the Gorgon

Maybe they can specialize in fishing ... [e digicons]:thumbsup:[/e] And turn into an Atlantis before its fall!

[quote]Well, maybe some people here are of the same mindset as Stardock's. Or maybe Stardock is only trying to do what they know that people (mostly) wants (even if they weren't conscious yet).[/quote] As a matter of fact I'm quite sure they often post when they are not so sure about what people think, that's sort of the main usefulness of the forum for the game developer. And well, if there is nothing to add, why add anything? [e digicons]:omg:[/e] Sorry, I'll leave

I agree that the basic game mechanics are the most important thing when starting. However, I did think you would be able to order your troops around on the battlefield, not just clicking "attack" on the cloth map. And this seems rather basic for the game experience. I must also say that already games like Dom 3 and AoWSM are quite good (although far from perfect) if you forget about some bad graphics and movement problems. So, let's hope Elemental will be a step forward

Yes. Will it be possible to play a giant green frog as chaneller - or at least transform into one close to one of the victory conditions being met!? [e digicons]:frogboy:[/e]

This looks awesome! I especially like the soft feel of the texture of the graphics, you almost feel you want to pat the horse ... [e digicons]|-)[/e] The only part that could need some extra work is the horse's tail. Next thing will be to see how the units really moves, when attacking and not least when being blown out of the way by a dragon's breath. This will be as important as the look of the unit, especially when the game is going for the "LOTR Sauron m

I like the water-colour look. And i love the idea of a unique art style. Too many games are just overlooking this aspect. Still we don't really know what the game is looking like in action though ... Maybe the time is coming soon to dissipate the mists of mystery ... [e digicons]:thumbsup:[/e]

[quote]In Elemental there is no such thing as a knight or a wizard or an archer. [/quote] I'll wait with any comments, positive or not, on this topic until its clearer what it actually means for the gaming experience. Flexibility in producing units is great, but at the same time: if there are no "unit archetypes" or rules at all, the result might just end up: bland. With heavy micro-management. A comparison can be made with Dungeons & Dragons normal RPG, wh

Good idea!

I checked the entry "Epic fantasy" in The Encyclopedia of Fantasy, and the definition and comments are very interesting: "An epic is a long narrative poem which tells large tales, often incorporating a mixture of legend, myth and folk history, and featuring heroes whose acts have significance transcending their own individual happiness or woe. The classic epic tells the story of the founding or triumph of a a folk or nation." Examples: Homer's Iliad and Odyssey, Beowulf.

Nostalgia, bittersweet nostalgia. We used to team up in a great gaming group, playing D&D until 6 in the morning. People left with their eyes still glittering from seeing far-off dreamscapes ... Those were the days, before people "grew up" and started to work / study, moved away. Do teens today even know about real RPGs? Nowadays it's too easy just to switch on your PC and get a fantasy shot, but it's not at all the same thing. [e digicons]:')[/e]

1. LOTR (read and discussed so often that it almost feels "generic", but then everytime you take the book up again you are enchanted ...) 2. The first Chronicles of Thomas Covenant the Unbeliever. Epic, unique. 3. E.R. Eddison, The Worm Ouroboros. No easy read (old-English ...) but a masterpiece, and epic. Written before LOTR it inspired Tolkien (and this time it is actually true and not a commercial argument) Also epic feel in Guy Gavriel Kay's The Fjonavar Tapestry -

It will be important for Stardock to decide on what is the baseline of the official game. Once you know that it is not difficult to classify player-made content. The submitted content should be rated not only on pure quality, but also after style. A "magical" laser blaster can be incredibly well made, but it would still ruin the atmosphere of the offical game. I hope Stardock will take both parameters into account. No cannons please unless someone really asks for them.

Awesome! With such new content the game won't become boring and each game can be a truly unique experience. And each player has the choice to play as he likes. Sounds almost too good to be true ...

I hoped and waited for the Epic Story generator in GC2 ... But maybe the dev work already done on that project could make it easier to include it here. It doesn't need to be very compex - let the AI record some key events and just put it in an accessiable text format that the player can edit. You could have a special colour for the AI generetaed text and another for player additions so that you could still submit it like an "official" and "standardized" description to others.</p

The art style seems just right for the game. Especially the Mucha influences are really cool. The images shouldn't be too fluid though. I love the knight on horseback. Please add a similar knight on griffon-back too! [e digicons]:thumbsup:[/e] Great work! When do we get to see a dragon? [e digicons]:)[/e]

[quote]The world is heavy in types of magic creatures. But your civilization's ability to make use of those magical creatures depends on the skill of the player.[/quote] Thank you, now it's much clearer what the game could look like and that it indeed will have a number of different creatures in it. This seems very promising ... [e digicons]:d[/e] [quote]he magic aspect of fantasy I can completely buy, but why the monster fetisch? Are people nowdays so jaded or unimaginative

I was just struck by a question - a bit disturbing. What is the reason Stardock wants to limit this fantasy game to almost only humans? Maybe it is because the 3D engine being developed has difficulties enough to handle big battles with mostly humans, so a variety of creatures would just be too much at this stage of development. Or is it a just a question of taste / style of the game?

Well, a War of Magic without conjured beings is not worth its name. We want at least golems, elementals, demons/devils, angels, and a number of inventive extraplanar abominations.

They seem like a bunch of fascists to me. Productive - but not creative - masses. The name "the Fallen" has more of a religious clang to it, like they have forsaken their gods or something.

Yes, I tend to agree. The fantastical unit has to be well thought out, well made (graphically etc) in the game, make sense in the game system etc. The usual skeletons, zombies etc do get repetitive and feels like standard fodder. It should be noted however that fantastical/fantasy unit does not necessarily mean powerful unit. Dragons, liches, yes for sure. But badly equipped centaurs could be about as good as human cavalry. Just that it makes for more variety and is thrilling for the

(On 99% humans) [quote]I like it. It's a nice change from the usual game in the genre where armies resemble zoos more than actual armies. [/quote] Eh, it would be nice get to know all these "usual" games in the genre so I can go and pick one up immediately. To my knowledge there is hardly a decent 4x strategy fantasy game out on the market today. Historicical (i.e. 100% humans): yes, in droves. But fantasy .... Yes I've played HMM5 (hardly strategy). AWSM

99% humans. Hmm, we've heard there will be hundreds of units in battle at the same time, but still, 1% fantasy seems just a little bit too harsh and restrictive. I like the idea to focus the game on humans, but I really hope that the game will still revolve around magic and monsters and not only around who has the highest skill in forging swords.

In my view dragons should be there on the map, too powerful to steamroll over even with an army, and one way to make use of them is to throw a very difficult and costly spell that tries to control or bind the dragon to your channeler and his cause. If you suceed the others have something to worry about and you will have a great gaming hour. If you fail there is the risk that the dragon realizes it was you and comes gliding through the air towards your tower in a screaming, flaming rage. Inter

I would prefer that it is not a definitive game over if your channeller dies. Better would be if he turns into a ghost and has to recreate his body some turns later (in his tower), e.g. by using up a grotesque amount of mana points. Also, in any case he should be weaker, and the empire morale should take a major beating. It has to really hurt if your avatar dies, but at the same time, if it all ends when he dies it would be just too risky (=too much chance for a long game on an immense

I hope technology stops before gunpowder. Otherwise it might as well continue with cars and PCs and why not the galciv tech trees, but this is hardly fantasy as presented in EWoM. While tech trees should be in the game for forging swords etc, the fire power in this game should come from magic and not cannons.