Units matter.  Fallen Enchantress comes with several base units already in the game, each designed to look unique and interesting for their faction.  We want to make sure new players find units and see enemy units that look nice.  We had some fun picking some starting traits for these base units, archers start with a trait that improves their accuracy.  Defenders start with Ignore Pain, a trait that allows them to last longer in combat (all Tarth units get +10 to Defense when they are under 50% of their hit points, making their defenders even harder to take out), etc.

                But that doesn’t mean we don’t support unit customization.  Players can still design the armies they want to train.  If you want to create archers faster, make a cheap version without the precision trait.  Or make some elite units by loading up on your favorite armor and weapons.  Just remember that units have an encumbrance limit based on their strength, so you have to make hard choices between massive shields, big weapons and heavy armor.  Especially if you are playing one of the smaller races (each faction has different starting stats).

                Traits are new to Fallen Enchantress and are so much fun to design units we have some unlocked from the beginning of the game.  Initially the design required the player to have certain techs before they unlocked traits and trait slots.  But now players start with a trait slot and a small selection of traits they can use.  Later techs unlock new traits and additional trait slots, so late game units can really specialize.

                One of my favorite new features of the unit design system is upgrades.  When you design a unit you can pick the weapon or armor it will have.  Or simply select for it to get the best possible of that type.  Defenders, for example, always try to get the best armor that player can produce.  So whenever you train some defenders they will have the best armor available at that time.  Players can also upgrade their units, so that if new armor becomes available the player can upgrade his existing defenders (for a moderate cost of course).

                Design your own units, and watch them grow with your empire.  Leveling up champions is fun, but players that decide to rely more on their armies have lots to do too.

ps. the above screenshots are just me messing around with unit design.  I'm sure the artists are going to give out a long sigh when he see my screenshots (sorry Paul and Akil!) since I didn't match armor or include full sets.