Is there any way to have a trait a champion starts with that doesn't actually apply until a certain level?  I've tried a number of things and am not sure if its possible.  For example, I can have <MinimumLevel>, <RequiredLevel> and <Prereq> of a certain UnitStat_Level, but the bonuses (in this case I tried to boost UnitStat_Moves) all apply no matter what level the champion is.

So, is it possible?  Possible only for combat abilities?  Or not possible at all?

Ability bonuses affect units or heroes. Essence is per city. I think you might be able to do this for a unit is stationed in a city. You could rip off the administrator ability:

Replace the -10 value with a calculated value, and you might be able to use Essence.

I've done a lot of trial and error, and I haven't been able to get the following test code to work:

<AbilityBonuses>
<AbilityBonus InternalName="INeedToMove">
<AbilityBonusOption InternalName="INeedToMove">
<DisplayName>I Need To Move</DisplayName>
<Description>I Need To Move</Description>
<Icon>Ability_PathOfTheGovernor_Icon.png</Icon>
<GameModifier>
<ModType>Unit</ModType>
<Attribute>AdjustUnitStat</Attribute>
<StrVal>UnitStat_Moves</StrVal>
<Provides>+1 Move at L5</Provides>
<Calculate InternalName="Calc">
<Expression><![CDATA[[Unit_GetLevel]]]></Expression>
</Calculate>
<Calculate InternalName="Value">
<Expression><![CDATA[[Calc] > 4]]></Expression>
</Calculate>
</GameModifier>
<AIData AIPersonality="AI_General">
<AIPriority>5</AIPriority>
</AIData>
</AbilityBonusOption>
</AbilityBonus>

And that's before I try to add multiple "> Level" Comparisons.

Maybe the Calculate tags only work in spells.

 Improvements can use them, but yeah I checked the Ability file and there aren't any.

 But seeing you want an ability for a champion only, you could make a new level-up general ability and mark it restricted to level 5 or above. Rip off something like the Life3 ability which has a level 5 restriction. Then the champion would only be able to choose it at level 5. Sorry about not posting code to flesh out this idea, but it takes ages to format it.

Could you create a spell only usable by champions with INeedToMove (Unlock or prereq) that adds movement?  Something like "BurningBlade" or "FeedTheFire", but with 0 SpellResourceCost and 0 Mana.   Or maybe FireResistance, which is marked as Strategic/Self/ and a special ability.

Is it possible to edit CoreRandomEvents.xml from the mods folder?  There is a Random Event that gives out Wilbur, a hero, but it is actually Champion_Janusk with a different name.  Is it possible to create a new Champion_Wilbur and then change the CoreRandomEvent from the mods folder so it gives out Champion_Wilbur rather than a renamed Champion_Janusk?  I am only giving the ability for Quest Heroes to not divide experience, and Janusk can appear at a fame milestone.

If it can't be edited from the mods folder, I will consider including a core edit, but want to avoid that if possible.

Are you sure one can overwrite quest based events as you suggest? My experiments on the matter have proven unsuccessful.

I have successfully overwritten the trigger chance of random events, based on the unmodified events triggering with normal frequency but the modd-ed (lowered chance) events barely ever triggering.

Maybe I should not have been so confident about it in general, since probabilities are involved in my observations. But I haven't seen the problems you have. What did you overwrite that failed?

I do not think such a tag exists. You can set-up a quest that the AI cannot go on, and gives you the champion you specify. Other than that I believe the code for the AI champion selection is hard-coded.

Custom-placement only Quest? not sure what you mean by this...

The spawn rating is an indicator on how difficult the quest is, and thus during creation of the game, it also tells the game to place this quest with the class with these spawn ratings.

I now understand the question.

I suppose that you can create a special terrain type that you may create a quest where the quest location can only spawn on this terrain. I've never tried this, but I cannot think of another way of preventing a quest from spawning. Tell the quest location restricted terrain and it might work out for you... I'd have to do some experimenting, but it might work.

You should look at how Children of the Storm (CoS) includes extra factions in the files he uses. Then apply the same ideas to your creation of a monster race.