Scales You Should Never Take?

[Twan]

Drain 2 isn't a bad choice if you have powerful mages (especially out of capitol). It's the worst scale if you have only very bad researchers out of capitol (ie : drain 2 is a defendable choice for Atlantis EA, and a very bad one for Atlantis LA).
Drain 3 is always a bad choice except for drain immune nations.

Death isn't a bad choice if the game is short (ie : on a small map or victory condition someone will fulfill around turn 50), it's start to be bad for normal victory games on big maps, and more if your nation use old mages.

Turmoil is a bad choice if you don't take luck 3.

Temperature +/- 1 (compared to prefered one) is usually a good choice ; level 3 (in the good direction) may be good if your nation prefer a temperature at 1 (ie : cold 3 for Utgard).

Misfortune is a bad choice if you don't take at least Order=(your misfortune scale). And it's more safe to have Order > (your misfortune scale).

[Xietor]

I almost always take 2 drain with MA Pangaea. It adds to their already good mr and I cannot pass up 80 points for minus 1 research. Their research sucks anyway, so i just resign myself to being last before the game starts.