the reason Heart of Fire is used so much by players is that the damage added is per figure, rather than a flat bonus to the unit.  So more figures/unit = more damage output.  It's the same with the rings/etc, but those cost you a lot to get (mana is easier to get than crystals).  It's a very easy way to deal with Banshee's.  Toss them on OP spears and you've got a unit that isn't going to die unless it gets overly swarmed by itself.

random point -

Please move Axes earlier in the tech tree.  They aren't more powerful that maces and spears so should be so late in the tree to use them.

The Juggernaut tech should also be moved forward 1 level as the armoured units that can be pumped out at the same tech level will wipe a Juggernaut out, so the opportunity cost for Juggs is pretty wasted right now.  Technically all you need is a few boar spear units (4 figure squad) to kill a Jugg.

I also think the catapult needs some work.  It's a pretty useless 'late game' unit right now.  Possibly increase it's initiative, but preferably allow it to 'cast' mud or caltrops as an action.

Plus, the AI for catapults is self destructive right now.  I fought against a city that had one as a defender and it kept targeting my units that were in melee distance to it's own units.  It targeted the 'weak' unit of mine (Ie, hurt) - but that was also the unit which was being swarmed by the city defenders.  The catapult wiped out it's own defending units.  It also killed itself when I moved a unit right beside it.  This is a unit where 'offset targeting' would be a good addition.  Ie, find the target, then find a tile near that target to attack so that your own units don't get hit.

@MadDjinn you have access to fire resist early in game from magic research (and if you are low on crystals, you can opt for pursuing warfare techs for weapons and armor, and use the crystals on cloaks). Not saying it completely negates the advantage, but if you spent 100 mana to pump out some units to do more damage, you won't have that mana to heal, debuff, cast dmg spells - at least early - mid game. Maybe they could add a maintenance cost for the spell scaling with number of essences in target city (1 mana / turn for 1 essence, 4 mana / turn for 4 essences etc).

On another note I observe much better responsiveness from AI and adaptability to my troops composition / equipment. Had an early mid game fight (vs expert ai, just trying the huge map in new patch with 10 AI's, ridiculous would be pushing it too hard) vs Altar and I used 2 ice mages. I fended off his attack and he called for peace, just to DOW me again a bit later. This time all his troops (and heroes too) had cold resist gear Sadly for him I had switched to fire mages as I was planning to venture in the cold winter wildlands (and he switched to fire after that - as well as incorporating a good mix of troops, mounted / pedestrial, ranged archers and mages, tanks and dmg dealers).

A plea to DEVS: please if you can put a quick list in the patch notes or make a separate thread, with what abilities from heroes General / Specialization tree are cumulative and which ones are advancing (replaced by the newer one). For example on a commander going for extra gildar traits / season, the latest one only is displayed on hero preview. Does he keep the bonuses from previous ranks, or last one is the only one appliable? How does experience perks work? Are they additive? For example for a caster if I pick 25% exp from spell caster tree, will it add up with the experience bonuses form General panel? And those from General panel are additive or they just increase slightly from one rank to another?

what bugs? I thought LH was bug-free ... Except for the take over a converted city then units lock up bug, crashing, and AI building on 0/0/0 tiles.

Definitely liking the majority of these changes, not sure that I like the nerf to Propaganda.

Dunno if it was just the RNG, or something else, but in my last game(800+ turns), I only ever saw one event, and this was with events set to the highest setting.

I also think the expansive trait may need a hard look, AI with that trait still go crazy with the pioneer spam.

Hey Derek, some good changes here

Since we are balancing spells, could you change Giant Form?

Its a good spell at 30 mana to double your attack with no cooldown, but I feel that it fails as a lv 5 earth spell. It would be more fun if it cost around 60 mana and added a health bonus as well. Its seems very strange that the ultimate tactical earth spell that 10x your size adds no health.

Would be awesome if a giant form champion had the same booming steps as the Pyre of Man. They are the same size.

You could even take it further and at 90 mana, also adds 50% splash damage.

Whoohoo, we are finally getting rid of the Potential traits! I am a happy camper.

+1 to this.

Flavor text for the pertinent techs still refers to Missionary Halls and Embassies.

Potential should be gone.  Either it makes sense to take it as your first pick (ie. you get an extra level before level 5), in which case it's mandatory and should be replaced by an across the board increase in XP.  Or it's a waste (ie. you get an extra level after level 10) in which case it's useless and a trap for inexperienced players.  With all the great options you've added with the different paths and the spellbooks there's no reason to encourage players to sink one of their few choices into a useless trait that doesn't add anything to the game.

Having said that, I do appreciate you removing Potential II & III. 

It occurs to me that everything on the left side of the terribly named "General" trait page is a waste; pick something from the skill tree or a spellbook.

But seriously, change the name of the "General" page.  It's a military title and the name of a trait.  In that context you cannot use it to mean miscellaneous.

Did you incorporate the river fixes to the custom fixed maps one may choose to play?

+1

I think Admin III change is an overnerf.   It wasn't a no-brainer path to go down before, now it's a no-brainer to go down the other path, or to pick Loremaster for the +6 research (and don't sages/cloisters/libraries buff that +6)    One of the nerfs is probably sufficient (I'd say the level prereq is the way to go, not nerfing the impact)  

If I had my way, Admin/Loremaster/Merchant would be general tree, Obsidian Guard and Shieldwall would be moved to Commander.

Tactician would be its own tree, with a level requirement for Tactician II/III/IV of 5/8/11

merchant needs some love.

I'd also say remove potential and knowledge completely.

One last note: I love all these balance changes you're doing, but I think it's a bit last minute.  I think official release of LH should be delayed one more week to get them all in.  Game is ready, but these changes you're doing are helping immensely and another week of rapid feedback/change would help the game out plenty.