Armchair Dragoons Forums
Wargaming => 4X Gaming => Topic started by: Martok on May 12, 2021, 04:39:21 AM
-
Holy crap. Of all the fantastic 4x news & info that's rolling in right now, this might actually be what has me the most excited...
The developers are Muha Games, the studio behind the niche (but well-received) Thea and Thea 2, both fantasy 4x-ish titles with a bit of a cult following. The devs are well-regarded, however, and the news that they're the ones doing the new MOM seems to have been met with almost universal acclaim.
I'm seriously jazzed for this one. 8)
-
I have yet to win a game of the original game. :whistle:
-
You and me both, my friend. I've never really done more than tinker around with my copy on GOG. :-\
On the other hand, that also means I have few (if any) expectations for the remake: I probably won't know what's missing. 8)
-
I don't think that I ever played the original.
-
Me either, Bob. I was too lost in Civilization and Master of Orion to care.
-
Me either, Bob. I was too lost in Civilization and Master of Orion to care.
Yeah, i was playing Master of Orion day and night....i even found an old picture of me with the game running in the background :party:
-
I would be waaaay more skeptical if I hadn't played the Thea games. Not masterpieces but innovative and well-done. That's enough to put the remake on my radar.
-
Me either, Bob. I was too lost in Civilization and Master of Orion to care.
Me three.
-
I would be waaaay more skeptical if I hadn't played the Thea games. Not masterpieces but innovative and well-done. That's enough to put the remake on my radar.
I tried Thea I, and it looks beautiful, but the micro-management wore me down. I will admit to being temped by Thea II but have managed to resist.
-
I know it by name only - don’t know where I was for the original - but the high regard in which the first is held is enough for me to keep an eye on it
-
Aye, its on my 'follow' list as well now.
-
I know it by name only - don’t know where I was for the original - but the high regard in which the first is held is enough for me to keep an eye on it
That's more or less where I'm at as well. MOM is to fantasy 4x what MOO1/MOO2 is to space 4x -- it remains the gold standard against which other games in its sub-genre are compared to.
In addition, I hunger for a new fantasy 4x/GS title. My love for Fallen Enchantress: Legendary Heroes hasn't diminished, but the simple fact is that it was released almost 8 years ago, and it kinda shows. In addition, the other two standout games in the sub-genre -- Age of Wonders III and Endless Legend -- were released 7 years ago.
There's been a serious dearth of new major fantasy-strategy titles since then. I need my wizards and dragons, dang it! :nerd:
-
A little bit longer & more in-depth look, alongside an interview with Mila Undro from Muha Games.
-
Definitely looks like one to keep an eye on.
-
It does. Much better than that first reveal trailer.
I spent WAY too much time playing this back in the 90s. Friends of mine at work at the time played it too and it was a great way to learn things. I had that game down pretty well. Today I own it on GOG, but the intricacies escape me. Wouldn't mind checking this new version out.
-
I'm certain I'll end up buying it.
-
Its a long wait until the release - just '2022'.
-
Deity Empires until then!
-
Not to mention 'Dream Engines' and 'Punk Wars'
-
This is kinda cool... A lot of folks have pointed out that the trailer for the remake is functionally identical to the intro for the original game, and one even fan went so far as to sync them up so you could compare/contrast.
-
The first developer diary is up:
http://muhagames.com/dev-diary-1-june-2021/
It gives a broad overview of what they're changing from the original game, and what will remain the same. Obviously, everything is getting a visual & artistic upgrade, regardless of everything else. There will be at least some other changes & improvements, however, such as the hex map and an improved AI (which the devs tacitly -- albeit humorously -- admit will be a low bar to clear).
I'm looking forward to seeing more specifics further on, but it looks good so far. I'm definitely digging the artwork in the screenshots.
