Mod: Conceptual Balance 1.3, updated documentation

[Zeldor]

There are very few games that allow R'lyeh and Ermor. At least R'lyeh gets banned in 99% MP games. I find LA really nice without those 2 nations, but it surely has too much blood in it.
EA seems most unbalanced of all with all that sacred powerhouses. It really limit your choices to few nations if you have any serious plans. And even if you are a genius you won't survive with weaker nations, unless you are really lucky.

[Xietor]

I have looked more at the mod, but still have not had time to play a game with it.

Thoughts:

I like the scale changes. In kingmaker too many negative scales. Every single one of my neighbors have misfortune, typically with 3 order. And that is with the Worthy heroes incentive to not take misfortune.

I am not going to list all of the changes I agree with, but give feedback on those I disagree with:

Summons:

watcher-5 air gems-what is wrong with 5 air gems? You get a unit that has a patrol bonus that can uncover spies in 1 turn typically, and high precision and lightning. If you do not have mind hunt and spies are causing unrest, a watcher can be a saver-and a cheap one at that for 5 gems.

Aside from insane patrol bonus they can do some damage with very high precision and lightning.


Curse of blood-I still like the vampire at 77 blood slaves. He is immortal, has 3 d and 3 blood, and flies. Plus he summons more immortals with life drain. A pack of these can take down an sc. bloodslaves are easier to get then gems.

Plus if you summon 1 vampire, he can blood hunt and get your 77 bloodslaves back for you in a few turns. 44 seems like a steal. you can have unlimited vampires, unlike the blood royalty, so summoning one is a sure thing.

Constr item changes i disagree with:

Ax of hate-one of the best weapons in the game. Now at constr 2?

silver hauberk-one of the best mage chest pieces in the game. seemed fine at constr 4. if you are fighting a nation hitting you with numerous seeking arrows every turn, you quickly see the value of this item. low enc, good protection.

Vision foe-a ranged item that can give afflictions. why make it easier to obtain?


Without playing actual games with the entire CBM, my input is given without full working understanding of how the entire thing meshes together. And in that sense I realize my input is not as valuable as people that are playing mp games with the cbm.

But most mod authors like input on their mods, and i wanted to give mine, whether it has much in the way of value or not.

[quantum_mechani]

Some of these seem debatable (and I'd like to hear others opinions on them), but silver hauberk to be honest I still regard as pretty close to junk even in CB. Robe of missile protection is much cheaper and handles the same mage protection problem- and doesn't even add any enc. It's possible for very key mages you might favor the hauberk, but that's extremely niche at best, not something thats is going to be overused.

The watcher has a large number of difficulties. Unusual path combo, niche use (mostly vs spies), and taking a mage turn _every turn_ for patrolling. It's possible to find a situation to use them, but again I can't see it getting over used.

Along with all it's other artifact bow cousins, vision's foe has a couple major liabilities in the form of frequent misses and shield parries. It also again has an unusual path combo which make it's use very rare.

Axe of hate and vampire lord are things I have never ever seen used base game, and also not seen yet CB. It's possible they are diamonds in the rough, but if so I can't think of a better way to bring them to the forefront than with some incentives.

[Xietor]

Vision foe is good against things that do not have shields and can be specifically targeted and are raiding your provinces, manticore, other large flying sc's without full slots. Admittedly a niche use however.

Besides patrolling, a watcher for 5 air gems is not bad in a battle. Unless the thug is 100 sr, is likely is going to take significant damage.

And in response to those numerous "how do i kill this water Queen" threads, though i have never replied to them, i have brought them down in mp games with packs of vampires. Risk free since it was in my own dominion.

Some nations, like Pangaea, only have the paths for curse of blood. And in Alpaca, because i was 2 drain as well, all the blood royalty was taken since i was dead last in research.

[quantum_mechani]

None of these I said had no use. However, I do see them very rarely if ever used, and if they have a somwhat obscure niche, what's the harm in rewarding somebody who thinks of them?

[Horst F. JENS]

LA Argatha Hero (the possessed flame corpse, Nr 2835) description say he has some skill in fire magic, but he has only fire resistance and immortality. (of course he explode when dying).
I never saw him in vanilla game so i cannot say if his lacking fire magic skill is a bug from dominions or from cbm. However it would be nice if he had as last Fire Skill 1 to cast Fire Shield before blowing up.

[quantum_mechani]

They are the same as in worthy heroes, where as I recall Turin game them a variable fire magic skill from 0-3.

[Horst F. JENS]

Enchanted Forest (Conj. 9, N7) cost 320 Nature Gems ?
Is this a bug ?

[quantum_mechani]

Yes, that's a bug, thanks you for spotting it.

[Morkilus]

Cheaper vampires are something I can appreciate.

I agree wholeheartedly on the magic scale rollback.