A few points, which aren't new, but... if you want another data point, here goes.

1) SD has a strong committment to improving and maintaining their games.

2) The magic system is easily moddable. It's OK now, but there are some mods *cough* that are making an honest attempt at making it compelling. Hell, you can even post on these threads and make your voice heard as to how it would be in your perfect "10" kind of game.

3) Brad is probably one of the best game AI programmers in the industry. 8/10 in skill and 10/10 in passion. Eventually, you will be spending a lot of time on strategy and planning each turn to win this game.

4) Kael is a hoss. FfH2 is a classic FTBS game. I will fight anyone who disagrees.

5) Buy before 12/31 (I think), you get the first expansion for free. It essentially reduces the cost of the game by 30-50%. Assuming you're in for the long haul. Points 1-4 suggest that you should be.

Anyway, that's my 2 cents.

EDIT: I broke the forums. Sorry.

I worry about the same thing. There is so much work left to be done and people are already declaring this game to be "8/10". I hope SD keeps their eye on the ball.

OK! after more then a few hours of playing ( hey needed an excuse to stay up and check out the lunar eclipse last night) I am ejoying myself!

I have had no CTD, I only had one memory leak issue or something to that effect. Just loaded a saved game and I was good.

I do see some of the " there is hardly any magic in this game.." side of the argument. I want to see the fireball expload and do area damage..lol. But I do see the balance of magic/research/weapons..sort of thing.

I had fun making my own King/badass...whatever. and new kingdom.

I may complain later on the AI not doing a lot but right now it is almost the right pace while I figure things out...lol. And it did try to block me in by making a "wall of cities" to keep me in my little corner. I thought that was interesting.

And the graphics are great! Like I said before I love this sort of thing.

The combat, well I would like more options. Flanking and rear hits do more damage maybe? a lance for "knights". not a fan of the paper, rock, scissors but there is something to be said that a dude with spear has better chance of killing dude on horse...that sort of thing. more of a penilty if I break my line to do something herioc/stupid...know what I mean.

Campaign was short...only one "book"? it seemed to hint that there was more ( expansion?) thats hardely a complaint since the sandbox is loads of fun, more so if I dare say.

what do the midnight stones do? the titan relics or something to that effect....prob in here somewhere, havent looked just writing off the top of my head right now and that popped in.

Well back to it....I am playing for pure entertainment right now then in a few days give it a good shake down...want to see if each building is doing what it says it will sort of thing....thanks all!

......oh I was a little disappointted in the diplomecy...or maybe I havent figured it out yet...not sure. seems almost impossible to please some groups...not that, that is unrelistic since that is true today...cant make all people happy all the time.

Okay, but maybe you shouldn't expect yourself to objectively rate your own puppy?