-
Yep, saw that. Looking good so far. :bigthumb:
-
Dev Diary #2 is up! This one talks about events, as well as showcasing the art upgrades for some of the wizards.
http://muhagames.com/mom-dev-diary-2-august-2021/
I like that the player will now sometimes have options in responding to certain events, allowing you to manage them to at least some degree. Simply having to accept a negative event with no way to mitigate the outcome/consequences is frustrating.
I'm also interested that the devs are planning an "event pack", so as to add more content to the game. I look forward to seeing what they come up with.
-
Thanks for update
-
Yeah, hopes set to probably too high. :bigthumb:
-
Yeah, I'm trying to keep my expectations to something approaching reasonable, but it's hard. Muha is hitting all the right notes so far, and the game honestly looks very well done.
-
Dev Diary #3 discusses Mercenaries and Artifacts:
http://muhagames.com/mom-dev-diary-3-september-2021/
Mercenaries come in two types, Heroes and Champions. Heroes are more common, while Champions are more unique, plus have higher stats and more abilities.
One thing I like that Muha is doing with the remake is adding "extra", non-canon events, as some of these will unlock an extra choice/path if certain Mercenaries are present, while other events can result in certain Mercenaries joining you as a reward. It strikes me as a nice touch.
Artifacts can either be found or conjured, and your Mercenaries can be equipped with up to three of them at any given time. At the moment, there are no restrictions for building artifacts, although the devs are considering implementing one forbidding you from applying a spell/skill that is not from your wizard's magic school. (Which makes sense on paper, but I imagine time will tell whether this would be too restrictive or not.)
(Attached: Screenshots of a few of the Mercenaries from the original game, with their respective art upgrades.)
-
Dev Diary #4 looks at some of the races -- specifically, the inhabitants of Arcanus and Myrror:
http://muhagames.com/mom-dev-diary-4-october-2021/
The dev diary also shows off a few work-in-progress screens for customizing your Wizard. It looks very good so far.
If Muha Games has put even half as much effort into the rest of the project as they have into the visual aspects (artwork, map, UI, etc.), then the MOM remake is going to be fantastic.
-
Dev Diary #5 is (apparently) a transcript of a community Q&A they did on Discord...
https://www.matrixgames.com/news/master-of-magic-development-diary-5-december-2021-qanda-time
To be honest, i found this one a little disappointing. Still, there were a few interesting/worthwhile nuggets of info dropped. In no particular order:
- One change/improvement Muha is looking to make versus the original MoM is increase the player's ability to customize their games at start. Two examples cited were customizable AI difficulty, as well as the ability to enable/disable two different event "packs".
- There are no plans for multiplayer at this time.
- Apparently, some of the artwork for the Wizards is deeply unpopular amongst a certain portion of the fanbase. (I'd heard rumors about this before, but it's the first time I've seen it openly acknowledged. I confess I don't see the big deal, but then I never played the original, either.)
- Diplomacy will (pretty much have to) be almost completely revamped.
- No release date yet. Beta is tentatively planned to begin early next year, however.
(https://i.imgur.com/EPRy31Q.png)
(https://i.imgur.com/WcomDyO.png)
(https://i.imgur.com/OPwiqlj.png)
-
Dev Diary #6 is out:
http://muhagames.com/mom-dev-diary-6-december-2021/
(https://i.imgur.com/d2HFY3x.png)
This entry wasn't super exciting, but it was good to see that the devs are responding to community feed back, and how. Perhaps the most visually obvious changes are in the greater use of colors in the "revised" artwork for the wizards (see following screenshot for example). I would say the changes are fairly subtle, yet definitely still an improvement.
(https://i.imgur.com/TSQ9w22.jpg)
Personally, however, I'm especially looking forward to the race-specific names for towns. I'd had no idea the original game used real-world city names -- a fact that apparently a lot of fans feel hurt immersion (an opinion I'm inclined to share). The race-specific town names should also make it easier to guess at a glance who lives there, even if you're not close enough to actually "see" the inhabitants yet.
