Primal Guardian MM Primary Set Idea

[Rudra]

So @CommanderStryker got me thinking with the Musketeers proposal. So I'm here yet again with yet another MM primary set proposal. (Bear in mind I fully understand how much more difficult it is to make a MM primary, so I'm not holding my breath over this. However, I would still like to get a feel for how others view this idea and what improvements they would like to suggest.)

 

Primal Guardian

The primal guardian seeks to both defend nature and bend it to his will. Whether the primal guardian's intentions are benign or malign, the primal guardian has devoted followers to enforce his will, eventually culminating in the ability to call forth and command a primal spirit of nature itself to serve.

 

 

Tier 1: Venom Thorn

This thrown dart poisons the target, inflicting additional damage over time while penalizing the target's recharge.

 

Tier 2: Scout
(Use Immunes Engineer, not Incarnate version, no shield) Armed with javelins and spear, scouts form the bulk of the primal guardian's forces. Opening the fight with their thrown javelins, scouts disrupt and harry enemy forces. They then utilize their spears to finish off whatever is left to close with them. (Melee preferred.) (Powers: Mercurial Blow and Precise Strike. Both with spear model.)

 

Tier 3: Throwing Axe

A sturdy axe thrown with precision.

 

Tier 4: Enhanced Training

This power enhances your followers, bolstering their resilience and teaching them new techniques to use against your foes.

 

Tier 5: Gas Acid Grenade

This thrown weapon explodes into a cloud of nerve gas. While the initial damage is light, the gas' vapors cling to the target. This results in additional minor damage over time. More importantly, the gas gets into the targets' eyes and nose, making it more difficult for them to perceive their enemies, and so rendering their attacks less accurate. (Toxic damage on attack, toxic DoT, -ACC, -Perception)

This thrown weapon inundates the target and the area around it with an extremely caustic fluid. (Toxic damage, toxic DoT, minor -RES.) (Change made to remove the more control-oriented aspect of original power.)

 

Tier 6: Woodsman

(Use modified Woodsman model. So it isn't the actual Woodsman. Intent is unarmored warrior, but doesn't use combat boots like the Warriors.) The elite of your followers, these skilled warriors are armed with bows and axes. (Melee preferred.) (Powers:  Beheader and Chop.)

 

Tier 7: Release the Hounds

(Use Howler Wolf.) When the fighting looks to be particularly fierce, you have a kennel of war hounds ready to be unleashed on your foes. (Functions as Gang War, except with 'dogs of war' theme.)

 

Tier 8: Summon Primal Spirit

(Use Bres.) You have learned how to unleash a primal spirit of nature's wrath. This creature commands nature itself to doom your foes. (Melee preferred.) (Powers: Punch and Haymaker.)

 

Tier 9: Ascendant Empowerment

You can now imbue your followers with even greater abilities than before.

 

Enhanced Training Powers:

All: Improved damage resistance

Scout: Javelin Throw (Use Pilum animation from Cimeroran Traitors.)

Woodsman: Aimed Shot

Summon Primal Spirit: Haymaker and Strangler

 

Ascendant Empowerment Powers:

All: Minor self heal (long recharge)

Scout: Guarded Spin

Woodsman: Pendulum

Summon Primal Spirit: Foot Stomp and Lightning Storm

 

 

That's my pitch. Let's hear the responses.

 

Edited July 4 by Rudra
Edited to change requested model for Woodsmen followers.

[Techwright]

On 7/4/2025 at 12:01 AM, Rudra said:

 

Primal Guardian

The primal guardian seeks to both defend nature and bend it to his will. 

 

 

No offense, but that nature theme is not the vibe I get from looking over most of the proposed abilities. More like "primitive" guardian, like something Tarzan might encounter when crossing a lost civilization in a storybook African jungle.   Most described would make a fine set for a Luddite take on MM.    Is there something that can make these more nature-based, like say, a controller of vines?  That fits the "bend it to his will" description.

[Rudra]

1 hour ago, Techwright said:

 

No offense, but that nature theme is not the vibe I get from looking over most of the proposed abilities. More like "primitive" guardian, like something Tarzan might encounter when crossing a lost civilization in a storybook African jungle.   Most described would make a fine set for a Luddite take on MM.    Is there something that can make these more nature-based, like say, a controller of vines?  That fits the "bend it to his will" description.

Well, the main intent is supposed to be "primitive". The bending nature to the MM's will is in the form of the thorn attack and the Summon Primal Spirit power. I can agree with replacing Release the Hounds with something more in line with plants, but plants isn't all there is to nature. Nature is both flora and fauna. And I don't want to step on Plant Control Controllers and Dominators with their plant-based powers. Especially since using the Nature Affinity secondary set adds in the plants for players that want more plant powers in the set. And I'm trying to limit the number of animals otherwise I'm intruding into Beast Mastery. So that leaves humans as pets (which also simplifies implementation). Do you have any specific suggestions/requests though? That would be easier to process for me.

 

(Edit: It should be noted that Release the Hounds is also intended to be like a druid's ability to call animals, only I limited it to wolves, called them hounds, and decided against naming it Call Animals.)

 

Edited 16 hours ago by Rudra

[MTeague]

I'd be happy with almost Any new MM primary.  Primal Guardians, Elementals, Police, Divine Host, Dinosaurs, Duplicates, etc.  Anything.  I'd also be content with no new MM primaries, but some reskin options for the existing ones. To have Family style mafia guys instead of Thugs, or Malta-ish special forces instead of Soldiers, Knives of Artimis style minions instead of Ninjas, etc. 

 

I get that new MM primaries require a TON of work compared to any other primary. And I get it's all volunteer, and they're going to work on only ideas that strike their fancy. That's entirely fair. I may have to be content and wait a year or more. But there is definitely pent up desire for different kinds of henchmen.