[Chris Byler]

Originally posted by Pocus:

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Originally posted by HJ:

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Originally posted by Pocus:
Having the themes balanced would not remove their 'fun' ie originality, but would open them to MP play where competitivness is always (well, often) a factor considered by players.

That remains to be seen, methinks. As they are now, I like the flavour that they add, which partly stems from their imperfection. Or rather, the tradeoffs on which they are based. I would like to see it stay that way.

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an example, as this is the theme I know the best : Blood of nation theme is weak compared to standard Abysia. A tweak, which would be rather in line (more humans, less Abysian) would be to add a site which give 2 slaves (human virgin) a turn in the capital. I dont see how it can be detrimental to the originality of the theme, and this could equilibrate it.

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I think what Blood of Humans needs is a Warlock Apprentice (wait, they already used that... make that Warlock Apprentice Apprentice ). A human (or at least a Humanbred) with Blood-1 for 60 or so. He's a researcher, he's a slave hunter, he can summon a few minor demons, he can forge SDR and some other items... but without the physical might and heat auras of true Abysians (perhaps even without heat resistance).

Abysia has always needed a cheap mage, even since Dom I. Apprentice Warlocks help, but the new Humanbred Apprentice would be even cheaper.

An interesting alternative would be Blood-1 Fire-1 for 90-100: Humanbred Diabolist or something like that. BoH loses the Demonbred which is normal Abysia's only mage to combine Blood with Fire (except for Fire-random Warlocks, Ba'al Chozron (if he's still around and BoH can get him) and possibly the pretender).

It seems clear that BoH needs something to offset its disadvantages. I think a cheap mage could be just the thing.


As for Iron Faith - if you aren't using Templars extensively, why are you playing IF at all? I don't think it's unreasonable for Black Priests to get drain immunity, though. (And the Master Alchemist, too - he's basically a pretender Master Smith, IIRC). Being too far behind in research will negate a lot of other advantages.

Themes in general: yes, they should have tradeoffs. But they shouldn't be obviously stronger or weaker - the point of tradeoffs is that all options should have some advantages and some disadvantages. High point costing themes that provide a wider array of units (Desert Tombs), cheap themes that add some units but delete others (Iron Faith, Miasma), or the generic themes that don't cost many points but generally have minor effects.