(https://i.imgur.com/PG3m1Mb.png)
(https://i.imgur.com/3AhVMih.png)
Obviously, these changes in & of themselves are "only" visual and don't mean that much to gameplay. However, they can make a great deal of difference when it comes to immersing you into the game's universe. Fingers crossed this theme continues throughout development!
-
I'm certainly keeping tabs on this one. :bigthumb:
-
I already know I'm gonna buy the damn game. No reason for me to be in denial :bigthumb:
-
Same. This one is second only to DW2 on my "most wanted" list. :)
-
Catching up a little, last month's dev diary gives a glimpse into both diplomacy and combat:
http://muhagames.com/master-of-magic-dev-diary-7-january-2022/
It sounds as if fundamentally, there won't be a huge amount of structural change in how diplomacy works as compared to the original MOM. However, Muha appears to be banking on their AI -- including the six "personality" types from the original game -- making it a more involved & immersive experience.
In addition, they're expanding trade options to include mana, gold, and artifacts (whereas you could only trade spells before). If the AI has "need" of something in your inventory, it may initiate a trade offer, including bidding a bit more for said item than it might otherwise be worth.
This month's dev diary looks at another meaty subject -- the aforementioned magic in Master of Magic (specifically, spells):
http://muhagames.com/master-of-magic-dev-diary-8-february-2022/
The devs talk a bit about how the spells are organized, and take a more specific look at two of the "realms" of magic -- Sorcery and Life. Spells from both realms are extremely useful and/or powerful, though obviously in different ways. Can't wait to see them in action!
Finally, a bunch of screenshots for your viewing pleasure (I really am digging the art design and overall aesthetic they've come up with):
(https://i.imgur.com/u4eaX4e.png)
(https://i.imgur.com/ulMF2G3.png)
(https://i.imgur.com/MlFtVYK.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/p9FyEZc.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/z8tbo46.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/exfjekK.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/KHiTLtI.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/QNxyLqK.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/skgl7YV.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/fDaVKJX.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/auZhgjM.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/yZnm3a2.jpg)
-
So how does Worlds of Magic by Wasteland Interactive fit in here? I thought they had been doing a spiritual reimagining (or whatever) of MoM too?
-
So how does Worlds of Magic by Wasteland Interactive fit in here? I thought they had been doing a spiritual reimagining (or whatever) of MoM too?
The short version is that it *doesn't* fit in, per se. Worlds of Magic/Planar Conquest was its own game, though MoM was indeed its primary inspiration.
I'm still really bummed by how that one turned out, especially as a Kickstarter backer for the original project. WoM/PL wasn't totally terrible, but it definitely fell far short of what Wasteland Interactive (and we backers) hoped would be achieved. The game was very much a case of the developers' reach exceeding their grasp, and a lot of unrealized potential.
Just a few short years later, Slitherine acquired the rights to the Master of Magic franchise. The rest, of course, is history.
-
Gotcha. I do have a copy but I never really gave it a chance, to be honest. And I suppose I never will now that Master of Magic is imminent. Oh well.
-
Muha Games and Slitherine are now accepting applications for beta-testers (note: you do need to have/create an account with Slitherine/Matrix in order to apply)...
https://www.slitherine.com/beta/master-of-magic
Dev Diary #9 (http://muhagames.com/master-of-magic-dev-diary-9/) is also now available to peruse. It talks about -- but mostly uses screenshots to show off -- how Muha has responded to community feedback to make the player experience better. I especially like the improvements to cities -- both how they're drawn, and especially that double-clicking on them will bring you straight to the city-view screen.
They also mention the beta signup, which indicates to me that we're probably looking at an autumn or winter release. Given what happened with Distant Worlds 2, I suspect a winter release is now more likely.
