Slitherine

I finally picked up a copy of this (Hero Edition) and am playing the campaign...

I came across an interesting problem in the Homecoming Scenario.

After you rescue your sister, you can visit the Blood Oak north of the Witch's Hut with one of your units.

You then have option of sacrificing one of your squad to get a permanent buff (+2 morale; +20% to damage resist; squad units can only be wounded)

At first glance, this is a nice buff - but it is actually a TRAP and (IMHO) is more bad than good...

For your starting units that have 8-10 strength, loosing one is no big deal. However, as you progress to more powerful units that have 4-5 strength squad, loosing 1 factor is HUGE.

I noticed this with the Shock Infantry (strength 5)... Looking at Pros & Cons...
Unit Strength 4 (i.e., new maximum is 80%)
Attack: -20% (-1 strength)
Defense: roughly a wash: -20% hit points + 20% damage resist
+2 morale
Not having strength points killed is decent, saves a little gold at scenario end and means you can always get it back up to 80% strength, however missing 20% from the start is big.

The nerf is WORSE with smaller squad sizes (3-4). I don't know what would happen if you gave it to a unit that became hero - maybe it's worth it then? Or would it change the squad size from 1 to 0 (i.e., killing the unit)?
So, IMHO this is actually a trap/nerf for better units with smaller squad strengths. If you get it, you may want to never upgrade that unit :<

Note that this effect also occurs when you upgrade from a weaker unit w/ more factors to a stronger unit with less factors.

Youngings (max 10 goes to max 9) then upgrade to Shock (max strength is 4 (1 less than the normal 5).

FWIW - I don't think the "-1 unit strength" should apply to upgraded units, only the base non-upgraded units. This then becomes a nice buff worth having in the long term, rather than something to avoid.

Use it for a unit that you later upgrade to a wolfmother.

You then have option of sacrificing one of your squad to get a permanent buff (+2 morale; +20% to damage resist; squad units can only be wounded)

This is Quit a Perfect buff as long you Know what you do.

Use it for Hero Units : Take the Buff with Junglings or Maidens and Upgrade it to a Hero only one entity.