Commentary on the traits : General opinion
- My goal is would be to influence Evasth and the others people, about few ideas I propose about the traits. I am globally for each trait. I wanted too give my opinion, because the creators are motivated by the opinion of everyone.
- Globally, I prefer when a trait create an
important difference into the decision making. Because I prefer that things have a impact and a big sens.
For exemple, the Dominant trait give +10 % probability to convert any defeated living unit. Ok it's cool and fun to convert barbarians etc. so it should be conserved even if does not change the decision making of the player.
But, the strategist trait for exemple, seems to change nothing and not really fun to play. Moreoever it is redondant with the trait General. So, I don't think he is usefull because he does not give cool features, and is just a slight force boost.
- At contrary of these fun traits, there is the Channeller trait which is powerfull because he does +50 % to nodes mana income. It's clear that a civ with that have a big advantage to try colonise fast near nodes, choose a very arcanic tech path, and reach as fast possible the matter conjuration ! Which is excellent.
- I love too the fact that a player can choose a new trait with culture. It's maybe too expansive, but the idea is excellent (bringed by Xtended I remember). It's a bit like the Guilds decision making : each new decision making is good and interesting, even if it can be hard to balance.
In this post, I would like to share the latest modification I made in Xtended (still unreleased), about Traits and how they affect the Leaders.
Master of Mana has a unique trait system:
- There are four basic traits: Aggressive, Arcane, Creative and Imperialistic.
- Xtended added the fifth: Faithful.
- If a leader start with any of the basic traits, he/she could buy an advanced trait when he/she has accumulated enough empire culture.
- If a leader does not start with a basic traits, he/she has to buy the basic trait first.
- The subsequent trait will cost more imperial culture (5000, iirc).
- The "Emergent" trait provides discount on the cost of buying trait. Thus, an Emergent leader potentially could has more trait than those without.
These are the list of traits and their benefits:
Aggressive:
- Free Aggressive promotion (+10% attack) to Archer, Disciple, Melee, Mounted and Recon units.
- Do not spend resources to build Training Yards, Barracks and War Academies.
Strong trait. It's good for any militarist civilization to have more units per each city (except the Sage district cities I guess).
Dominant:
- Free Command I promotion (+10% to capture living unit) to Disciple, Melee and Recon units.
Fun trait. It does not impact the decision making.
General:
- Free Cover I and Formation I promotion (+20% vs Archer and Mounted units, respectively) to Archer, Disciple, Melee, Mounted and Recon units.
It does not impact the decision making and it's not particularty fun and exploitable.
Strong trait.
Raiders:
- Free Raider I promotion (+5% to heal rate, +100% gold when plundering) to Archer, Disciple, Melee, Mounted and Recon units.
Very strong if the pillage is still abused (it was before. I remember I could won more than 150 gold per improvement).
It increase the plunder of any improvement, not only the gold right ?
Swashbuckler:
- Free Amphibious promotion (no attack penalty for crossing rivers and sea) and Drill I (+1 first strike) to Beast, Melee and Recon units.
Interesting trait if we are in a naval map.
Strategist:
- Free Tactic I promotion (+10% withdraw, +10% defense) to Archer, Beast, Disciple, Melee, Mounted and Recon units.
It does not impact the decision making and it's not particularty fun and exploitable.
Assassin King:
- Free Camouflage I promotion (+20% chance to apply Hidden promotion) and Celerity I promotion (+20% chance to apply Hasted promotion) to Recon units.
Fun and very interesting if the hidding is permanant. Is it ?
If it is, it means you can have very safe scout for free, if you got luck to grab it.
NOTE : In my opinion, the hidding should only work on your territory and in neutral territory,
but not in foreign territory, for the reason that I know in multiplayer the hidden units can create very abused situation where you see your capital razed without excepting it at all.
Battle Hardened:
- Free Quick Learner promotion (+20% combat exp) to Archery, Disciple, Melee, Mounted and Recon units.
It is a weak bonus. And it does not impact the decision making and it's not particularty fun and exploitable.
Berserker:
- Free Berserkergang promotion (+25% attack, -10% defense, +5% chance to get Enraged) to Beast and Melee units.
Correct bonus and flavour. Why not.
Arcane
- +10% mana, +20% spell research for the empire.
- Free Potency promotion (+20% chance to gain free xp in this turn, +20 spell damage, -15% spell resist to target) to Arcane units.
- Do not spend resources to build Mage Guild, Alchemy Lab, Warlock Laboratory and Sorcerer's Convent.
Very strong trait.
Stong trait especially if you can couple it with the Arcane trait.
Magic Resistant
- Free Magic Resistance promotion (+25% resist spells) to Archery, Beast, Disciple, Melee, Mounted and Recon units.
Correct trait. I wonder if +25 % is enough or if 50 % would be better. Maybe it should feat well with a new trait with reduce the magic efficiencty of certain civs, not interested by magic research, as the Orcs or the Mazalt (If I well understand, they don't rely on magic, they prefer the faith).
Summoner
- -33% mana for summoning cost and upkeep.
Correct trait.
Illusionist
- Free Illusionist promotion (+50% withdraw chance, +2 first strike) to Arcane units.
- Arcane units can cast Conjure Illusion spell (force teleport enemy units in one tile, Pacified them).
Interesting trait. Look's good.
