Emerging/Minor Leaders

[XenoRufus]

I was wondering if there was any upside to playing the lesser leaders who have less traits get something to make up for this? Or are they simply for like some sort of bad ass effect and to give the players more of a challenge?

 

[Valkrionn]

I was wondering if there was any upside to playing the lesser leaders who have less traits get something to make up for this? Or are they simply for like some sort of bad ass effect and to give the players more of a challenge?

The Minor Leaders currently have no unique mechanic, though most of them have 2 traits.

The Emergent Leaders, however, can gain new traits as you play. Based on your actions. Sort of a "Build your own leader" thing.

This thread should explain it a bit better, as well as give a list of how each trait can be gained.


Both will be radically changed in the 1.4 patch, but I need to find time to finish 1.3 first. The rest of the team has 1.4 designed, implementation can't start yet though.

 

[Evalis]

Some of the emergent leaders are extremely powerful.. indeed you have to be an idiot not to use volanna as the svartalvar. Haephastus, Raitlor, and Yakut are also arguably more powerful than their major leaders.

 

[Valkrionn]

Well, all of them will be changing. Drastically. Something you know, as a tester.

 

[Rapier]

Yakut isn't more powerful imo.

Losing 10% gold for the sake of an even easier time getting large cities is only better early game. While it helps a lot in the early game phase by mid-game it's changed from being meaningful extra population to a minor bonus and a gold penalty.

I do however think that some of the emergent leaders have traits that are good enough to not require the ability to gain others. I'm sure I've had Yakut gain financial and then his 10% gold penalty is essentially nothing.

I've only played against Volanna so far (though I might play her next), she seems to be better in the hands of the ai than the other svart leaders. (Though she seems to be better primarily at annoying me for the early to mid game and then seems to just fade out as a threat).

 

[Camper Joe]

I've only played against Volanna so far (though I might play her next), she seems to be better in the hands of the ai than the other svart leaders. (Though she seems to be better primarily at annoying me for the early to mid game and then seems to just fade out as a threat).

I have noticed this also, as the AI seems to handle a direct and simple boost to strength on recon units easily. This probably also allows them to set priority to the recon line, as a Svartalfar leader usually would. By the way, definitely try Volanna out- She's got some insanely powerful recon units, especially if you're able to devote slightly more time researching that line than building techs in the beginning.

 

[Rapier]

I have now tried Volanna and she needs her trait to be nerfed if she's going to be able to gain more than that one trait.

The Ai doesn't abuse it as much as a player can - but when I played her I found that scouts (cheaper to build than warriors) are just better, hunters are arguably better than comparative units available at the same tech investment and under Volanna it's just sick.

Previously she'd always annoyed me at the assassin stage, but playing her I've found that hunters and scouts are all it takes to subdue most of the players around me early.

I already feel like I've been "just mopping up" for most of the game.

 

[Evalis]

Try out Thanatos with the Legion of D'Tesh. All you need are two sources of death mana and it's pretty much game. His scouts can happily steal slaves for you all game since they are invisible. Tip: use their world spell early - preferably before you even research slavery.