Subset Games Forum

I had a break over the weekend, and ended up thinking of some stuff I'd like to see in an FTL update (mostly modding-centric stuff, to be honest, but still)


So one thing i'd like to see is more race abilities - they'd work the same way as Crystal Lockdown, but not every member of each race would have this bonus ability.
Basically, you'd only get them through events - either picking up strangers or as an upgrade to your existing crew members.


I felt the urge to animate my favoutrite ones, which is why this post exists.


Skilled Engi
Ability: Mitose
This Engi has learnt to split its form into two separate beings.

• Once charged, the Engi can split into two seperate Mini-Engis.
• After 20 seconds they reform the original, even in separate rooms.
• Mini-Engis' stats (including health and speed) are 3/4s that of normal Engi; Together they can perform repairs faster than a lone Engi, or they can split up to perform different tasks.
• Both Mini-Engi can be controlled by the player, and retain skill boosts of the original engi.
• If one dies, the other becomes the 'Alpha', but it will stay Mini until the next jump/clone respawn.

Skilled Mantis
Ability: Swarm
This Mantis can induce Swarming behaviour when in a group.

• Once charged, and if a room with at least one other, this skill turns all mantis in the same room into Swarm-Mantis
• Swarm-Mantis' stats (including health and speed) gain a 1.5x buff, making them far more dangerous than normal, however...
• Swarm-Mantis cannot be controlled by the player; instead they are all AI controlled. The Initiator targets the nearest enemy crew/system to attack, and the rest attempt to help.
• Enemy Mantis can also be effected by this, joining the swarm as if mind controlled
• The effect wares off after 12 seconds, although individuals will revert to normal if isolated from the rest of the swarm for 2 seconds.

Skilled Lanius
Ability: Hull Dive
This Lanius can travel quickly through the vacuum of space.

• Once charged, use this ability and select another room as a target to Hull Dive to, as if teleporting.
• The Lanius vanishes from the current room, and reappears at the targeted one. The time this takes depends on the distance, roughly 2x walk-speed in a straight line.
• On arriving, the hull is breached, and any crew inside may be stunned.
• If used on the opposite ship, the Lanius launches itself like a boarding drone, meaning it can be instantly killed by Defense Drones or Zoltan Shields

Other Races

Some other thoughts;

Humans - Either/Or:
DoorBreach: stun all crew in any adjacent room - works through any level of door, and instantly breaks through that door if controlled by an enemy.
Override: Hack any adjacent room, including doors, for up to 12 seconds. Ends if the human moves or is otherwise interrupted.

Rockmen
FireBomb: Completely ignite the current room

Slugs - Either/Or:
MindCntrl: Mind control an enemy in the same room - can't be used on slugs
Hide: Cloak self and any teammates in the same room to hide them from enemy crew. Doesn't work on anyone currently being aimed at, but does travel from room to room

Zoltan Either/Or:
Teleport: Instant teleport to any point on the same ship. Can't be used to jump from ship-to-ship. Possibly deals minor Ion damage at each end.
Surge: Applies an effect to current room; Double energy on Player systems, Hacking on Enemy systems. Travels from room to room.



Yeah - i'm sure none of this will ever be a thing, but it's fun.
Any race abilities you'd like to see? Discuss!

I need englets (mitose Engis) in my life-

All of these are awesome. However the balance of the swarm Mantis is questionable... I do fear about those coming onto my ship to the point I will never go into a mantis sector ever again and would rather go the other direction into the rebel fleet then to go into a mantis sector dead end xD

I figured they'd be player only - like these are rare abilities that only those who go on special quests ever master.
It would be pretty cool/terrifying if you did find a mantis ship with a swarmer on it, though... All part of the RNG.

What would be really cool is, if you get to one of these quests but don't have the right crewmembers, you can teach a slightly weaker version to any other one of your crew.
Like a Master Lanius could teach any race to 'LockDive' - basically jump between two airlocks/breaches - but only a true Lanius can HullDive between any two given points, or use the ability on airlock-less ships without a ready made breach point.

Not sure how it would work with the Engi/Mantis abilities, though...

Not sure how it would work with the Engi/Mantis abilities, though...

Mantis stims allow equivalent of swarmers for other species? (Anyone remember Deadlock with the Humans and their special ability to go crazy at the cost of their lives?)
As for Engi mitosis, nanomachines in the medbay/Clone Bay?

Oh and nice animations by the way

Great work, esp. on the sprites. As if Engis needed to be more adorable <3


My ideas for further abilities:

Rock:
- Stonewall. When in combat, the Rock hunkers down and cannot be harmed. However, he also can't attack.

Humans
- Adapt or die: Max out one stat for a certain duration.

Zoltan
- Combat Medic: Heals ally during fight. Cannot fight back for the duration.

Lanius
- Metal Reprocessor: Eats one enemy system bar, removing it permanently. Only when on board enemy ship.

im crying these are so good

Anyway, the specifications are pretty good, but they could be improved. The Engi is pretty well balanced, the Mantis should get a buff to attack/speed x 2 or 2.5, and the Lanius should only be able to teleport on the ship its on currently, and not at the other ship - that's what Teleporters are for! I just wonder how you would trigger each of these abilities - after all, you don't want Lanius teleporting around your ship and causing breaches everytime you move them. (maybe right click then left click to move)

salandit wrote:I just wonder how you would trigger each of these abilities - after all, you don't want Lanius teleporting around your ship and causing breaches everytime you move them. (maybe right click then left click to move)

Gencool wrote:they'd work the same way as Crystal Lockdown

expanding on this, I imagine with the lanius once you click their special skill button, your cursor changes into a crosshair or something like it does when you select launch hacking drone or mind control. they'd also have recharge times like crystal lockdown does so you can't abuse them.