After Kerrigan’s victory on Korhal the Kaldir Brood (formerly known as the Nafash brood) was reconstituted under a new broodmother named Neithis. Kerrigan sent Neithis to Kaldir to complete the brood’s evolutionary adaptations to the frozen climate. While exploring the frigid wastelands of her world Neithis discovered and assimilated a species of spider-like animals. Weaving their essence into her brood caused strange new mutations to manifest, which could be triggered by consuming energy from carrion in a form of pseudo-necromancy. With her exotic new powers Neithis is finally ready to prove herself in the End War.
Skins The accompanying Kaldir Brood skin set is based on prehistoric mammals, yetis and Nerubians. They are distinguishable from other Zerg by their white fur, long tusks, bluish carapace, and spider eyes. Faction color is white.
Inspiration: Nerubians, the undead Scourge, and Diablo’s Necromancer class
Faction Features
Corpse Resource (alternative name Carrion) appears as bloody meat and bones
- Dropped whenever either friendly or enemy units die (to discourage trolling allied units will not leave corpses if the player deliberately kills them)
- Corpses merge to create larger piles
- The corpses are used by the Kaldir Brood’s two heroes to fuel their spells
- Unlike essence, corpses cannot be moved by any unit except the Corpse Ravager (which functions as a meatwagon). While corpses are abundant, they often need to be relocated from older battlefields to the new front lines. I’m considering overlords as a possible secondary carrier.
Neithis- Newborn broodmother of the Kaldir Brood. Her efficient abilities help defend the Kaldir brood in the early game when corpses are sparse. In the late game she transitions to a support role.
Lurker Lord- The Kaldir variant of the Anubalisk. This powerhouse should be spawned later in the game so its powerful abilities can reap the corpse-strewn battlefields.
Two primary playstyles- For a conventional experience players can focus on Neithis to evolve her army. Alternatively players can focus on the Lurker Lord to take full advantage of the corpse resource.
Heroes
Neithis- Her abilities automatically consume the nearest corpse in range when cast.
* Spawn Ursadon- An effective meat-shield for the early game. Able to leap onto nearby enemies to briefly stun them. Ursadons would be limited to two or three at a time.
* Death Coil- Use on enemies as a damage spell or on allies as transfusion.
* Force Evolution- Morphs the target unit into its evolved form. The Kaldir Brood units are still able to evolve the normal way, but it costs more resources than other Zerg commanders.
* Spawn Lurker Lord- Her most expensive spell summons the secondary hero.
Lurker Lord- Its abilities use all corpses in the targeted area, so there is some risk it may overkill enemies.
* Impaling Blades- The Lurker Lord can launch subterranean spikes at a circular target area containing corpses to stun and impale enemies. More corpses cause more damage.
* Spawn Obsidian Destroyer- The Lurker Lord can transform a large corpse pile into an Obsidian Destroyer. These dark flying units resemble the Lurker Lord and are resistant to spells (or immune, balance permitting). Destroyers only live as long as they have energy (which replaces their hit points and slowly drains over time). Their attacks use their energy to do damage with DPS comparable to an oracle. Destroyers cannot be healed, but they can extend their lives by draining energy from enemy spellcasters (and perhaps friendly ones, depending on balance).
* Bone Armor- Consumes all corpses within close proximity to the Lurker Lord. Corpses are converted into bonus hitpoints; even raising it beyond maximum hp (although it will tick down to normal). Usually this ability is the best way to keep the Lurker Lord alive, however players should be wary of consuming massive corpse piles. Sometimes its more efficient for Neithis to spawn a new Lurker Lord than over-committing to the current one.
* Godkiller: an extremely powerful single target nuke that consumes all nearby corpses (main use is against objectives due to long channelling time and extreme overkill against most units)
Units
Overseer- able to spawn Changelings with detection (Warcraft equivalent: Shade). For balance reasons the Changelings cannot move while morphed (to prevent exploits with Swann’s laser drill) but can revert to their original form when enemies are no longer in sight.
Sabertoothed Zergling- Expendable source of fresh corpses. Zerglings are slowly reconstituted at the spawning pool (maximum limit or cooldown might be altered by mastery) and benefit from Putrid Carcasses upgrade, which makes their dead bodies emit toxic gas for a short time.
Roach Fiend (Corpser strain)- The Nerubian-like roaches spawn roachlings from slain enemies
Corpse Ravager- The only unit that can transport corpses. Ravagers can either target an area or indiscriminately consume corpses until full. Deploying corpses is done by using corrosive bile (best combined with rapid-fire). The putrid carcasses upgrade augments corrosive bile with a toxic gas that lingers on corpses for a short time. Corpses must be on the ground to be used for spells.
Abominable Ultralisk (Alternate name:Mammoth Ultralisk)- This abomination expels toxic gas from its body like the Noxious strain from the campaign.
Infestor- Fills the roles of both necromancers and banshees. Spawns infested Terrans to counter air threats, can cast Wild Mutation (or perhaps Dark Swarm) to buff friendly units, and controls enemies with Parasitic Domination. Dominated enemies have timed life.
Stonewing Mutalisk- Webs up enemy air units (which pulls them to the ground). Can be upgraded with the Stone Cocoon ability. The Mutalisk is encased in a cocoon with high armor, rapid regeneration, and it falls to the ground, crushing hapless foes caught underneath.
Wyrm Lord- By expelling liquid nitrogen in a breath attack the Wyrm Lord chills and slows enemy units or freezes buildings completely. The breath attack has a long cooldown but can hit air units that its little broodlings can’t reach.
Potential Units
Obsidian Chrysalis (Obsidian Statue) Creates a health or energy regenerating aura
Viper or Brood Queen (Banshee) The infestor is already a necromancer/banshee hybrid, so there wasn’t a need for a second spellcaster for now
The Kaldir Brood has a standard Nydus system, but there could be the option to make a Nydus that generates corpses like the Scourge graveyard.
Easter egg: Neithis will change her unit quotes on certain maps; She is most comfortable with Kaldir’s climate but will feel miserable on any lava worlds.
Thanks for reading. This concept came together surprisingly quickly. I’m curious if I should maintain the Scourge-inspired roster and spells or seek to make the brood radically different in future versions. I look forward to any advice to refine the next draft.