Help - Newbie

[Cainehill]

Goblin said:
Thank you all,

So if I have Drain 3, I get -3 to all Research (per leader), +3 the all MR (including against hostile magic targeting the province) and I have 120 Pretender creation points up my sleeve.

Not that bad a deal - the research drain can be overcome by items that enhance research. Any objections to this analysis?

Drain 3 winds up being +1 to MR - I think it's plus or minus 1 MR for every 2 points of Magic/Drain, rounded down, so no effect at 1, and the same effect at 3 as at 2.

As far as using items to combat drain for research : it can be hard getting the level of construction needed to make those items if you take much drain. Also, owl quills, the only one available at construction 2, only give 3 points research for a cost of 5 air gems - very very not worth it, imo. The skull mentors give 9 for 10 death, but aren't available until const-4, while lightless lanterns (6 research for 5 fire gems) don't come until construction-6.