Most good traits are generally useful. That's why they are good traits. The first 4 races/traits you discuss are my favorites as well, for example.

Some choices I don't really understand, like Armorer or Warlord: I would pick those if I wanted to use large armies. All my other picks would reflect that as well, so I would still be pretty s#d if there's no Iron and/or Crystal.

I put both Mancers and Humans in for the races because I am not sure which one of them is objectively the least likely to get screwed, but they should both be above every other race at least.

By short on resources I was mostly meaning they just aren't anywhere on the map.  Decalon definitely helps with sniping resources or getting resources that are a bit farther away from your cities, but if they just aren't there then it doesn't really help much.

Beastlord can have pretty low minimum performance if you can't find any decent beasts to tame with it, which is a possibility at least.  Armorer can't suffer from lack of beasts or whatever.  I know I have played games before where there was nothing to tame or only things that are so bad you might as well not tame them like the tiny bears.

Wealthy is a pretty good pick, I won't argue that, but it doesn't really do as much to limit how screwed you can possibly be compared to the ones I listed, I think.

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don't forget ironeer blood - that's a pretty failsafe bonus (+1 HP per level and 30 free spell resistance) - your sov (automatically sharing the blood) will be weak for tactical spellcasting, but you can still use him as a great defender or warrior and pick his initial spell schools for the strategic spells/buffs. your troops will always be better quality regardless of available resources.

Krax blood with their defense tile improvement is also underrated. i always found those little forts very useful especially if you don't have tons of resources available to make superpowered killer units. plus they get some extra defense (IIRC) when their health drops low, so even a badly wounded unit sitting in its little fort can survive quite a while.

I generally take anything random that I can. I don't sit there and read every little detail trying to get the optimum set. That's one of the things wrong with players is they want optimum sets everytime they play. They basically can't stand to lose. I on the other hand love the challenge of trying to win with random choices or sets. Anyone can pick a winning combination how many of you can win with any character and any traits? Not many I can say easily because you've been playing god mode so long you don't know how to play any strategy other than some template already made or done before. You rush to strategy sites to find out the best way to win. They never should have ever made game genies or cheat code sites, but the developers wanted some easy money from the millions who would  buy it to cheat the games they got.

@Raiddinn,

There are millions like the poster you responded to on the 'net. Best to just smile, say "I admit it, you are better at this game than I am", and move along. That validation is all he's after, not a serious discussion. Once he gets it, he'll move along.

I see the simpletons responded to my post but nevertheless I am right and I know I am right. Cheaters always cheat and look for easy simple strategies and ways to win. If you want a good game of it and a challenge then 'random' play and picking traits is the way to go. ;l) Don't be a cheater or exploiter you'll always find games unfun or no challenge if you cheat or exploit. ) Stay away from templates and always choose an alternate character every game. :

One good way to play is roll up your character every game. Use dice and numbers to pick your traits and strengths and even weaknesses. It's a lot of fun at the certain combos that come up. More fun than straight picking one from some template or picking the best traits everytime you play.

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