Why to love leaders? Here is why!

Ok, first, leaders are awesome in many ways:

-they are interactive. Unlike tech/buildings/traditions it is not a click a button and get your benefit, forever (or if a building until you remove it) but instead an investment that you shape with time, leveling them up, picking the traits etc. They can also be moved around, allowing for some cool RP, for instance commanders suddenly needed at a colony to keep stability high or spawn armies for imminent bombardment, scientists reducing storms devastation etc.

-they are powerful, you can get great bonuses if played correctly, but they come with downsides too, like negative traits and opportunity costs.

-they can die, in battle, age, events, etc. So they are not granted.

-great for RP. Sure you can RP with lots of things, but that Energy nexus you built there won't be getting much RP, unlike Johnny the conqueror of Siran and scourge of the Benedex for instance. Or Mila Nirax, discoverer of the first astral rift etc.

-they have traits that can really shape your game (mostly RP wise, but sometimes mechanics wise too). A scientist with Detail Oriented can really help with minor artifacts for your fleets/revers engineering etc. Not saying it is strong mind you, just cool and interesting. Several traits are not great, some are awesome but many can be RP very well around.

-non gestalts get to play around with council in interesting ways, for instance having more officials/scientists during peace, but putting more commanders while at war (Genius Armorer go brrr)

I am sure you get the general idea. What is the but then?

Well, 2 things mostly. First, traits balance is very bad, some are horrible, a small pass to make them better, preferably more flavorful would be awesome. For instance I love the Interrogator trait in commanders, even if it is not great, but still awesome! We need more of those (bring back some tuned down version of Kidnapper and Plunderer, they where great!)

The second issue, they level slow unless you invest considerably into it. Empires that don't invest in them will usually don't have almost any great leaders. This is OK though, focus and specific strategies should be rewarded.

Finally, one more issue. You see, all this is true, but there is one more issue with them, a huge one. Know which? Yes, that one. It is planned that in the 4.0 beta they will only have traits to pick in some levels, not all. Booooo.

So yeah, I love leaders, some others do to. If you also do, or didn't but now find them great. Then please help out by reaching and supporting the "Do not push the leader changes to 4.0 pretty please" movement.

Yes, I am trying to get some help in those changes not going through. Not a call to arms, just asking like minded people to express their opinion and hopefully get heard so that this change doesn't happen. As usual, be polite, be nice, but also LEADERS LIFE MATTERS! xD

Have a good day.