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Change Terrain
Realm Icon NatureNature
Spell Rarity Uncommon
Spell Type Instant
Casting Cost Icon Mana 50
Research Cost Icon Research 500
Effects

Changes a single overland map tile from one type of terrain to another, generally towards Grassland or Forests.

Some tile types may not be targeted by this spell.
Advisor Sorcery Buggy Feature
As of Master of Magic v1.31, Change Terrain is known to be malfunctioning in at least one way. Please read the Known Bugs section below.

Change Terrain is an Uncommon Instant Spell belonging to the Icon NatureNature Magic realm. It may only be cast on the overland map. For the base Casting Cost of Icon Mana 50, it will change a targeted tile from one terrain type to another. Most terrain tiles are shifted one "step" closer to Grassland, and Grassland may be changed back into Forest. Several types of terrain, including Oceans, may not be targeted. The effect is permanent and does not require an Upkeep Cost to maintain.

Effects[]

Change Terrain will alter the terrain in a single tile. The terraforming effect will flatten mountains and generally work towards turning the tile into Grassland.

Terraforming[]

When Change Terrain is cast on an overland map tile, it will change the terrain of that tile one "step" towards Grassland. If the tile already contains Grassland, it will be changed into a Forest.

Below is the table of terraformation, including all terrain types that may be affected by Change Terrain:

Arcanus Myrror
Original Result Original Result
Terrain Arcanus Grassland
Grassland
Icon Arrow Right Mid Terrain Arcanus Forest
Forest
Terrain Arcanus Forest
Forest
Icon Arrow Right Mid Terrain Arcanus Grassland
Grassland
Terrain Arcanus Desert
Desert
Icon Arrow Right Mid Terrain Arcanus Grassland
Grassland
Terrain Arcanus Swamp
Swamp
Icon Arrow Right Mid Terrain Arcanus Grassland
Grassland
Terrain Arcanus Hill
Hill
Icon Arrow Right Mid Terrain Arcanus Grassland
Grassland
Terrain Arcanus Mountain
Mountain
Icon Arrow Right Mid Terrain Arcanus Hill
Hill
Terrain Arcanus Volcano
Volcano
Icon Arrow Right Mid Terrain Arcanus Mountain
Mountain
Terrain Myrror Grassland
Grassland
Icon Arrow Right Mid Terrain Myrror Forest
Forest
Terrain Myrror Forest
Forest
Icon Arrow Right Mid Terrain Myrror Grassland
Grassland
Terrain Myrror Desert
Desert
Icon Arrow Right Mid Terrain Myrror Grassland
Grassland
Terrain Myrror Swamp
Swamp
Icon Arrow Right Mid Terrain Myrror Grassland
Grassland
Terrain Myrror Hill
Hill
Icon Arrow Right Mid Terrain Myrror Grassland
Grassland
Terrain Myrror Mountain
Mountain
Icon Arrow Right Mid Terrain Myrror Hill
Hill
Terrain Myrror Volcano
Volcano
Icon Arrow Right Mid Terrain Myrror Mountain
Mountain

Ocean, River and Tundra tiles may not be terraformed (they cannot be targeted by this spell). Neither can any tile containing a Node (except hill nodes - see Usage section below).

The terraformation generally makes the target tile easier to move through, but its primary purpose is to work to increase the Icon FoodFood output of any nearby Town at the expense of Icon Production Production. The reverse is true when terraforming a Grassland tile, since it changes into a Forest (better Icon Production Production, less Icon FoodFood).

Terraforming does not alter any Terrain Specials present on the targeted tile. Therefore, you can end up with Adamantium Ore on Grassland tiles, for example. Encounter zones such as Lairs or Towers of Wizardry are not affected either.

Usage[]

Change Terrain may only be cast on the overland map, for a basic Casting Cost of Icon Mana 50. It must be targeted at one of the valid terrain types, including Grassland, Forest, Desert, Swamp, Hill, Mountain or Volcano. Other tile types may not be targeted. You may not target any tile containing a Node, either (exception: if a chaos node has been converted into a hill by Gaia's Blessing, Change Terrain can be used to convert the hill into grasslands).

The terraformation occurs instantly, accompanied by the visual effect of green sparkles. The tile is now considered to have its new type, so nearby Town Icon Production Production and Icon FoodFood output will change immediately, and units may travel across the tile as appropriate for its new type.

The new tile type is permanent, and is not maintained by magic. Only the change itself is a result of the Change Terrain spell. The spell runs its entire course instantly, and therefore may not be dispelled after it has been cast, and does not require any Upkeep Costs.

You may cast Change Terrain repeatedly on the same tile, as many times as you wish. This is necessary for transforming a Volcano to a Grassland tile, for example (requires 3 castings of the spell, going from Volcano to Mountain, then to Hill, then to Grassland with the final casting).

Change Terrain is an excellent way for increasing the potential size of a nearby Town, and especially its Icon FoodFood output. It is also sometimes used to make it easier to travel through one's own lands. Casting Change Terrain on land near an enemy's towns is possible, but there are rarely any good reasons to do so.

Note:  If you remove all hills, mountains and volcanos in a town's catchment the town will be unable to construct a Miners' Guild. Make sure to leave at least one of these terrain types unless you also have access to the Icon ChaosChaos spell Raise Volcano (or have built the structure already and are not worried about it getting demolished).

Acquisition[]

As an Uncommon Icon NatureNature spell, Change Terrain may become available to any Wizard who possesses at least one Icon NatureNature Spellbook. However, its availability during the game is almost never guaranteed.

Customized Wizards possessing Icon Nature11 Spellbooks at creation time may choose this spell as one of their default spells before starting the game, in which case the spell will already be researched and available for casting immediately on the first turn.

Wizards who possess at least Icon Nature8 Spellbooks, or Wizards with Icon Nature11 Spellbooks who did not select Change Terrain as a guaranteed spell, will be able to Research this spell at some point during their campaign. Wizards with fewer than Icon Nature8 Spellbooks have a random chance of being able to Research it. The chance for this spell to appear increases with the number of Icon NatureNature Spellbooks the Wizard possesses or obtains during gameplay.

Change Terrain has a base Research Cost of Icon Research 500.

With at least Icon Nature1 Spellbook, the Change Terrain spell may be acquired as a reward for winning encounters in creature Lairs, Towers, et cetera, or when conquering the Fortress of a rival wizard who has already researched this spell.

Known Bugs[]

Change Terrain will not change the movement costs of the affected tile. This means that ground units need the same amount of Icon Movement Ground Movement Points to enter a tile as before the Terrain was changed. For example, a Move Boot walking unit just needs Icon Movement Ground 1 point to enter a former Grassland tile; or a Move Forester forester unit just needs Icon Movement Ground 1 point to enter a former Forest tile; or a Move Swimming waterwalking unit just needs Icon Movement Ground 1 point to enter a former Swamp tile. However, a Move Boot walking unit needs Icon Movement Ground 4 points to enter a former Mountain tile, even if it was converted to Grassland (by using the spell twice).

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