Komodo Dragon (Tapwig Concept Art), Potentially Dangerous AI Threat

[Tregrenos]

Komodo Dragons are cool and all, but they don't have much in the way of variety in terms of hunting styles. They are limited to a bite that has the devastating effects of a toxin that prevents blood from coagulating (mud would be useless), causing the prey to bleed to death from the wound as well as feel lite headed. While they don't offer much in terms of playstyle they would make an excelent AI threat on the island for all dino. One of those things both Carno and Herbi would want to either kill or avoid. I don't believe they should be playable because they are honestly quite boring, but if they are AI only their single attack can be quite dangerously OP, adding to the overall "survival" feel of The Isle.

The Komodo Dragons on The Isle could be roaming threats that have a short "detection" range, but once they aggro on something will chase and try to bite it for quite a long distance. They would not aggro on anything else until they de-aggro, so it'd be kinda pointless if you're being chased by this thing to try and lead it into a group since you'd still be its only target until you run far away. While the Komodo Dragon has a single nasty bite, that's not the main threat. Once the Komodo Dragon bites something they suffer a heavy bleed that cannot be prevented with mud until the toxin in their body has run its course. You'll have to sit to keep the bleed from causing too much damage.

The Komodo Dragon isn't going to try and actively fight something if it doesn't have to, so once they bite they would back away and de-aggro for a few seconds, re-aggroing only once this timer finishes and something is within its short aggro range. This would mimic the real-life hunting tactics of Komodo Dragons in that they are willing to wait patiently for prey to weaken or die from the toxin. It would also add an unknown variable for when Carnos are sniffing in that if they detect something bleeding from a distance they can't be sure a Komodo Dragon isn't near the target, possibly not visible due to foliage depending on where the target is detected. If they go and try to capitalize on the bleeding target they might be aggroed on by the Komodo Dragon and and up with the same nasty bleed themselves.

The Komodo Dragon wouldn't be the strongest on The Isle, but a fearless nature ready to attack anything that gets too close would make them a threat to all but the larger of the dinos. The smaller, swifter dinos can outrun them, but the heavier, slower ones may end up having to fight or preferably avoid them. On the upside, they'd be one of the larger AI, so any carnos that kill them would get a decent meal if they are willing to deal with the bleed effects.

[Tregrenos]

It's worth noting that the behavior listed above is based on RL Komodo Dragon, but since The Isle is trying to "do something different" they might be more interesting to play as. As it stands a playable Komodo Dragon wouldn't bring much to the table. It can give chase, but wouldn't be too fast and it only has 1 means of combat. However, I'll admit some players might find it interesting to be a giant lizard, it just doesn't appeal to me because its options are limited.

An AI Komodo Dragon could be set not to attack certain larger species it has no chance against or perhaps have its aggro turned into a "fleeing" mechanic by making them run the other way of the target.

A Komodo Dragons hunting tactic is to make the target believe it's slower than they expect, gradually approaching them before going for a lunging attack. They often hunt deer, which are much faster prey, but the deer is lead to believe the Komodo Dragon poses no threat due to how slowly it initially moves. By giving the AI a short aggro range it mimics this behavior.

Komodo Dragons tend to bite and back away, still wary of the targets ability to harm them. After biting the target, who will probably want to lay down soon to prevent the bleeding from causing too much damage, they immediately de-aggro and will not re-aggro until after a few seconds and only on something within their short aggro range. This, again, is to mimic the RL tactics of these animals.

Once the Komodo Dragon goes on the attack they will chase down the target for some distance, actually moving faster than they appear. By giving the AI a long de-aggro radius it mimics this behavior. It also prevents players from trolling groups of others by intentionally leading a Komodo Dragon to the group since the Komodo Dragon won't de-aggro until it bites the initial target or they get far enough away from it. Either way, the group has ample time to respond as even if the Komodo Dragon bites the target it will have a timer before it can re-aggro anyway.

Normally the Komodo Dragon would begin eating the target alive, so long as they appeared defenseless, but for simplicity sake the AI simply won't eat nor need food or water. They only exist to be an ongoing threat to all other dinos.

[!Snipey ✙]

maybe they can sneak up on their prey? cool！

[Tregrenos]

Цитата допису MisS MiLk:

maybe they can sneak up on their prey? cool！

While the AI for the rex is looking pretty bold the AI for something like this Komodo Dragon would be rather simplistic. The above suggestions are to help add it into the game without too much AI tinkering involved. Komodo Dragon aren't hyper aggressive and can even seem pretty chill when just wondering around. They are hardwired to a particular style with not much thought going into the hunt. They certainly don't seem as dangerous as they actually are.

