Well I finally got to play my first game and can see that it is all there "In the rough" of-course. This game well polished over years can become one of the most timeless games (Like chess) but with the ability to evolve with time.

Computer compatibility. I first tired it with my low end laptop and I was surprised that it actually ran the game(graphics wise), however there was lots of lag took very long time when building troops and zooming in and out of the map. Now at first I blamed it on my internet connection but I decided to use my high end lap top and it played at lightning speed and all the slowness with the other lap top was gone. Then I decided to use overclock and load time was reduced as well as load time when switching to see different menu screens.

Now the first time I played I was starting to get frustrated and reminded myself it is beta and moved on. (frustrated because I wanted to know more about the options and there was no pop ups with details like there is in game. But once I started to get the hang of things I was LOVING EVERY minute as I got my XXSSS chased all over the map by this super high level Monster. (he would go away if he got out of my line of sight but as soon as he saw me the chase was one again lol gives a new meaning to scouting lol.

O.K. things that I would like to have seen in the display as I played:

1. A +,- zoom in out bar like google maps has so that I do not have to use the keyboard to zoom in and out.

2. A way to scroll through all my units that still have moves left not just cities and sovereign.

3. A way to see the stats Str, Dex, Con, Wis, Int, Char. of my characters in the same way one does at level up time at any time. I see that there is some of that info under the characters Bio's but that is not very user friendly and would like to see what is enhancement form items potions magic etc, and what is the base. The Bios screen is to big and that area can be used for more useful  text such as the one above stated. (One reads the Bio/back story once or twice but is constantly looking at the stats of a unit as game enhances such/or reduces it.

4. The mini map needs to be better I had a hard time finding the use for it. When I wanted to see the location of a quest I could not even see such on the mini map.

5. I would like an option to stack my troops in each square and just put the one I want to be visible on such square.

6. The ability to see a tech tree from start to finish in the roster section for each race and class.(I know this may be already in the works just not finished) but I do love the fact that one can get a pop up with a quick reference of what the pointer is pointing at Love that!

Suggestions:

a). I still really think that there needs to be a more detailed map/screen for quests, sort of the way the tactical may be. Give it some Icewind Dale feel to the quests and maybe some of the exploring (should one choose to do so of coarse).

. I am not a fan of lots of cities I sure hope that at some point there will be a way to lock the building of additional cities besides the first one, and allow me to play with those already made when the map was created.

Help needed:

How do I talk to Npcs to get them to join me? Every time I tire; it engages in a fight and not talk. Also how can I "color the skin and clothes of my sovereign and units?

Thank you for taking the time to read this I know I am not to good at explaining/writing but I hope it helps all of us in some way to have more fun with the game.

.... Now back to some more Elemental (Hope I live more than 40 turns this time.) And can keep the Npcs from running away from me on sight lol.