Well, I'm open to the possibility of changing my mind about it. I do like that some of the weaker weapons have been made cooler. I just can't get over the lifedrain thing.. it seems like it essentially removed lifedrain from the game (except maybe for the rare 40+ strength guy or Golems with astral weapon). I thought lifedrain was a nice aspect, something that allowed SCs to compete with armies. I agree with making armies more powerful, and that's been done with Zen's other mods and SC's mod (and other mods). I don't think that you need to -also- weaken lifedrain. I'd agree with a price hike--make wraith and hellswords cost 20 gems each, and I'd agree with a damage and attack value nerf on Blood Thorns (maybe to 0 or -2). Zen's mod just goes too far, and that's an understatement. It goes way too far.
I'm ambivalent about the nerf to hoard items. I can see the value for nerfing them if you like to play on large maps, but I don't. Small maps with quick action are the way to go, imo. Under those conditions, I think hoard items are balanced in vanilla.
I dislike most of the other changes in the mod, such as making flying boots, water bracelets, etc. more expensive. I don't see the reason for it, and it would really hurt my Ulm game, heh. I can't really see Ulm doing very well in an item mod game, and I think most people believe them to be weak. There would be no question they'd be weak in an item mod game. Item construction is their bread and butter, you nerf that, you're killing them. Where would I be in this game, for example, if I couldn't hoard bloodstones, clams, if I couldn't make flying boots, water bracelets, etc? I'd be up the creek! My god can do anything, but she can't do everything at once.
Yes, now we're getting to the meat of the issue. The item mod drastically nerfs my favorite race! You guys happy??
