Will Vanheim Ever Become Spayed?

[DrPraetorious]

Given that the extreme north has not historically been a heavily populated part of the world, starting with a city has always struck me as generous.

My preference would still be to add some useful anti-van spells at lower levels, rather than nerfing vans. Given that folklore is chock full anti-faery magic procedures - as many as there are to use against demons - I think there should be some in-game, and that requires a "Fae" designator. These could be national spells or not, I give some examples below but I'm hardly a folklorist.

So we need a "Fae" tag, with a little icon, which the various faery creatures would have (faery queen, nymphs, should also have it, I'm sure there are units I'm forgetting), and add spells that harm Fae creatures, especially overland. To use against vanheim, overland spells would require a great deal of skill to use unless you are attacked (because you have to figure out the van's unit locations).

Iron Sun - Alteration 1
10 Earth Gems, ESS
Using the power of sympathetic magic, the light of celestial bodies is infused with the spiritual properties of cold iron. Creatures of fae or elven nature that do not find shelter from the light will be slain if they cannot resist the magic. Up to half the fae creatures in a province can be struck dead in this way in an exposed area, but fortresses and forests provide shelter from the deadly light.

Elfbane - Alteration 2
40 fatigue, NDD, AoE 4, Range 20, Deadly poison(fae only), 5+ damage fatigue (poison), Armor Negating, MRN
The mage will blow the seeds from a sprig of elfbane, and magically expand them to a great cloud. Elfbane is mildly toxic to most beings, producing irritation and fatigue, but is deadly to cratures of a fae or elven nature.

Circle of Salt - Enchantment 1
20 fatigue, W, Aoe 5, Range 5, 75+ fatigue damage fae only, maybe weakness, too?, no magic resistance allowed
Magically purified sea salt is an effective deterrent against faery creatures. Although a bag of the salt cannot be thrown far, fae creatures struck by it will quickly find they lack the strength even to lift their own limbs.

And you get the point. Obviously I think such a thing would be great for the basic game - game balance considerations aside - but if we just had the tools to mod it in ourselves that would satisfy me just fine.