It's not a great game yet. I would look at it more like preordering a game rather than buying a game.

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.

Well at the moment I'm enjoying this game more than I've enjoyed 9+ rated games, doesn't that count for something?

Every game out there has bugs some more than others but with the constant updates that kinda cancels out the negativity towards bugs. I would however lower my rating score if I thought the game wasn't being patched or fixed up. Game play is fun, could always be better LOTS of potential here. There is lots of magic, and again lots of potential to make it even better. It's unfortunate that people are still crashing but I haven't crashed in 12 hours straight game play so that doesn't really effect my personal rating. The AI is Definitely weak, that's probably one of my biggest gripes but Brad acknowledges this and is hard at work! Diplomacy is pretty much the AI. Tech Trees need lots of work but at the moment it's playable. I love the character creation I wish there was a ton more too! but I mean what game offers all this stuff to do and is perfect? Elemental took on a lot of work and it's going to even get better as time goes on. They could have just made a list of sovs to pick from rather than create your own sov. (IM GLAD THEY DIDN'T) I agree I want more too. I always want more.

You're entitled to your opinion, but for me this game comes close to an 8 (7.5) for many reasons. Brad has said a whole bunch of times that he will be working on this project for awhile and then expansions? I mean he's in it for the long haul. Don't let your paranoia get the better of you, stay positive and cool

I played this game early beta so I know how far it's come. (Don't get me wrong I think there is a TON of work this game needs and while your rating system might be different than mine getting from a 7.5 to a 9  will take ground breaking measures, which I believe stardock can handle)

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.

Its ready... Are you?

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.

You should only buy this game if you're dead positive that you want a fantasy TBS six+ months down the road.  What exists currently is a better game than it used to be, by leaps and bounds, but it is not a Good Game.

The engine is not as broken as it used to be.  Some rules holes have been fixed, and some AI improvements have been made.  The rules are still busted in half and lackluster in most aspects, while the AI is still unable to cope with the rules.  This is not a game you purchase to play now.  This is a game that you might purchase in order to get the real game cheaper when the first expansion comes out (which is a pretty substantial leap of faith).

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

 Hahaha... amen brother. I've decided to fight you to see which of us gets to fight any of those that disagrees with you. Rawr!

http://forums.civfanatics.com/showthread.php?t=171398

Gonna go and enjoy the next 16 hours replaying that classic wishing that EWoM had this good of a "hook".