[Hero concept] Tree druid character

[austin0]

A slow hero that can grow long-lived trees around the arena, teleport to trees at infinite distance, and a self-root ultimate that also roots enemies. Sample abilities:

1. Grow tree - Place a sprout that slowly grows into a mature tree. Once mature, stops bullets and blocks movement for enemies. Uses charges. Takes 20 seconds to mature. While young, takes 2 heavy melees to destroy; while mature, takes 6 heavy melees to destroy. Tree Druid can see trees from anywhere. With upgrade, the tree also attacks nearby enemies who are hit with your gun.
2. Treewalk - Instantly teleport to target tree at infinite distance, destroying the tree in the process. Tosses enemies up in small area around tree, causing moderate damage. Effects gated by upgrades.
3. Healing berries - Throw a healing berry item to target ally hero. If the hero has inventory and active item space, the berry will be placed in their inventory, where it can be used at will, otherwise it will be instantly consumed. When consumed, provides a regeneration heal and a fire rate increase. Upgrades can cause additional effects, or listed effects can be gated by upgrades.
4. Take root - Ultimate - Become immobile, immune to stuns, and gain a large health, health regeneration, and resistance increase for 30 seconds or until the ability is canceled. Enemies in a large area are slowed, damaged, and become rooted for the duration of the ability if they spend more than 5 seconds in the area. All young trees instantly become mature when used. You can still teleport to mature trees while immobile. With upgrade, the effect applies to mature trees in a smaller area.

 

[austin0]

I think there are lots of characters that focus on huge mobility, but it could be fun to have a hero that turns that on its head. He would be largely immobile in fights, allowing for interesting teamplay to bring the fight to him. He'd combo well with characters who prevent enemies from running away, such as Kelvin or McGinnis.

The itemization might be interesting because players might try to make up for his inherent slowness to get into the center of a fight quickly, or they might try to lean into his tankiness to prevent enemies from killing him during his ultimate. A carry build might also be viable, focusing on sprouting trees within the ultimate area and then using Ricochet or other items to cause the trees to attack many enemies at once.

Grow tree could be very useful for blocking doorways and escape routes preemptively. You'd be incentivized to get creative with your placement because the trees are vulnerable while they're sprouting, but a very good wall once they're mature. They could also potentially be used to reroute creeps, causing fights to happen in more advantageous positions.

 

[austin0]

Grow tree sprout time might be reduced by duration increases, cooldown reduction, or spirit increases. Nearby enemy smack damage could be increased by spirit. It could also allow for the trees to grow on walls, creating new perches to stand on.

Treewalk AoE damage might be increased spirit.

Healing berries healing might be increased by spirit.

Take root damage and slow might be increased by spirit. Time to root might be increased by spirit or duration increase.


His gun might be medium-long range to somewhat make up for his immobility. Damage wouldn't be particularly high, but have decent projectile speed to snipe enemies who are trying to melee his trees.

Thematically, the gun could shoot acorns or thorns, or even something like sap or vines. Maybe the gun could accelerate the growth of trees by 3-5 seconds per shot.