diff --git a/GameSettings.cpp b/GameSettings.cpp
index aa657d7d..c6f80e3a 100644
--- a/GameSettings.cpp
+++ b/GameSettings.cpp
@@ -848,10 +848,10 @@ void LoadGameExternalOptions()
 	// Buggler: setting to show/hide skills/traits in AIM & MERC hiring page
 	gGameExternalOptions.fShowSkillsInHirePage			= iniReader.ReadBoolean("Recruitment Settings", "SHOW_SKILLS_IN_HIRING_PAGE", FALSE);
 
-	gGameExternalOptions.ubMercRandomStats					= iniReader.ReadInteger("Recruitment Settings", "MERCS_RANDOM_STATS", 1, 0, 3);
+	gGameExternalOptions.ubMercRandomStats					= iniReader.ReadInteger("Recruitment Settings", "MERCS_RANDOM_STATS", 0, 0, 3);
 	gGameExternalOptions.ubMercRandomStatsRange				= iniReader.ReadInteger("Recruitment Settings", "MERCS_RANDOM_STAT_RANGE", 10, 0, 50);
 	gGameExternalOptions.ubMercRandomExpRange				= iniReader.ReadInteger("Recruitment Settings", "MERCS_RANDOM_EXP_RANGE", 1, 0, 4);
-	gGameExternalOptions.fMercRandomStartSalary				= iniReader.ReadBoolean("Recruitment Settings", "MERCS_RANDOM_START_SALARY", TRUE);
+	gGameExternalOptions.fMercRandomStartSalary				= iniReader.ReadBoolean("Recruitment Settings", "MERCS_RANDOM_START_SALARY", FALSE);
 	gGameExternalOptions.ubMercRandomStartSalaryPercentMod	= iniReader.ReadInteger("Recruitment Settings", "MERCS_RANDOM_START_SALARY_PERCENTAGE_MAX_MODIFIER", 30, 0, 100);
 
 	//################# Financial Settings #################