But that is only because you assume the AI won't be a challenge. Don't assume that. Just play the game to enjoy it. Maybe the AI is toothless, but that won't become an issue until much later. Eventually the point in game will come where you for all practical purposes already won it,  but that point will come no matter how good the AI is. In games like MOO2, it will come later. In games like elemental in it's current state, it will come sooner, but that does not stop me enjoying it up to that point, after which i just start  new game.

And if i find a strategy that the AI is particularly useless against, next time i won't use it and try something new to challenge myself. For instance last time i made an 'old man' sovereign that had all physical stats total crap(5 con, 'clumsy' disadvantage ) and he never moved from the capital, relying completely on hired champions who brought him experience books and potions so he could level up. Stuff like that makes the game fun for me.

If you think it too easy, try figuring out a handicap that would hinder you the most, then try to play and win the game that way.(Next time i plan to research the adventuring tree all the way to top before anything lese to make the 'wilds' really dangerous :))

I should not cripple myself that way for the game to fun.

Seriously, though, I get what you are saying and I even posted previously that the only fun I was having was in trying to find wacky ways to 'win'.  That fun only (for me anyway), lasts so long.  I'm glad to see that you are enjoying though.

As for MOO2, it did come later and usually involved some TENSE battles to maintain the expansion or defend the empire.  The is no such tense battles in this game unless you go looking for them.  It's just a way to illustrate the difference. 

<shrug>

You asked what it is that makes elemental so fun for us who enjoy it. This is my answer. Take it or leave it.

1)  I guess it depends what game you compare it to......

2)  So very true

3)  I was refering to the resource that determines how fast your population grows.... I thought that was called prestige... maybe I'm wrong.  But I guess its not "really" a resource in the traditional sense.... more like just an upgrade....  The elementium problem is pretty annoying though.... or even if you do get some of it early on (which is possible if you rush through the adventure tree early in the game).... usually you run into the problem of having only enough to give one unit armor..... or a stack just elementium helms... which is both rather pointless.  I usually cheat, by going into the map editor and putting alot more of the "elementium goodie huts" into the map.  Oh, and there is an elementium mine in the map editor, but it doesn't work.  I wonder if its a "on-the-to-do-list" sort of thing....

That the sort of things I do after playing  game for a LOOOONG time and finally getting bored of it.... its all good but the problem is that they game Just came out.  I shouldn't have to that sort of stuff until much much later

I will just take a break from the game till future updates come out/more mods are released.  That way when I come back, it will feel like a brand new game hopefully....

I just wanted to add my support and thanks to Stardok for creating this game.  In spite of the issues I find it has tremendous potential and will provide many hours of great turn based strategy gaming in a great new environment.  I will stick with it all the way and look forward to each step forward.

Yes lets not think critically about games at all.... lets just buy and play anything game designers throw at us, like the mindless peons that we are..... Seriously?

No..... actually let him nitpick.  If there is a demand for great video games, companies will be forced to supply that demand.  If we settle for whatever they throw at us, we will get the very minimum....  that is just basic economics.

Furthermore I think Stardock is genuinly trying to improve the game, and if all we say is "the game is perfect" and "we love your game" we are not doing our part to assist them.  I by no means think we should hate stardock..... no..... but if they are honest with us, which Brad seems to be, we should return the favor.

Yes, you should get absorbed by the game.  But great games absorb you with very little effort on your part..... if you have to try to get absorbed into a game by "focusing on what is there" and ignoring what is not... its not a great game and could use some improvement.  It seems that you are agreeing with "wayninja" after all with that statement because if you REALLY enjoyed the game you would not have to pretend its something it isn't by selectivly changing your mental state via focusing.

I wasn't being serious, you had that exact quote in your reply (but now I see you edited it out).   Don't be so uptight.

You are right, prestige is how your population grows, I was mistaken, I should have said 'reputation'.

1. If you ever get me to feel that I "must have" all the spells because all seem equally important instead of sticking to lighting damage, summons, imbue, teleport...

2.

3. No more kamikazes too! Yay!

4. Friends? What's that? Can I have aeris storage?

Please do not tear my quotes out of context. I was answering his question how anyone could possibly enjoy elemental in it's current state, not defending the state of elemental at launch.

If you want to evaluate the elemental's state, by all means nitpick. But if you want to enjoy playing it even now, focus on what works, not on what doesn't.

I'll just be happy when I can play it without it crashing...  So far, no luck on that front.

I don't have friends, only got 1 Karma so far here, so i guess option 4 is out for me.

However, once you pull the list off, your game will be indeed A++ awesome. So far i only stopped playing because of the AI :/ But i know GalCivII so i know what you guys can do. I can wait, i paid already and i can still wait, no problems here, i know how it is for smaller companys gamedevs. Supporting Stardock is for sure no mistake!

I bought GalCivII complete, Sins complete, Demigod, now Elemental and i will definetly purchase any future products! Okay sins and demigod wasn't developed by Stardock, but still

I see, in that context your post makes more sense.  I miss understood.  Can't disagree with that....

I find it amusing, too.

And just to add more love to the thread, I'm enjoying Elemental myself.  It's easy to lose a couple hours without even noticing the time go by.

Then be puzzled.  There's a lot of stuff in the world that people seem to go nuts over, and I stand there saying, "Eh... I don't get it."  And even if someone took the time to explain exactly what they like about it, I'd probably say, "Eh... I still don't get it."  I think that's where you are with Elemental.  My advice: take a deep breath, smile, and move on. 

Thanks, that's good advice.  Obviously I won't take it, but good nontheless.