-
Dev Diary #10 - Personal Log, plus Community Q&A:
https://www.slitherine.com/news/dev-diary-10-april-2022
The two main things I took away from this were:
1.) We're finally going to get our first real look at the game next week during the Home of Wargamers event. :D
2.) The first round of beta-testing is set to begin (have already begun?) this week. Fingers crossed it goes better than the beta for DW2...
-
https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/slitherines-master-of-magic-remake-set-for-early-autumn-release
Early autumn it is
-
Slitherine finally showed off some gameplay footage during their Home of Wargamers stream. Coverage of MoM starts at 22:22, and runs until about the 59:00 mark.
Honestly, the game is looking very good so far. From the improved art & visuals, to various QoL improvements the devs have added (such as tooltips, and building management for cities), to diplomacy, It all looks like it's coming together. :bigthumb:
The only two criticisms/concerns off the top of my head are: 1) cities have a single build queue for both units & buildings; and 2) I worry/suspect this is likely going to devolve into the usual late-game micromanagement slog. I realize both these issues pretty much stem from Muha trying to produce a reasonably faithful remake of the original game, but I could wish they'd tried to innovate just a little in these areas. (The single build queue seems especially unnecessary; I genuinely despise that "feature" in older games.)
Still, I definitely remain excited for this one overall. The MoM remake is probably my most-anticipated game this year after DW2. (Now I just gotta keep fingers crossed that Slitherine doesn't screw up this release...)
https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/slitherines-master-of-magic-remake-set-for-early-autumn-release
Early autumn it is
Yep, they mention that during the stream as well. I'm extremely skeptical about the game releasing that soon (for several reasons), but as long as it's a reasonably solid product at launch, I'm fine with whenever it comes out.
-
It has a very Warlock/Warlock II look to it. I don't necessarily think that's a bad thing, I like the look of the Warlock games.
-
I agree. The Warlock games remain amongst my top played games. I hope this game is as good as it sounds/looks since there seems little chance of there ever being a Warlock 3.
-
Here's a shorter video from yesterday's event, focuses on just the MoM remake itself:
One detail that I really appreciate is from the Wizard selection/customization screen, which is how the various different Magic spheres and Traits are visually represented by spell-books. That's just damn cool. :2thumbs: I realize it has no impact on gameplay, but it's definitely one of those "little things" that can really help with atmosphere & immersion.
It has a very Warlock/Warlock II look to it. I don't necessarily think that's a bad thing, I like the look of the Warlock games.
I agree. The Warlock games remain amongst my top played games. I hope this game is as good as it sounds/looks since there seems little chance of there ever being a Warlock 3.
Dang it, I keep forgetting about the Warlock games. I don't think I've installed them on my new PC yet; will have to remedy that.
-
-
This month's dev diary talks about the ongoing beta-testing, and a few of the changes/improvements they've made as a result of the feedback so far:
http://muhagames.com/mom-dev-diary-11-may-2022/
I know I harp on about it, but I really do enjoy the artistic style Muha went with for the remake. It's not trying to be "retro", nor is it over-the-top gaudy like in the Warhammer TW games. And from reading the other dev diaries, it's clear they have put an equal amount of thought & care into the more important mechanical aspects of the game as well.
(https://i.imgur.com/VzCU1nx.png)
(https://i.imgur.com/CV4Klr1.png)
(https://i.imgur.com/1sB091D.png)
-
This one has been top of my want list since it was announced.
-
Yeah this is going to be my next day one purchase.
-
I do so hope we won't be disappointed by it.
-
This one has been top of my want list since it was announced.
The MoM remake took over the top spot on my wish-list after Distant Worlds 2 was released. I'm heartily hoping this one has a better outcome, however!
-
We can but hope!
-
^ Indeed. :)
I admittedly waffle between being nervous and cautiously optimistic with this one. On the one hand, Muha has a proven track record with their Thea games. And in doing the MoM remake, they already have a template to follow; they don't need to come up with a completely new game or reinvent the wheel.
