Morale, how does it work?

[Question]

As title.

First of all sometimes the unit has + or ++ next to their morale. I understand this is supposed to be a morale boost from children's creche, but i dont understand it...how is it a morale boost? Does it just give you the effect of an extra morale(so disciplined=hardened)? Does it increase the % bonus you get at the current morale level? What is the difference between one + and two +?

Secondly for policies that lower morale such as Wealth, how does it work? Does it only affect newly produced units which come out with a lower morale level?

Does the morale society effect affect the RATE at which units get promoted? How is the promotion rate calculated anyway...a flat, random chance? Do units get a higher chance to promote if they destroy an expensive unit vs a cheaper one?

 

[civac]

Unfortunately, the + behind morale are ambiguous. They can have different meanings.

Morale in Smac is a complex subject and it is also seriously broken (mainly, but not exclusively, children creche effects). An excellent reference on morale can be found here. It should answer all of your questions.

 

[Question]

So uh its actually better to have negative morale modifiers?

 

[vyeh]

As title.

First of all sometimes the unit has + or ++ next to their morale. I understand this is supposed to be a morale boost from children's creche, but i dont understand it...how is it a morale boost? Does it just give you the effect of an extra morale(so disciplined=hardened)? Does it increase the % bonus you get at the current morale level? What is the difference between one + and two +?

Ignoring the children's creche bug, each + is an additional +12.5% (one morale level) until the unit is elite.

Secondly for policies that lower morale such as Wealth, how does it work? Does it only affect newly produced units which come out with a lower morale level?

It affects all existing units. Facilities such as the bioenhancement center affects newly produced units in the base.

No. I believe that after every battle, there is a chance for promotion. The lower the morale rating, the greater the chance for promotion. I don't believe there is a difference whether it is an expensive unit or a cheap one.

With regards to the children's creche bug, there is a situation where it is better to have negative morale modifiers, but that is clearly not what the designers intended.

 

[civac]

So uh its actually better to have negative morale modifiers?

Only if you are attacking from a base with children's creche. Other than this exception, higher SE morale is always better.

.. each + is an additional +12.5% (one morale level) until the unit is elite.

This is incorrect. The + have no effect at all when you not are fighting inside one of your bases.

 

[xchen08]

So say I have an elite unit built from a base with a command center. I switch to wealth. Does that reduce the unit to commando or to veteran, ie does the halve modifers effect hit the unit post production?

Next, the unit wins a few battles and goes back to elite. I switch to Power. The unit can't go any higher than elite. I then switch back to Wealth. Will the unit stay elite, or will it go back down again?

 

[Question]

It doesnt reduce existing unit's modifiers so you can build an elite army and then switch to another SE choice.

However wealth MAY reduce the chances of promotion. In my last game i was running wild by using 8/1 amphibious infantry to attack bases from transprots where they cant be attacked. I took about a dozen bases this way, each one defended by multiple units, before one of the infantry went from commando to elite.

 

[vyeh]

This is incorrect. The + have no effect at all when you not are fighting inside one of your bases.

I don't believe the + shows up unless there is a morale effect, e.g. fighting inside one of your bases.