage against myth units.

Not much to add, but amazons were skilled archers and horsemen, and the extra arrows can help for crowd control in later ages.

Age IV

  • Bellerophon: the same hero that Zeus had, but it can now benefit from Poseidon cavalry bonus and tech.

Like literally the horse god doesn’t have one horse hero, not even if he is his son… I have nothing against Polyphemus, but it has always been a weird choice, as it’s also a myth unit, and not really a positive character in the mythology.

HADES:

Age I

  • Ajax: he gets the shield bash ability, adjusted accordingly.

Really it’s a no brainer… although an ability that would make him invulnerable would be more accurate, this is a must.

Age II

  • Achilles: the same unit stat-wise, but it modeled after a hoplite. Still very fast.
    He gets the ability to dodge incoming attacks every 10 secs.

Achilles fought on foot, and was incredibly agile and quick. So please, remove the horse from Achilles, he is not it’s supposed descendant Alexander.

Age III

  • Chiron: stay as he is, but get the area attack of the centaurs.

Nothing wrong with him, but I believe that giving him the standard attack area in the age 4 isn’t that big of a deal.

Age IV

  • Perseus: stay as he is now.

Nothing wrong with him, he is the only one that doesn’t need any changes. Hades heroes are the ones I have less problem with, as it’s a nice theme of heroes with tragic endings, which ended up in the underworld.

APHRODITE:

  • Argus: it now also the ability to train heroes when nearby the shore.

EDITED FOR TYPOS

3 Likes
2

I had the exact same idea:

1 Like
3

Just saw it, and we basically said the same things :joy:

The fact that zeus have Bellerophon and a boring Heracles just bother me so much.

Also, Polyphemus isn’t just usually depicted as a villan, but it’s doesn’t appear much in the greek tales, and it’s not known as a great warrior, he is strong, but it’s just a shepard.

On top of that, with the buff of MU, Greek Heroes doesn’t feel that unique anymore, so some special abilities might help. Most of those heroes completed legendary tasks, slayed beasts, or had supernatural properties. That’s why I want abilities to represent them.

I hope that when they’ll eventually add the fourth major green god, we can also see a bit rework the greek heroes too, like the had with the rework of the norse tech tree.

4

A pretty unique idea!

In practice, their stats would have to be rebalanced otherwise they’d be a bit too strong in matches but having more options to diversify the Greek heroes would be great potentially.

For example, Chiron could get his power shot back but have heavily scaled damage compared to the campaign (that thing hits for a few 100 damage against myth units when he’s properly upgraded lol).

1 Like
5

Well, it sounds cool until you play against it as non greek main having to learn 12 different heroes. I believe once they add more gods to Greek pantheon, there will be more varied type of heroes.

However from balance point of view what would really make Greek heroes balanced is reducing their speed and hitpoints by around 10%, and adding a 3rd age tech that increases it back to normal. Intent is to reduce their power on 2nd age, and hide their full potential behind spending extra resources.

2 Likes
6

Some of them probably yes, and for example in the case of Heracles there should be a complete rework.

Although, to avoid breaking balance and giving too strong heroes, they unlock their abilities only 1 age later.

So taking chiron as an example, you would get the area of damage only in age 4, bringing him almost on pair with perseus, but not breaking the balance in age 3.

I also thought of giving chiron the campaign ability, but I believe that the centaur ability is more unique, and helps more with massed MU in the late game.

1 Like
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Well greeks are already the most vanilla and easy civ, so it’s not like you would be overwhelmed.

Also, most abilities are quite simple, some almost passive, so it’s not something that you should memorize.

I don’t know. Greek Heroes are strong in the first 2 ages, but then fall back pretty quickly.

And even in the early game, being able to get just 2 heroes means that you cannot be everywhere you need on the map…

8

Agree! Come on let do this devs! :star_struck:

1 Like