[Hero Concept]The Rat King(with some drawings!)

[DragonRoIlZ]

someone on the subreddit said i should post this here, so here we are. the big rat that makes all of the rules!

"They call me the "Rat King", but honestly, I'm more like a club president with a few more steps."

Every few decades or so, the rats of New York gather deep within the subway lines to crown the newest Rat King. Candidates are tied tail to tail and last one remaining is the one to become the next rat to rule over the entirety of the Rodent Underground. Through this ritual, the special rat grows to an alarming size and gains the memories of the previous kings so that they have guidance from the previous generations.

Unfortunately, as powerful of a position as ruler of all rats around the globe sounds, it doesn't really pay the bills. The current Rat King had found him in a different kind of struggle. A 9-5 corporate job on Wall Street.

Weapons and Abilities (I don't know how to balance I just draw)

The Tax Collector - A slow shooting, high impact handgun that explodes in a small AoE on contact with a surface. The Rat King reloads by looking at his watch while spirit rats enter the chamber of the handgun.

Homing Rats(1) - Lob some rats that swarm the closest target and explodes. They can go up stairs, but not ledges. Killing an enemy hero with this attack permanently increases the amount of rats released by 1. You start with two rats per charge of ability. A passive of this ability is that it will kill your PC.

Mousetrap(2) - Create a small, hidden zone that slows enemies within it and steals their healing.

Rat Race(3) - A passive skill that makes your bullets reduce healing and regeneration speed by a fluctuating percentage. Your bullets steal enemy healing by a number related to the amount of spirit you have.

The Big Cheese(4) - Enter a special state where your weapon fire rate increases drastically, and hitting surfaces causes homing rats. Killing with a rat will increase your 1st ability.

"I'm using my PTO for this."
"So… are we paid by the hour or is it salary-based?"
"Just want everyone to know that the rumour that rats spread the plague is cat-based propaganda. It's the fleas that are the issue."
"Does the Maelstorm count as a holiday? I wanna know if I can count this as double-time."
"Rats get a pretty bad rep, especially in New York. Looks like it's about to get a lot worse."
"Once we summon the patron, if you want some help with your investments, I can try and pull some strings."
"As long as there's no cats, me and the gang are ready to go."
"I can clear my schedule for this, no problem."
"Hey well, y'know, I wouldn't be the Rat King if I didn't have some proficiency in asset management. (laughter)"

"I couldn't take the time off to begin with so, this actually works out."
"If there's no pay, I'm not going."
"No, I get it. Rat King is my side hustle anyway."
"Just ironed this shirt. Not getting it wrinkled today."
"Can't help. I got some work papers to get through."
"Just got called into work. Patron summoning is gonna have to wait."
"I'm an office worker, not an occult summoner."
"I was more into this magic stuff when I was a kid."
"Don't really wanna get involved with magic again. Unless it can make me rich."
"Didn't wanna get my ears nicked again anyway."
"I just had some cheese and I happen to be lactose intolerant. Sorry!"

"Whoever manages to crawl up one of their noses gets a bonus on their paycheck!"
"You know that medieval torture method where they make rats crawl into your stomach? Yeah, let's try that."
"I'd be scared of rats too if I saw me throwing them in handfuls at people."
"If only you guys were wads of money! I bet that would stop them in their tracks! (Chittering) Just kidding."
"More rats, more rats!"
"More rats, more trouble."
"Don't tell the Jersey rats about how much I'm spoiling you guys."
"If only you guys could use a calculator. We'd be rolling in cash."

"I had a cousin who died to one of these things. Let's see if you're smarter than he was."
"Time for a taste of your own medicine..."

"This is gonna look great on a resume."
"I don't know why people talk about the Black Plague when I'm right here."

Doorman Ult:
"You and I both know that kingship doesn't suit you, Alger."
"If the weight of responsibility is too much, then please your Highness, take a well deserved break at the Baroness."

 

[FizzyxFresh]

Yes! NYC needs a rat and the idea of him being a corporate workacholic is just brilliant I love it!

 

[FizzyxFresh]

I wanted to throw in here the voicelines done by TotallynotMccree on Reddit I think it's a perfect addition to the concept https://vocaroo.com/1d7yzMHcQVsR

 

[zitchaden]

Too big. Make him permanently regular rat sized and able to access mouse holes across the map (con: moves at a slow rat pace)

 

[A-Gree]

I saw that on subreddit, it's amazing. I'd like to see him in game!

 

[tylrprtr]

That subtle shadow crown is *chefs kiss* a great touch.

I really like the idea of his gun being a small explosive, I could see a skilled player being able to shoot and hit people hiding just around a corner.

 

[Auld]

It's NYC, so obviously we need a hero who is a giant rat. I like that one of his abilities is just "throw a big ball of rats at 'em".

 

[Gelidus]

ADD HIM!!!!! WE NEED RAT HERO

 

[Chickenator]

Such a well fitting and well-formatted concept. Would love a tutorial/video of how you made some of the art to match the Deadlock style.

 

[DragonRoIlZ]

Such a well fitting and well-formatted concept. Would love a tutorial/video of how you made some of the art to match the Deadlock style.

most of it is just painted to match the two-toned shading that deadlock has and staring at renders. i mostly referenced pocket and vyper's character select renders.
the background was made in black and white before throwing a gradient map over it to give it the same colour as the other backgrounds. the buildings in it are just a stamp brush i have from a concept art brushpack i use.
the title card is a free font i found on dafont that i imported and slightly edited to have the crown on it.

the only special technique that i used was creating the head in blender and using simple shaders to create some colour balls to reference while i was painting.


best advice i can give to anyone trying to replicate the style is to make sure that the bottom right corner is in darkness so that the text above it actually shows up correctly. i didnt think about this in my process and i ended up having to darken a huge part of the front of his silhouette, which sucks because there's a bunch of mice in his bag that got blocked out.



edit: here's a work in progress

 

[Chickenator]

most of it is just painted to match the two-toned shading that deadlock has and staring at renders. i mostly referenced pocket and vyper's character select renders.
the background was made in black and white before throwing a gradient map over it to give it the same colour as the other backgrounds. the buildings in it are just a stamp brush i have from a concept art brushpack i use.
the title card is a free font i found on dafont that i imported and slightly edited to have the crown on it.

the only special technique that i used was creating the head in blender and using simple shaders to create some colour balls to reference while i was painting.
View attachment 58145

best advice i can give to anyone trying to replicate the style is to make sure that the bottom right corner is in darkness so that the text above it actually shows up correctly. i didnt think about this in my process and i ended up having to darken a huge part of the front of his silhouette, which sucks because there's a bunch of mice in his bag that got blocked out.

View attachment 58146

edit: here's a work in progress

View attachment 58147

Very informative! Bummer about the mice-enger bag.

 

[StarfarerLuna]

This needs to be in the game