Grand Artificer
- Free Aggressive promotion (+10% attack) and Mobility I (+1 move) to golems.
Interesting trait.
Loremaster
- +2 spell research per city.
Useless trait. +2 research is nothing.
Herbalist
- +1 herbs for tiles with +2 herbs or more.
- Do not spend resources to build Infirmary, Apothecary and Greenhouse.
Interesting trait. I wonder if herbs can be really important. To boost this trait, maybe give more +2 herbs if we want to except an important difference into the herbs output ?
Creative
- +2 culture per city.
- Do not spend resources to build Monument, Carnival, Theater, Art Gallery, Opera House and Colloseum.
Strong trait. Culture has became as important as the gold or the science, with the guild access ! Maybe too much important, now it's a kind of new science branch which unlock buildings and military units. I mean, no one can really choose to don't make culture. Before, culture was only culture, now it's very more.
Ingenuity
- +10% gold, science and culture for empire.
- Do not spend resources to build Tavern, Inn and Farmer Market.
Interesting. I wonder what does it change in the strategy, but ok.
Engineer
- Free Mobility I promotion (+1 move) for Siege units.
- Do not spend resources to build Forge, Water Works, Water Well.
Interesting trait.
Philosophical
- +50% Great People rate.
- Do not spend resources to build Elder Council, Library, Garden.
Very strong trait. And in the new Master of Mana, specialist are much more used.
Scientific
- +3 science per city.
- Do not spend resources to build University, Public School and Archieve.
- +2 happiness from University.
Correct trait. The +3 research per city looks just cosmetic. It would be better than each sage give +1 reseach.
Tolerant
- Captured cities retain their culture and can build their unique units/buildings.
Very fun and interesting trait.
Agricultural
- +1 food for tiles with 3 food or more.
Strong trait.
Builder
- Allow rush production using stones with -33% discount.
Useless trait. I mean, it's create something special which does not can change the decisions of the playe.
Financial
- +1 commerce for tiles with 3 commerce or more.
- Do not spend resources to build Money Changer, Market, Bank, Travelling Merchant.
Very strong trait.
Miner
- +1 metal for tiles with 3 metal or more.
Correct trait. Metal is not so common in output. Maybe give +2 not +1.
Imperialistic
- Double production speed for Royal Guard unit.
- +33% hammer for building that already built in the Capital.
- Do not spend resources to build Granary, Aquaduct and Construction Yard.
Strange trait but interesting. It looks a very flavour trait. There are so much traits like this "Do not spend ressources to build". But in some of them, I don't really see what does it change into the strategy.
If you don't need ressources for caserns and buildings like that, I understand it gives you more units. But what does it change as a civilization mesure, to have more granaries, aqueduct and construction yard ? I often feel these traits as "sugar" traits, done for pleasure.
Charismatic
- +1 happy per city.
- -25% xp required for each level.
Good trait, especially coupled with an Agressive civ (because some XP bonus buildings have zero ressources needed to be built) !
Conqueror
- Double chance to capture building during conquest.
- Free Homeland I promotion (+10% strength when inside territory) to Archer, Disciple, Melee units.
- Do not spend resources to build Palisade, Walls, Archery Range and Duskwood Fletcher.
Oh very fun trait to make the war or prevent it. ^^
Expansive
- +3 health per city.
- Double production speed for Settler, Granary and Harbor.
Very interesting trait for early game. Sadly, the infinit city sprawn is not possible in Master of Mana. ^^
Greedy
- +2 gold per city.
- Free Bounty Hunter promotion (+5 gold per victory) for Melee, Mounted and Recon units.
Funny trait and interesting in early game. I don't think it can change the decision making. With 10 gold per victory, it could be more interesting maker in early game.
Industrious
- +50% hammer for wonders.
- +1 hammer for tiles with 3 hammer or more.
Such a nice and very strong trait !
Organised
- -50% civic upkeep.
- Double production speed for Palace, Summer Palace and Winter Palace.
- Do not spend resources for building Courthouse.
- Can build Command Post.
Very strong trait, especially for the availability of the Command Post.
Trader
- +28% food and hammer from trade routes.
Strong trait if you are in the right commercial situation.
Iron Grip
- -1 happy per city.
- No anarchy.
- -25% civic upkeep.
Excellent trait (no anarchy). Switching regims is always very enjoyable and usefull (especially for the slavers civs !).
Faithful
- Free great prophet from Mysticism.
- +50% faith for empire.
Very strong, maybe overpowered. + 50 % is already very high. The great prophet should be removed I think.
Spiritual
- Double speed for building Temples, Pagan Temple and Oracle.
- Do not spend resource for building Temples.
Interesting trait.
Redeeming
- Victory against evil unit might trigger Golden Age.
Fun and flavour.
Devout
- +3 happy from Tributes miracle (you need the appropriate state religion).
I don't well understand. By tribute miracle, it means the spell which create faith in each city ? If yes, it's a very strong trait because it's a necessity to use this spell.
Enlightened
- +1 happy per city.
- No anarchy.
Excellent trait (no anarchy). Switching regims is always very enjoyable and usefull (especially for the slavers civs !).
Sacred Warrior
- Free Potency (+20% to gain free xp per turn, +20 spell damage, -15% target resist), Mobility I (+1 move) and Offense I (+10% attack) to Disciple units.
Correct trait.
Zealous
- Gain military unit whenever spreading religion.
Correct trait.
