I was like... whaaaat... someone's playing it already?

I like what I'm seeing as well, but I think it looks quite limited in its features. It seems that rather than a horde of features like dynasty and such, we will be getting the depth that was so fundamentally missing from E:wom (I think that is what Derek refers to when he says "core gameplay"). I'm looking forward to more information about combat and modding.

Maybe they should start the FE alpha because this forum is pretty dead lately.

Alpha is already made, just needs to be put up on impulse. I have a plan to get some hidden recording devices into the offices of the devs. Soon the game will be all too public. I'm calling it Operation Stardockgate.  

As for hopes and dreams, I am dreaming of a post-Christ's fake birthday that the Romans invented release. I am hoping that adding the new spellbooks I am working on will be easily modded and most of all I am wondering how the hell map creation is going to work with the new way they are doing lairs and dungeons. An alpha should be released to the loyal fanboi modding population so we know what we are dealing with. At least show us your concept art and drawing boards. 

That was what the recent server update was for.

Trust me.  The voices in my head have reliable sources.

-.-

I hope FE will be something complete and enjoyable. I'm trying to love WoM. I patch it to latest version, start game, have war declared of me, see enemy sovereign coming to my land with couple of weaklings. He's dead. He's passed on! This king is no more! He has ceased to be! He's expired and gone to meet 'is maker! He's a stiff! Bereft of life, he rests in peace! His metabolic processes are now history! He's off the twig! He's kicked the bucket, he's shuffled off his mortal coil, run down the curtain and joined the bleedin' choir invisibile!

And the game is so good in theory. Full scale wars for shards and resources, magic, exploring, quests, AI... To good to exist.

I've been playing Minesweeper.

Kick ass.

Yeah. If they put up an early build and find something that's crashy and doesn't play well? The reaction will not be good.

After WoM, what we don't need is a buggy incomplete alpha release. Build it, and don't put it out until it's in good shape and just needs tweaks. (ie: how basically everybody else makes games.)