Their bite is more for gripping than cutting or chewing, often swallowing anything that can fit in their mouth, whether it's a piece of a larger animal or whole in the case of smaller animals. When they bite the pressure on their lower gums causes the toxins to be released. That said, they aren't going to bite and hold on to an animal that can actively move, their bite after the initial strike is mainly to tear chunks from the prey once it's down. It's for these reasons I don't believe the Komodo Dragon would make an interesting player choice because if you follow these natural tactics and translate them into the game it'd mainly be the player making a single weak bite while the venom does the rest of the work.

For balance issues the toxin can't be too OP if it's PvP, but with an understandable PvE behavior pattern the devs can afford to make the toxin more deadly without seeming broken.

[Zandarmon]

Worth noting that it is based on a Megalania species, so I would expect it to be much larger than any Varanus that existed in real life as there is some Isle flair being put on it. I expect it to be large enough to take on Ceratosaurus.

The speed and agility of monitors and Komodo's is often overlooked but they can be very fast in short bursts. Same with the tail, another overlooked part of reptiles in general. A Green Iguana can break a human arm with a tail whip, imagine a 500kg Megalania doing so, it could easily break the jaw of many therapods. Another thing worth noting is due to the low body plan it would be very good at hiding in the abundant foliage found on the map, even if it was 8 meters long.

[Sable]

This isn't just a Komodo dragon. It's Megalania, presumably based on Doctor Nova's Isle size charts V. Priscus. This thing weighs little over a ton (not 500 kg, that's the small one).

As Zandar said, monitors are extremely athletic lizards and unlike other reptiles, actually excel in endurance. Even if Megalania is slow, which admittedly it is, it can stay on the move for long periods of time, and it doesn't need speed to catch prey. Obviously it isn't running down theropods or hadrosaurs, but I'd doesn't need to.

It has five Ceratopsians, two Stegosaurids, an Ankylosaurus, and a dwarf Sauropod that it can hunt, all animals that most certainly are not speed demons and well within its ability to kill.

By nature, monitors are also durable animals and regularly square off with predators bigger than themselves. A Komodo dragon can concuss a water buffalo with a slap. Scale that up to a one ton Megalania and it can certainly keep even Allosaurus at bay.

Also, "limited hunting style" is a moot point when things like Deinosuchus and Pteranodon exist. One can only camp water and the other is restricted to fish and hatchlings.

Megalania actually brings more since, as a monitor lizard (some of the best opportunist hunters), it can come equipped with several ways of getting and doing things other animals can't.

They're powerful swimmers, good climbers, and likely wouldn't pass up a big nest of Rex eggs or a burrow with a Protoceratops hiding in it.

[Zandarmon]

Цитата допису The Weasel:

T
By nature, monitors are also durable animals and regularly square off with predators bigger than themselves. A Komodo dragon can concuss a water buffalo with a slap. Scale that up to a one ton Megalania and it can certainly keep even Allosaurus at bay.

Fun fact about this is the 'chainmail' armour they possess under their scales. These animals are much tougher and much more dangerous than a lot of people give them credit for.

https://scitechdaily.com/researchers-discover-the-surprising-reason-why-komodo-dragons-have-such-elaborate-armor/ - Article here.

[bigmoe808]

Цитата допису The Weasel:

Megalania actually brings more since, as a monitor lizard (some of the best opportunist hunters), it can come equipped with several ways of getting and doing things other animals can't.

They're powerful swimmers, good climbers, and likely wouldn't pass up a big nest of Rex eggs or a burrow with a Protoceratops hiding in it.

And this is what I'm going to look forward to when I get my hands on it.

A semi aquatic, burrow shredding, endurance, venomous, belly dragging, giant lizard.

Just give it a Tail Slap and it'll work fine.

[Tregrenos]

I didn't think Komodo Dragons used their tails and while I've not seen them hunt like this I can feel the impact of this smack.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OOFIzAZuZis

[Nearchus]

All I know is that I have a VHS tape of The Crocodile Hunter in which a komodo dragon chase Steve Irwin into a tree. So, yeah.

[bigmoe808]

Цитата допису Tregrenos:

I didn't think Komodo Dragons used their tails and while I've not seen them hunt like this I can feel the impact of this smack.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OOFIzAZuZis

It's less of a hunting tool and more of a defense tool. To deter annoyances without expending much energy.

Most monitor lizards do this. It's an easy answer to smaller ass riders.