Really nice idea. Reminds me of my Xiaotingia dossier, which was basically the same thing. I think though something of this size should be able to fly, but let's consider this. Maybe the Archaeopteryx king isn't the fastest runner, but it has tremendous running stamina, so it can run pretty well over long distances. However, the Archaeo king is a MUCH faster flier than it is a runner, but at the cost of stamina decreasing much faster. So it can fly, but not as well as, say, a pteranodon. It has some considerable airtime that can be used to travel distances really quickly, or say, scale a cliff to escape a predator. This would make it a MUCH better jack of all trades. Just thinking from a technicallity standpoint. We don't really have a mount that runs AND flies, so the adaptability would make it tremendously unique, and not to mention, really valuable. Also, normal archae tame a little slow on Chitin. Maybe add another food for it's kibble, maybe, say, scorpion eggs or something.

Here's a link to my Xiaotingia dossier. It's basically what you're trying to do with this Archaeo
https://steamhost.cn/steamcommunity_com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=746416003

Hey, this is a pretty cool mod but could you do some spawners for the center? thanks in advance!

I'd like to make a suggestion that perhaps you could call it Achillobator (Giganticus)? That raptor was large enough to be ridable and was feathered.

Originally posted by Gamer Amelli:

I'd like to make a suggestion that perhaps you could call it Achillobator (Giganticus)? That raptor was large enough to be ridable and was feathered.

Thing is, achilobator didn't match this, nor had giant wings. Achilobator was also very stocky for a raptor. I think Xiaotingia might be a better choice, or at least, calling it maybe something like "Alpha Archaeopteryx"

Achilobator, though, is something i definately want to see.

i wonder if you can get it to climb stuff?

would there be a way to add a saddle to it? would make it look more practical

Originally posted by (spyers) mljola9:

i wonder if you can get it to climb stuff?

I don't think climbing will work out in a way that doesn't feel weird or forced.

Originally posted by trittderek:

would there be a way to add a saddle to it? would make it look more practical

A saddle would be nice, I agree with that, but using a already existing saddle does not work because of the limited ways you can adjust the model. And I have zero experience with 3D-modeling so making my own saddle is also off the list.

@ Everyone else: Thank you very much for your suggestions, I uploaded a new version, check out the change-log! :)

Maybe a rideable Kairuku or Dodo some time? :) Either way, loving these rideable mods you're making.

Originally posted by Emba:

Maybe a rideable Kairuku or Dodo some time? :) Either way, loving these rideable mods you're making.

both already exist

Originally posted by Ner0:

Originally posted by (spyers) mljola9:

i wonder if you can get it to climb stuff?

I don't think climbing will work out in a way that doesn't feel weird or forced.

the megalania and Marsupial lion will both be able to climb

Originally posted by (spyers) mljola9:

Originally posted by Emba:

Maybe a rideable Kairuku or Dodo some time? :) Either way, loving these rideable mods you're making.

both already exist

The dodo one overrides spawns meaning it isn't stackable, the kairuku one is really just a kairuku costume from what I can see, so they don't really exist in the way Ner0's rideable mods do.

Thoughts on the rideable archaeopteryx:

It seems like at base values, it does around 30 damage vs the vanilla raptor's 15 or so, and has around the same movement speed as the vanilla raptor.

I would very heavily pitch for the Archaeopteryx's sprint speed to be around ~1700-1800 or so, fast enough to easily escape a Giga which the wiki describes as running at 1681, or even going as far as making it Gallimimus fast (2300), while accepting a severe cut in base damage, down to 15.

Its DPS/survivability problems that someone mentioned in the bugs/issues thread is simply a bug rather than it actually being lacking in stats - if you press LMB at a controlled pace (letting archaeopteryx completely finish its attack animation) you will reliably kill lesser creatures. Vanilla stegosaurus has the same problem, if you want to test solutions on another creature.

My primary thought is that the rideable archaeopteryx absolutely should see something in return for losing out on saddle armor. I actually like that it uses no saddle, that strikes me as interesting. But I feel like a DPS boost misses the potential of it.

No-saddle armor, the general image of Archaeopteryx, and most especially gliding, causes me to mentally categorize & want this creature as a travel mount to travel & scout places with. I don't really want to hunt & fight with this pet unless I have to - there are much bigger, tougher, and stronger creatures out there that I could acquire for that purpose.

Basically, I would suggest bringing its damage down in trade for a tremendous boost in movement speed, so that it's even a better glider and travel-mount than the terror bird. King Archaeopteryx has huge wings compared to the terror bird's pathetically tiny wings, on top of looking more lightly built than the terror bird. That should be reflected in game. But it also shouldn't outclass raptors and terror birds as hunting pets, hence why I also pitch for the heavy damage nerf.

EDIT: As a bit of a sidenote, the king archaeopteryx seems to be much better at gathering meat than it is at chitin - when hunting down meganeura, a 300% melee damage King Archaeopteryx is gathering on average 1-3 chitin per meganeura, and 4 meat. Seems like the ratios should be reversed given that it eats chitin.

Originally posted by Jheuloh:

Thoughts on the rideable archaeopteryx [...]

Thank you for the suggestions, I tried to incorporate them in the newest update, since I pretty much agree with you :)

Edit: I'm still working on how to increase the amount of chitin ^^

Yer welcome! I'll take a stab at the King Archaeopteryx again and see what's happened to it since last time.

King Archaeopteryx is certainly not helpless at feeding itself, and a player with a hatchet is no slouch at gathering chitin even with just 100% melee.

Having tried out the newly updated King Archaeopteryx, I'm feeling the speed boost! What did the movement speed number get changed to? Having tested it out I can tell that the base damage is 15 now (doing 45 damage at 300% melee) A little trio of these Archaeopteryx complemented by a Trike or Carnotaurus, can work together to take down Rexes.