Ok I admit at first I was just a bit disappointed. The world felt really "empty", and mostly I felt disoriented by the interface: and I'm NOT saying it doesn't work, only that -not knowing it- I simply didn't know where to find stuff. I mean you can't know how to create groups until you try and hit SHIFT + mouse select (which is handy enough once you get it).

I couldn't even figure out how to build a farm, or find an "enchantment slot", or manage to cast a spell in the strategic view (SELECT the sovereign, d'oh!!!  ) Surely this might impact reviews I fear, even if it isn't an issue for ME, as I intend to play the game and once you know the mechanics, the issue disappears entirely of course. Let's just hope reviewers will have a little patience.

By the way, as I got the grasp of things and discovered layers of refinement, the immersion factor spiked up.

"Uh, what's that, spells have different durations! Of course!"

"Uh, there it is, the maintenance cost! No wonder I couldn't buy anything more!"

"New unlocked resources?!?! What's that, an apiary!?! Gorgeous!!!" 

"Look, the land is becoming greener and greener!!"

Not to mention little touches like the "energy ray" coming up from the shards...

Sure enough, many today have been complaining for one issue or the other (most notably the lack of true map randomization, which I agree it's a real issue - also an unexpected one for veterans of the genre), but the game is really starting to feel captivating to me. Can't wait to learn more and to see it evolve, the potential has yet to be determined here