Conceptual Balance Mod 1.83 released!

[Valerius]

While I would like to think that Vans having an encumbrance of 2 was was an intentional boost to help with some of the hits they've taken the last couple of CBM releases, I suspect it's just a typo given all the other mounted Van units have an encumbrance of 3. Before I realized it was an error I briefly considered an F9 bless (when was the last time someone used one of those with Van?) with some kind of E bless and finding indie/summoned mages to quicken them.

On the topic of Vans, their price was increased from 75 to 90 gold as part of the great glamour nerf. I think this was unnecessary as the glamour nerf by itself solved whatever problem there was (and I sometimes think the real problem was Helheim's recruit anywhere svartalfs). Anyway, this seems overpriced, especially because iirc at the time most games were vanilla and now most MP games are CBM, which opens up rush counters earlier. And I actually do use Vans for expansion since they suffer a very low rate of attrition and don't need to be reinforced (unless of course they run into a mage province). They also can do a nice job raiding PD but facing even minimal mage support they die very quickly. Post glamour nerf 90 gold seems too much given their fragility.

Also, how about a forge bonus for the dwarves? Heck, hammers were named after them - it seems completely thematic they should have one.

And while it's worth waiting for feedback from current games as to the hit Van has taken in blood, I think Vanjarl/adrotts should get a dousing bonus. Or just de-emphasize blood and give them something else in exchange.