On the other hand, of course, we have the debacle that was the launch of Distant Worlds 2. Painful as the whole thing has been, I pray that Slitherine learns the right lessons from it, and applies them going forward for their future releases, including & especially Master of Magic. (I wonder if they hadn't originally hoped/intended for DW2 and MoM to be breakout games for them, both raising the company's profile and attracting developers of similar games to sign up with them.)
Ultimately, I think Master of Magic will turn out markedly better than Distant Worlds 2 did (at least at release). But I won't deny I'll be holding my breath until the game comes out!
-
Agreed. It wont be an immediate on-launch purchase for me. I will wait and see what the initial reaction are.
-
Don't worry Bob, I'm stupid enough to buy it day one so I'll provide impressions!
-
I thought I could count on you, mate :bigthumb: :notworthy: ;D
-
I'm with you, Huw, I'm simply incapable of learning when it comes to purchasing new games!
-
At least then I'll have two expert opinions before i take the plunge :-)
-
Well, one expert and then me ;D
-
Tsk! Don't be so modest ;D
-
I'm with you, Huw, I'm simply incapable of learning when it comes to purchasing new games!
I like to think of it as optimism. :)
Excellent, glad to know I'll be in good company. :bigthumb:
-
Agreed. It wont be an immediate on-launch purchase for me. I will wait and see what the initial reaction are.
I want to say I'll do the smart thing and wait like you, but...well, this *is* me we're talking about. ::)
On the other hand, I'm still feeling badly burned by having pre-ordered DW2, so I'm not feeling overly eager to pick up any games on release day anytime soon. Ergo, actually exercising a little restraint for once definitely seems like the order of the day.
On the other *other* hand, I can see Master of Magic possibly releasing in time for me to apply my anniversary coupon towards it, so this might turn into a situation where I could have my proverbial cake and eat it too. :P We shall see.
-
I just hope it doesn't come with an astronomical price tag.
-
^ You and me both, Bawb. Fingers crossed...
Dev diary #12 - More adjustments based on beta feedback, and some of the other changes Muha made between the original to the remake:
http://muhagames.com/master-of-magic-dev-diary-12-july-2022/
Certain spells like "Web" and "Flying Fortress/Fortress of Flying" have been redone. Likewise, a few special units such as the Hydra have been reconfigured to fit with the game's mechanics. In addition, a load of work has been done on the AI, especially with regards to diplomatic behavior. Also, battle maps are now a bit more dynamic.
(https://i.imgur.com/xAdekwl.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/gLnUYxT.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/A7OMy3i.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/e5EknXd.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/IaIN90x.jpg)
-
https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/the-master-of-magic-remake-dons-its-wizard-robes-in-december
December 13th release - promising more footage before then
-
I wonder how much it will go on sale for?
-
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=l91ISfcuzDw
-
I'd better start saving up then.
-
You could sell den
-
You could sell den
Yes, but we like Bob and would rather not see him shivved just for thinking about that
-
You could sell den
..................No, certainly not!
................perish the very thought.................
...PM me with an offer.
-
;D
-
https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/the-master-of-magic-remake-dons-its-wizard-robes-in-december
December 13th release - promising more footage before then
Not gonna lie, I was starting to wonder if the game was still coming out this year. Happy to see that it is, though. :)
Impressions appear to be generally positive thus far. Sounds like it's both a fun/solid fantasy 4x, *and* a reasonably faithful remake (for those purists who are devotees of the original game).
-
https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/the-master-of-magic-remake-dons-its-wizard-robes-in-december
December 13th release - promising more footage before then
*and* a reasonably faithful remake (for those purists who are devotees of the original game).
As with most of the classics I won’t have this problem - all these ye olde awesome games seemed to pass me by - I was playing something I just can’t remember what
-
I've watch a YT vid of the the new game demo and it does look pretty awesome.
-
As with most of the classics I won’t have this problem - all these ye olde awesome games seemed to pass me by - I was playing something I just can’t remember what
Same.
