The game plays more or less identically to previous Stardock 4X titles along the 'Fallen Enchantress' series, but with half the features removed or simplified. Shrines are now just shrines with no elemental assignation; units cannot be customised (so far as I could tell) and must instead be individually equipped with individually crafted items made from materials found around the map (primarily from battling). Needless to say, this mechanic is considerably more time consuming and annoying than customising units but produces the same exact result.. .