Zoats - A Wood Elf Hero/Unit to look forward to?

TheWattman#7460

LORE:

Zoats are powerful wizards, able to tap into the Winds of Magic in an instinctive manner, rather than through study and ritual. Whilst this means that a Zoat will never prove as versatile a wizard as an Elf, or even a Man, their innate control over the lifewind, Ghyran, surpasses all but the most learned High Elf Mages. Indeed, many a Wood Elf Spellsingers will seek out a Zoat in order to learn from it, but as the Elves of Athel Loren find Zoats no less elusive than do other beings, very few succeed in their search.

In the ordinary run of things, Zoats are seldom encountered outside their woodland homes. Indeed, even within such places, it is rare to catch a sight of one. When intruders close or danger threatens, Zoats will rise the trees and undergrowth to crush and strangle interlopers, rather than take direct action themselves. In this way, Zoats can avoid detection, and even a single such creature can imbue a forest with a reputation so dreadful that even marauding Orcs and rampaging warherds will give the area a wide berth. Where sorcery alone is not sufficient, the Zoat will leave the shadows to enter the fray personally, knocking the invaders to the ground with sweeping blows. Once prone, the enemy becomes easy prey for creeping roots and vines, which swiftly entangle and throttle them. When eldritch storms erupt upon the world, it is possible to bind Zoats into service and only then will the creatures leave their reclusive forest homes.

To me this seems like a thing that could make itself useful on the Wood Elf roster. A monstrous magic/melee hybrid Hero or monstrous unit that can basically function as a Dragon Ogre Shaggoth for the Wood Elves. Lore of Life, combat buffs for nearby allies and causing fear and a faster monster than the treeman without having to bring in dragons. Something to lead on the frontlines in short.

What do you think guys? Would this be a good addition for the Wood Elves?

TancredIIQuenelles#3970

I think WE nave no glade captain and shadowdancer. And spellweawer as well.

Neodeinos#5871

I know some people really don't like it but I would personally love it. Though I guess CA could come up with a more fitting model for it, I can see why people think it's not the most fitting unit.

Rob18446

I really hope not, they're at best a knock off Shaggoth and match the WE aesthetic about as well as a Shaggoth would.

Biggles#4266

I've always hated Zoats. Especially when they were first introduced as they looked so bloody awful.

You're probably right though. If they ever do DLC for the Wood Elfs they will get the Fimir treatment.

TheWattman#7460

Tancred II von Quenelles said:

I think WE nave no glade captain and shadowdancer. And spellweawer as well.

What about just as a monstrous unit?

OdTengri#8235

oliverpmason said:

I've always hated Zoats. Especially when they were first introduced as they looked so bloody awful.

Agreed.

lucibuis#6195

yes, rise Zoats rise, this is the beginning

Reeks#2417

Rob18446 said:

I really hope not, they're at best a knock off Shaggoth and match the WE aesthetic about as well as a Shaggoth would.

This, almost as bad as the infamous Fairy Dragons.

Disgusting.

Biggles#4266

OdTengri said:

oliverpmason said:

I've always hated Zoats. Especially when they were first introduced as they looked so bloody awful.

Agreed.

Thank you.

You are now my best friend.

endurstonehelm#6102

Zoats are cool. But they aren't Shaggoth class. They are more like a centaur spell caster. In combat, they won't be much different from a spellcaster on a horse.

endurstonehelm#6102

Although they do have scaly skin and will be tougher to kill than a usual elven spellcaster on a horse.

eomat#7953

Please no. They really dont fit the aesthetic.

WE need Glade Captain, Spellweaver, Shadowdancer, twilight sisters, Araloth, Drycha and reworked Amber mechanic.

SaurianDruid#4682

At first I felt they didn't fit the aesthetic, but honestly I don't think they'd be that out of place in an army with branchwraiths decorated with human skulls and a dragon. I could see them getting the fimir treatment and having a hero with Lore of Life and a unit of a few of them as a heavy monstrous cavalry unit. It'd give a little offensive power to spirit focused armies.

I'd rather get the elfy units they are missing first, but I wouldn't be opposed to zoats being included.

lucibuis#6195

SaurianDruid said:

At first I felt they didn't fit the aesthetic, but honestly I don't think they'd be that out of place in an army with branchwraiths decorated with human skulls and a dragon. I could see them getting the fimir treatment and having a hero with Lore of Life and a unit of a few of them as a heavy monstrous cavalry unit. It'd give a little offensive power to spirit focused armies.

I'd rather get the elfy units they are missing first, but I wouldn't be opposed to zoats being included.

they could indeed be the land malee hammer the forest spirits need

Loupi#8512

no thanks, Shaggoth with lore of life doesnt seem much fun

Szemis#3402

I for one, welcome our new Zoat overlords.

Helhound#7332

I like em.

Make em like mini Dragon Ogres. Anti-large monsterous cav-like units. Weaker combat stats but they make up for it by being able to cast some magic as bound spells, much like the Sisters of Thorn.

PlatypusEros#6196

Why not just elf centaurs, at that point? Would seem to fit the aesthetic more than the Zoats.

Archmark#3881

I kinda like it, but I have to admit that it looks a bit like a Chaos spawn of a Greenskin and Lizardman.

dodge33cymru#1936

The lore says they hardly leave the forest and are difficult to contact even for WE.

No thanks, not unless it’s programmed to show up 1 in a thousand battles when held inside Athel Loren. Really doesn’t belong in a standing army IMO.

SaurianDruid#4682

dodge33cymru said:

The lore says they hardly leave the forest and are difficult to contact even for WE.

No thanks, not unless it’s programmed to show up 1 in a thousand battles when held inside Athel Loren. Really doesn’t belong in a standing army IMO.

By this logic forest dragons, and dragons in general, should also only show up once in a thousand battles. Same with the Dread Saurian. Shoot, isn't there only supposed to be about five steam tanks in the entire world?

Azurian#4207

endur said:

Although they do have scaly skin and will be tougher to kill than a usual elven spellcaster on a horse.

Pay attention to its characteristics. He is only slightly weaker than Shaggot.

Ares354#1090

dodge33cymru said:

The lore says they hardly leave the forest and are difficult to contact even for WE.

No thanks, not unless it’s programmed to show up 1 in a thousand battles when held inside Athel Loren. Really doesn’t belong in a standing army IMO.

So spaming DRAGON army is a good thing and lore wise thign that happen often yes ?

OdTengri#8235

PlatypusEros said:

Why not just elf centaurs, at that point? Would seem to fit the aesthetic more than the Zoats.

F it why not Bray Shamans for the Wood Elves.