Sometimes it's nice to not be burdened by nostalgia. Not that I don't still appreciate it, but then I'm not blinded by it, either.
I've watch a YT vid of the the new game demo and it does look pretty awesome.
Yeah. In the handful of vids I've watched/skimmed, pretty much everyone seems to be enjoying it.
:whistle:
-
Aye - there are a few now and they do seem to all be pretty positive. Hope its out for Christmas :-)
-
I suspect it will be. ;)
-
<rubs hands together - writes note to Santa...............>
-
<rubs hands together - writes note to casts spell on Santa...............>
ftfy
-
:2funny:
-
<rubs hands together - writes note to accidentally casts spell on Santa...............>
ftfy
ftftfy
-
Release date announced as being 13th December. No price mentioned as yet though.
-
Final (pre-release) dev diary is out:
http://muhagames.com/master-of-magic-dev-diary-13-october-2022/
It's mostly a Q&A regarding possible work on and/or changes to the game post-release. And as Bawb mentioned, they announced the release date -- again. ???
-
https://twitter.com/SlitherineGames/status/1602694629836881920
-
:bigthumb:
-
Mixed reviews so far - ranging from booo it doesn’t feel like the old one to yayyyy it feels just like the old one
As with all ‘remakes’ I suspect you’re in a much better gaming stance if you haven’t played the original
-
Yeah, very mixed. I'm going to wait a while and see how it goes. Really was hoping for a better reaction, but I guess this is typical sort of responses for a new game. Certainly not prepared to fork out 30+ quid on it at this point.
-
The reactions to this are almost identical to the reactions to Knights of Honor 2.
-
After 700+ turns. I must admit, it was on the easiest settings though.
-
You bought it then?
-
Nope. I was gifted it by a good friend :-))
-
Awesome - is it good?
-
In some ways, but its very like AoW III in many respects. There are some unfortunate aspects of the game that could have been better handled; combat being one of them.
You can have a maximum of 9 units in an 'army', but, unlike AoW, you cannot combine armies in a battle, so one of the unfortunate effects is that if you have, for instance, a 9-unit army in hex, with 2 more units adjacent to them, maybe 'behind' the main army as you build up the force, then the AI will sidle around and ignore your main force and target the lesser one. This results in battles of attrition, where you send lots of cannon fodder - cheap weak units - to wear down a unit before finishing them. This may seem valid, but its less than satisfying in game terms. Also, the diplomacy aspect is a joke and seems not to really function well at all.
Its not bad in other respects, but, as I say, it could have been better. lets see if the devs address any of these issues as I note that other players have similar complaints.
On a plus note, there are lots of things you can customize, and it looks pretty, albeit the UI is a bit clunky.
-
Been meaning to post my thoughts on this one for a (very) long time now...
The short version is that while I *want* to like the Master of Magic remake, I just can't get into it. And a comment someone made over on the Explorminate Discord helped me realize why: they called it "mundane".
And they're right. By far, the biggest reason I keep bouncing of the Master of Magic remake (much as I hate admitting it) is that it feels very...basic. Vanilla. Bog-standard. Almost banal.
It looks and sounds good, yes, and even the general gameplay is fine as far as it goes. However, there isn't much *to* that gameplay loop; it's all conquest-based, and about "painting the map" -- even more so than most 4x/GS titles. It feels like I'm playing a relatively bare-bones 4x from a generation ago...which I suppose it is, really. I can understand how it might have indeed been a masterpiece when it came out, and I can even vaguely see why so many folks still enjoy it (both the original and the remake); but personally, I don't find it holds up that well next to most current games in the genre, or even entries from 15-20 years ago.
I realize this was deliberate, as Slitherine wanted as close to a straight remake of the original game as possible. And to be fair, that was almost certainly the right decision on balance, all things considered: A more conservative approach was probably the only real option, especially with 2016's Master of Orion game -- which was a significant departure from all three previous entries -- serving as an object lesson of how *not* to revive a franchise.
