"Old Age" system in Dom3 - need some info

[WraithLord]

I think old age should be toned down a bit. I like the flavor it adds but as it currently is I avoid recruiting old aged mages unless I absolutely have to. I think that reducing the chance for getting the disease affliction and a adding a couple more counters to old age/afflictions from old age might do the trick.

Sadly, old age has affected Pythium (my favorite nation) quite badly. I'm not saying that I want to play it exactly as in dom-II, it ok that A.T.s suffer from old age, so long as it doesn't *drastically* reduce their life spans. The feature isn't bad, just needs adjustment imho.

[Twan]

I think that the affliction chance once old is not too high, it's having all the best mages or priests starting old that is annoying for some nations. Just imagine instead most of them starting 1-3 years before the old age limit... you would have a guarantee they won't become diseased 2 turns after recruitment, and old age would still be an important long term factor (and continue to have the same power for decay and BoT effects) but not one more random factor for short term.

Old age is a good idea I think, but once you have recruited your best priest as EA Ermor, appointed him as your prophet and seen him become deseased the next turn, you start to find the mechanic less fun. As well spending 250+gp on a mage to see him mute or feebleminded in the year is not the pinnacle of a game experience IMO.

[Unwise]

The only real question is whether or not the age is counted into price (in gold or gems) of the unit. Does a dottering Arco mage cost significantly less than an equivalent mage who is still young and spry?