Standard special ability, totally pointless?

[Meglobob]

Nice rant Arralen. Hangover? Row with the Mrs?

BUT

U give very little in the way of explanation or improved my understanding on this matter. Of course it can be modded to have a greater effect and is useful as a game mechanic in this way. But without a mod its useless.

Arralen says:-

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?

I understand that a +10 standard, gives all units in a 10 square radius +1 morale in round 1, then in round 2 its lowered by 1...ie...no more effect whatsoever.

In order to make standards useful the, "morale boosted by standards will be lowered by 1 per round", should be simply removed.

[Twan]

A +10 standard give +1 morale to all units in a 10 radius *each round* so in round 2 the units still at range will still have +1 morale (+1 -1 +1), when the units out of range will have +0.

With 5 standards, the units in range would have +5 morale and the units out +4 the first round out of range, +3 the second, etc... So better to use several.

edit : if my interpretation is correct

[Arralen]

Meglobob said:
Nice rant Arralen. Hangover? Row with the Mrs?

Several things

U give very little in the way of explanation or improved my understanding on this matter.

There isn't much more I can do then ...

Arralen says:-
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?

I understand that a +10 standard, gives all units in a 10 square radius +1 morale in round 1, then in round 2 its lowered by 1...ie...no more effect whatsoever.

What's so hard to understand about "every turn" ?

Of course it can be modded to have a greater effect and is useful as a game mechanic in this way. But without a mod its useless.
In order to make standards useful the, "morale boosted by standards will be lowered by 1 per round", should be simply removed.

Actually, both is not necessary if it works on a per-turn basis.


There are some things I'm not sure about:

- The area of effect. All other effects are measured in "areas of effect" as "squares which are affected", not radius. A +10 standard would effect 10 random squares around the bearer then, not everything within a radius of 10 squares (what would be little bit much with 121 squares, if you think about it)

- The decreasing of its effect over time. IIUC all the morale modifiers from spells (and items/abilities use 'spells' too in terms of game mechanics, AFAIK) are supposed to be temporary. But I've yet to see the morale bonus from "Sermon of Courage" go away again.

[Gandalf Parker]

Wouldnt +10 with a no more than +5 be to cover possible negatives to morale which might be operating in the area? That would seem to me to be a defense against certain special abilities that others might have.

[Nick_K]

Well, I still don't have the full Dom3 so I could easily be wrong, but wasn't sermon of courage changed in Dominions 3 to be a permanent (i.e. for a whole battle) effect that could only affect a unit once in each battle?

[ceremony]

Arralen said:
The area of effect. All other effects are measured in "areas of effect" as "squares which are affected", not radius. A +10 standard would effect 10 random squares around the bearer then, not everything within a radius of 10 squares

You are correct. That is how I understand the Standard ability to work.

Arralen said:
But I've yet to see the morale bonus from "Sermon of Courage" go away again.

It is a battle-long effect.