But for someone like me, who has become accustomed to 4x/grand-strategy games with multiple victory conditions, multiple ways to play, etc. -- and just as pertinently, someone who never played the original MoM back in the day -- it makes it very difficult to enjoy the remake. I hate saying that, because it's obvious the love & care that the folks at Muha have put into the game. I wish I liked it better than I do. As it currently stands, however, I think I have to accept that, if nothing else, I may not be MoM's target audience.
I sincerely hope that changes at some point. The game has good bones, and as I said earlier, the developers clearly care about the material and have put a lot thought & care into over the past few years. (Indeed, they themselves have stated they've wanted to do more with MoM, but that Slitherine kept a tight rein on the design scope. Fingers crossed that perhaps their overlords eventually relax the strings a bit.) For the time being, however, it's my regretful conclusion that the game probably isn't my cup of tea after all.
-
So it's like playing Galactic Civilizations? :whistle:
-
I can't answer that since I have never played GalCiv.
-
At least the GalCiv franchise has lore/backstory behind it. Master of Magic is even more generic than that -- though to be fair, it doesn't feel as game-y.
-
That’s a great write up martok
-
That’s a great write up martok
+1 :bigthumb:
-
Thanks. I did my best to sum up my current feelings on the game, without writing a whole book.
It'll be interesting to see what direction this one takes in the coming months/years. Would love to see features and mechanics added that allow for for more varied play-styles, though I imagine that would pretty much have to in a separate DLC, or perhaps even a sequel (which Slitherine has hinted they might be aiming for eventually).
-
Apart from a brief dabble with aow2 I haven’t played either - are the 2 similar enough that 4 will fill in where mom failed
-
There are a few similarities between AoW 3 and MoM, but overall, I would rate AoW as somewhat better than MoM.
Also, AoW 3 was a lot better than AoW 2, IMHO.
-
So there’s hope aow4 will scratch the mom itch?
-
One can but hope.
-
will scratch the mom itch?
"Tonight, on Double Entendre Theatre... "
:whistle:
-
It was going to be you or BC!!
-
Apart from a brief dabble with aow2 I haven’t played either - are the 2 similar enough that 4 will fill in where mom failed
I played very little AoW2: The Wizards Throne, and Shadow Magic not at all (even though I own it :doh: ), so I can't really say how well the games compare to each other. However, I do recall enjoying the original Age of Wonders game back in the day, and I liked AoW3 well enough, even if it was more focused on war & combat than I generally care for.
I'll doubtless get flamed to a crisp for saying this, but my personal take is that as a whole, the AoW series has represented the fantasy 4x sub-genre better than Master of Magic has. MoM might have been the first game to do it *well*, but the remake suffers from not innovating or evolving (setting aside a few obvious things like the transition from tiles to hexes).
So there’s hope aow4 will scratch the mom itch?
Until Age of Wonders 4 actually comes out, we obviously can't know for certain. But from everything I've seen thus far, I'll be pretty surprised if it doesn't surpass Master of Magic in most (if not all) respects.
-
I'm with you on that, although I still plan to wait and get some feedback before buying.
-
Another big list of game mods and fixes - not sure if they have addressed any of the issues that I thought were a problem I may have to give it another try.
-
I started playing it again tonight (after watching episode 7, Carnival Row S2!) to see if there are any significant changes / improvements. certainly there are some new characters you can pick, but really, I'm not far enough in yet to notice anything. However, it does seem as if the diplomacy aspect is still as ineffective as it was before.
-
.................and, uninstalled it again. There are some serious issues with the game and, despite the impressive list of 'fixes' and so on, they really have not addressed some of the very fundamental short-comings of the game.
-
Nerd rage
Hopefully aow 4 can fill the space Bob
-
Not really rage, certainly disappointment as the game has definitely got potential, so yes, very much hope that AoW IV hits the spot.
