This post is an interesting and polite discussion on the state of Elemental. During the discussion, a number of interesting ideas emerged, several of which I have sorted out and summarized below. First a bullet point list of ideas, with discourse beneath.

• Three distinct, differentiated tech trees.
• Option to upgrade buildings (tier 1, 2, 3) as opposed to constructing several of the same building.
• Civilization would advance by means of research, Magic by means of study, and Exploration by means of exploring.
• Creatures would have their own lairs, with spawn rates, in addition to the wilderness spawning.
• Incorporate RPG elements into Exploration. Classes, kits, abilities with levels.
• Allow for a mixture of exciting base units (paladins, priests, crusaders allowed for  by special buildings like cathedrals or jousting arenas [similar to MoM or HoMM]) and custom units.

Frogboy made a comment that was certainly interesting: distill the five tech trees into three. He wasn’t any more specific than that, so the following amounts to speculation. What I read into the comment was that the three trees would be utterly distinct from each other – similar to the difference between Starcraft’s three races (Zerg, Protoss, and Terran).

Civilization might be focused on the rebuilding of empires and kingdoms. One could have huge, sprawling cities (similar to how cities work now) protected by massive armies of conscripts. Or one might have small, upgraded cities protected by small, elite squads.

Perhaps mage-kings build cities, but the cities are built with mana and spells instead of materials and gold, leading to floating fortresses or the like. Or perhaps mages don’t build cities at all, but occupy a ruined mage tower that can be upgraded with a terrifying grove and spectral guards (like from Dragonlance novels).

Adventuring might be concerned with exploring and reclaiming or exploiting ruined cities and ancient relics, either exterminating or recruiting various creatures that roam the world or inhabit portions of it. It might have a more D&D feel, with various kinds of heroes like rogues, sword-saints, clerics and the like sorting out a chaotic world (under the player’s command).