ymh20020920
New member
Recently, I’ve been reading some modern fantasy novels inspired by 《Romance of the Three Kingdoms》, one of the Four Great Classical Novels of China. While reading, I thought that Zhuge Liang (Kongming) could actually make a really interesting hero in Deadlock. I don’t have the ability to design a full hero concept, but I’d like to share some ideas — maybe it could inspire someone else.
Zhuge Liang was the Chancellor of Shu Han during the Three Kingdoms era. He was an outstanding politician, military strategist, inventor, and writer in ancient China. He dedicated his life to supporting Liu Bei and restoring the Han dynasty. He launched five northern expeditions against the Wei kingdom but never succeeded, and eventually died of illness from overwork. In Chinese culture, he represents loyalty and wisdom.
In a Deadlock setting, maybe he could be “revived” for some unknown reason, but since his lifelong goal has already failed, he’s now searching for a new purpose.
He invented things like the Wooden Ox and Flowing Horse (a kind of transport device) and the Zhuge Repeating Crossbow. The crossbow might work as his weapon. There are actually two interpretations of this weapon:
- Some think it worked like a shotgun, firing 10 bolts at once.
- Others think it was more like a semi-automatic rifle, holding 10 bolts in a magazine and shooting them one by one.
He also has many famous stories that could be turned into abilities. For example:
- Borrowing Arrows with Straw Boats: Zhou Yu set him up, demanding he produce 100,000 arrows in three days. Zhuge Liang prepared small boats covered with straw dummies. On a foggy day, he sailed them near Cao Cao’s camp. Thinking it was an ambush, Cao Cao ordered his archers to fire. The boats returned full of arrows, and the task was easily completed.
- The Empty Fort Strategy: When Sima Yi attacked with a huge army, Zhuge Liang had very few soldiers. Instead of panicking, he opened the city gates and sat calmly on the walls playing a zither. Sima Yi suspected a trap and withdrew.
- The Hidden Strategies (Silken Satchels): In _Romance of the Three Kingdoms_, Zhuge Liang often seems to know the future. He would write strategies in sealed satchels and give them to his generals. When trouble came, they would open the satchel and follow the plan to solve the problem.
In addition, the novel portrays him as knowing some “magical” arts, such as:
- Summoning the East Wind: He supposedly used a ritual to change the weather, bringing favorable winds to help set fire to Cao Cao’s fleet at Red Cliffs.
- Seven-Star Lamp Ritual: A technique to extend his lifespan. The story says he lit seven lamps to prolong his life, but due to a mistake by his subordinate Ma Su, the lamps went out and Zhuge Liang died soon after. (This could maybe be designed as an ability similar to _Dota 2_’s “Shallow Grave”.)
Zhuge Liang was the Chancellor of Shu Han during the Three Kingdoms era. He was an outstanding politician, military strategist, inventor, and writer in ancient China. He dedicated his life to supporting Liu Bei and restoring the Han dynasty. He launched five northern expeditions against the Wei kingdom but never succeeded, and eventually died of illness from overwork. In Chinese culture, he represents loyalty and wisdom.
In a Deadlock setting, maybe he could be “revived” for some unknown reason, but since his lifelong goal has already failed, he’s now searching for a new purpose.
He invented things like the Wooden Ox and Flowing Horse (a kind of transport device) and the Zhuge Repeating Crossbow. The crossbow might work as his weapon. There are actually two interpretations of this weapon:
- Some think it worked like a shotgun, firing 10 bolts at once.
- Others think it was more like a semi-automatic rifle, holding 10 bolts in a magazine and shooting them one by one.
He also has many famous stories that could be turned into abilities. For example:
- Borrowing Arrows with Straw Boats: Zhou Yu set him up, demanding he produce 100,000 arrows in three days. Zhuge Liang prepared small boats covered with straw dummies. On a foggy day, he sailed them near Cao Cao’s camp. Thinking it was an ambush, Cao Cao ordered his archers to fire. The boats returned full of arrows, and the task was easily completed.
- The Empty Fort Strategy: When Sima Yi attacked with a huge army, Zhuge Liang had very few soldiers. Instead of panicking, he opened the city gates and sat calmly on the walls playing a zither. Sima Yi suspected a trap and withdrew.
- The Hidden Strategies (Silken Satchels): In _Romance of the Three Kingdoms_, Zhuge Liang often seems to know the future. He would write strategies in sealed satchels and give them to his generals. When trouble came, they would open the satchel and follow the plan to solve the problem.
In addition, the novel portrays him as knowing some “magical” arts, such as:
- Summoning the East Wind: He supposedly used a ritual to change the weather, bringing favorable winds to help set fire to Cao Cao’s fleet at Red Cliffs.
- Seven-Star Lamp Ritual: A technique to extend his lifespan. The story says he lit seven lamps to prolong his life, but due to a mistake by his subordinate Ma Su, the lamps went out and Zhuge Liang died soon after. (This could maybe be designed as an ability similar to _Dota 2_’s “Shallow Grave”.)