-
I'm with you on that, although I still plan to wait and get some feedback before buying.
Oh, absolutely. For as promising as Age of Wonders 4 looks, I'm still not planning to pick it up right away.
.................and, uninstalled it again. There are some serious issues with the game and, despite the impressive list of 'fixes' and so on, they really have not addressed some of the very fundamental short-comings of the game.
Yeah. Just looking over the patch notes, it doesn't appear that they address any of the major issues I have with the game (and very few of the minor ones).
But then, I wasn't expecting any radical changes/improvements at this point. If they happen at all -- and I imagine that will largely depend on what Slitherine allows Muha to implement -- then it probably won't be until when they release DLC for the game.
-
Muha Games and Slitherine have finally put out an extended roadmap:
https://store.steampowered.com/news/app/1623070/view/3695810094451295799
There are numerous features & improvements coming to the main game, either currently in development or planned for later this year. A lot of them address performance in some way, or are important QoL improvements you would expect to see in a modern fantasy 4x.
However, the big news is that no less than 3 DLC's are in the pipeline, with the 1st one, Rise of the Soultrapped, already in development. No word on a release date yet, or what it's about, but fingers crossed it does more than just add that new content. :dreamer:
-
Without ever playing ye olde original what is it that everyone says is missing from the new one - is it fixable or is it a soul thing?
-
It has its good points, but there are still some aspects that just seem 'off' - see my comments earlier in this thread. However, an improvement to the very poor diplomacy aspect would be a good thing (possibly).
-
It could be a nostalgia hole that just can't be filled.
I spent SO many hours playing the original MoM back in the day. I've tried a few times to play the original over the last few years (having become available on GOG and Steam both), but it just doesn't speak to me any more.
The new version just...well, I'd agree, it feels soulless. Maybe that's my nostalgia for the original getting in the way, though.
-
Without ever playing ye olde original what is it that everyone says is missing from the new one - is it fixable or is it a soul thing?
It lacks the features & amenities of modern 4x/grand-strategy games that players have come to expect. At the same time, I suspect it's not truly recaptured the all-important nostalgia factor for fans of the original game, as BanzaiCat alludes to.
Remaking a classic is always a dicey proposition. It *can* be done well, but navigating that path is incredibly difficult.
-
Beta-testing is open for Rise of the Soultrapped:
https://www.slitherine.com/beta/master-of-magic-rise-of-the-soultrapped
-
There are still basic issues which have not been addressed, and, I suspect, never will be.
-
There are still basic issues which have not been addressed, and, I suspect, never will be.
I definitely concur with the first part. I hope you're wrong about the second part, though only time will tell.
-
New DLC officially announced. Release date is August 28.
https://www.slitherine.com/news/master-of-magic-rise-of-the-soultrapped-is-coming-on-august-28th
https://www.slitherine.com/game/master-of-magic-rise-of-the-soultrapped
It doesn't appear to fundamentally change the way the game plays, so I'll probably give it a pass for now. Perhaps I'll be proven wrong, though.
-
Bleh....I've already moved on.
-
anyone still poking around with this one?
I've got some codes for some DLC for anyone willing to knock out a little coverage :)
-
I tried it again just recently but, despite the new DLC (which I don't have), it still suffers from the same issues it has done since the new version was released. If they addressed these problems, then it could indeed be a very good game.
I don't think anyone other than myself and martok (where are you, Sam?) actually have the game.
Just reading the patch notes and it seems that they have at least made some effort to fix some of the issues - notably the very poor (almost non existent) diplomacy aspect, and the rate at which the A! spammed cities.
-
anyone still poking around with this one?
I've got some codes for some DLC for anyone willing to knock out a little coverage :)
Did you get any takers?
-
nope. No one wanted to bite :)
-
I can re-install it and give it a try and report, if you want. (any word from Sam, at all?)