So in FE, we could rely on getting some good sites using this, expecting essences from shards, mines and whatnot. But now it seems to not work at all, the only places I can get it to work is near rivers etc. making it essentially useless, since snaking and outposts do the same trick. What did you change with this, and how can I change it back if it's not a bug? ^^

200 mana is an hefty amount, so I expect results when using it, and now it's no reward at all. 

(just a personal experience as well, it seems outposts and ZoC from cities makes viable cities when they shouldn't, and the Bloom spell does not work as advertised, I suggest swapping the mechanics if there is some strange stuff going on here, active should always be better than passive and whatnot)