Old Age

[krpeters]

Hi all,

I'm new to Dominions 3 -- long time player of the original Dominions, skipped #2 because it didn't seem to add much, loved the improved user interface and random maps of #3 so here I am.

Now to my question -- what is "Old Age"? I can't seem to find anything in the manual or online about it, but it appears to be something which gives my mages random afflictions and eventually death.

Also, is there any way to slow it down?

[quantum_mechani]

You can slow it down with growth scale. Also some spells and items can slow/stop it.

[Taqwus]

All units have an age threshold over which they are considered 'old'; for ordinary humans, this tends to be 50.

They also start with an age based on this threshold, how much magic they have (the more, the older), and a shift based on the unit type.

Units which are old suffer some stat penalties. They also have a chance to gain afflictions as they continue to age; if they get the 'disease' affliction, well... 1hp/month of aging.

There is only one spell which lowers a commander's age in the unmodded game; namely, the blood spell Rejuvenation which lowers the age of the caster.

You can -stop- a unit's aging with Boots of Youth (again, blood magic) or with an Elixir of Life (nature and fire).

Gift of Health will not stop aging, but it halves the rate; I think the healing effect (as well as that of the Chalice) should also cure the afflictions accrued.


== Edit: additions below ==

Mmm yes, commander's magic matters along with scales. A growth scale reduces the affliction chance, while a death scale increases it. A caster with death magic also has a reduced affliction chance, if memory serves. Nature magic increases the old age threshold while fire magic lowers it.

[Endoperez]

Earth increases the old age threshold for constructs, but constructs rarely start old enough for it to matter.

[Archonsod]

Elixir of Life also works as a free ressurect, judging from the description.

Nature magic increases the old age threshold for each level. Increasing the threshold of an aged mage will stop the affliction gain, but won't remove already gained afflictions.