One thing that bothers me in the game, is lack of balance between default factions, and general bugginess of their traits.
And most of them have so little points, if calculated through faction creator, that using custom faction seems almost like cheating.
Let's see:
Altar:
Resourceful (3pts)
Essentially a faction with no traits and some starting metal/materials. There is no use for metal early, and materials can be easily obtained by exploring. Meh...
Capitar:
Educated
Industrious (5pts total)
One of more functional factions. Still no more then half points compared to custom faction.
Gildern:
Master Smiths (5pts)
Same here
Pariden:
Civilized
Influential (2pts total)
Civilized pretty much does nothing. I never noticed any difference with Influential either. Essentially a faction with no traits at this point.
Tarth:
Egalitarian
Brave
Great Warriors (11pts)
Finally a faction with more then full point allocation. But Egalitarian is cosmetic trait, Bravery bonus is so small that is meaningless and Great Warriors is bugged that it does nothing. So this is another faction with "no traits" due to bugs.
Kraxis:
Education
Siege Masters (4pts)
Nothing bugged, but no many points either.
Magnar:
Educated
Influential (3pts)
Influential, as said, doesn't do a thing.
Resoln:
Death Worship (pts)
Trait doesn't do a thing. Just another faction with no traits.
Umber:
Road Warriors
Industrious
Uneducated (8pts)
Still less then 10pts faction.
Yithril:
Great Warriors
Master Archers
Arrogant
Superstitious (7pts)
Since Great Warriors is bugged, it's essenital -1pts faction. Although it's not so bad, since I think that Master Archers is underpriced in faction creator.
So, from 10 factions, around 3 of them have essentially no traits due to bugs, and all others are weaker from anything made in faction creator.