[Arralen]

Sorry, but I just have to:

*put rant mode on*
I have to admire your ability to apprehend to morale system in its full delicate complexity.
I mean - the beta testers didn't, the manual writer didn't, even the programmer (!) only does when he's acutally looking at the code, but is notoriously unsure otherwise ...
But you can tell from a quick glimpse at the manual that the "Standard" ability is utterly useless and "a waste of programming time".

Next time, if you suspect something in Dominions to be "totally pointless", simply assume that you've overlooked something fundamental and important - there are very few somewhat pointless things in Dom3, but those can be fixed by rebalancing them (even via mod), and nothing that is "a waste of programming time".
*rant mode off*


Now, simply assume that the standard boosts the moral of (strenght) number of squares with +(strength) morale each turn, just as if a priest was casting "sermon of courage" - does it still look utterly useless?

Have you considered that the effect from those morale boosting spells might be temporary as well, and that the troops might get out of range of the priests - but the standard bearer is among them?

Still looks utterly useless?

Not to me ....