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Digital Gaming => Computer Gaming => Topic started by: undercovergeek on June 07, 2013, 05:21:54 PM

Title: Age of Wonders Shadow Magic
Post by: undercovergeek on June 07, 2013, 05:21:54 PM
Having had the time today to read the full specs, lowdown, history, background blah blah blah of the upcoming and wonderful looking AOW III i thought id give my much under appreciated copy of this game a blast seen as im confined to the laptop for the weekend

Im beginning to feel the love, Lord bless Huw who advised me to play and made me play, and got shouty if i didnt play, but it seems to be coming together at last

a snip at $6 at GOG and a fine filler until AOW III comes out

For questions for the Huw if he sees this though
Title: Re: Age of Wonders Shadow Magic
Post by: DEVGRU6 on June 07, 2013, 05:26:17 PM
^Don't forget to install the Lord of The Ring mod-truly makes for an unforgettable game experience and it makes it so atmospheric it is sick, man!

DEVGRU6
Title: Re: Age of Wonders Shadow Magic
Post by: undercovergeek on June 07, 2013, 05:27:50 PM
Quote from: DEVGRU6 on June 07, 2013, 05:26:17 PM
^Don't forget to install the Lord of The Ring mod-truly makes for an unforgettable game experience and it makes it so atmospheric it is sick, man!

DEVGRU^

id heard - wanted to master vanilla first and im quite enchanted with my little ginger bearded dwarves at the mo'!
Title: Re: Age of Wonders Shadow Magic
Post by: DEVGRU6 on June 07, 2013, 05:29:49 PM
Quote from: undercovergeek on June 07, 2013, 05:27:50 PM
Quote from: DEVGRU6 on June 07, 2013, 05:26:17 PM
^Don't forget to install the Lord of The Ring mod-truly makes for an unforgettable game experience and it makes it so atmospheric it is sick, man!

DEVGRU^

id heard - wanted to master vanilla first and im quite enchanted with my little ginger bearded dwarves at the mo'!

Get back with us when you go chocolate.

DEVGRU6
Title: Re: Age of Wonders Shadow Magic
Post by: undercovergeek on June 07, 2013, 05:35:35 PM
i fear that may coincide with AOW III and then we're all back to square 1 but i will follow your advice - thanks
Title: Re: Age of Wonders Shadow Magic
Post by: bob48 on June 07, 2013, 05:46:52 PM
I piddled about for ages about if or not to buy AoW SM (as you know, geek), and eventually I did, and I'm buggered if i can get away with it now  >:(
Title: Re: Age of Wonders Shadow Magic
Post by: undercovergeek on June 07, 2013, 05:54:20 PM
Still not feeling the love for it bob?
Title: Re: Age of Wonders Shadow Magic
Post by: Huw the Poo on June 08, 2013, 04:08:48 AM
Quote from: undercovergeek on June 07, 2013, 05:21:54 PM
For questions for the Huw if he sees this though

Erm...what? :D
Title: Re: Age of Wonders Shadow Magic
Post by: undercovergeek on June 08, 2013, 04:51:59 AM
sagely advice my welsh wizardy friend

have started an epic scenario as per your advice - no campaign or tutorial - just me and 5 wizards - in me dwarven village there is a chance to build what looks like something to go build a town with - do you actually build/settle towns re Civ or do they already pre-exist and ive missed the gist of this units role?
Title: Re: Age of Wonders Shadow Magic
Post by: Huw the Poo on June 08, 2013, 06:50:07 AM
Pioneers operate much as you'd expect; you can indeed build cities with them, as well as roads.  If you conquer an opponent's city you can transfer your own citizens into it; I think it's an option in the production menu.
Title: Re: Age of Wonders Shadow Magic
Post by: undercovergeek on June 08, 2013, 07:26:13 AM
awesome ta - any 'things to do first' hints and tips?
Title: Re: Age of Wonders Shadow Magic
Post by: bob48 on June 08, 2013, 09:18:34 AM
Quote from: undercovergeek on June 07, 2013, 05:54:20 PM
Still not feeling the love for it bob?
I'm doing the Elf campaign, and solved the first scenario without too much trouble, the second one keeps kicking my ass big style. I've tried a few different methods, but no way can I get enough cash/troops to beat off the inevitable orc attacks. My kingdom is so spread out that I need to keeps troops guarding resources and they still get gobbled up piecemeal. If I concentrate my forces, then I leave too many critical area's open to attack. I'm almost tempted to say that the scenario's are unnbalanced.

On the other hand, I could just making a gigantic cock-up of it.
Title: Re: Age of Wonders Shadow Magic
Post by: undercovergeek on June 08, 2013, 09:31:36 AM
or take Huws advice and go for a big map and miss the campaign
Title: Re: Age of Wonders Shadow Magic
Post by: bob48 on June 08, 2013, 09:34:28 AM
Hmm. Not tried that so maybe I'll have a bash at it.
Title: Re: Age of Wonders Shadow Magic
Post by: undercovergeek on June 08, 2013, 10:04:43 AM
straight up start from scratch job - started last night - lost 2 hours - love the dwarves - fantasy nation of choice
Title: Re: Age of Wonders Shadow Magic
Post by: Sir Slash on June 08, 2013, 11:15:08 AM
Hey Bob48. I'm doing the 3rd Elf mission now after taking a little break from the game. I had a hell of a time with mission 2 as well. If it's the one I think, with the river to the left of the starting city, I kept moving down the river securing the area south of it before reaching the bridge across it. If you hold the bridge, then the orcs can't cross the river to attack you. After cleaning-up below the river, I moved across and to the left is the first orc city. After I built a large force, about 4 full 8-unit armies, the orcs abandoned the city and fled north. They later abandoned all their cities, only finally standing at the last one. Use fast units or flying units to scout enemy territory and grab resources, the orcs will have to send units to recapture them, weakening their cities defense. Also remember you can Raze a resource if you can't hold it to keep the enemy from regaining it. After the orcs, start looking for the Dwarves to the nort. They'll ally with you. Elves can build the Secret Glade that hides your cities from enemies.
Title: Re: Age of Wonders Shadow Magic
Post by: bob48 on June 08, 2013, 11:34:35 AM
Thanks Sir Slash, I'll give that a try. Its been driving me mad  ;)
Title: Re: Age of Wonders Shadow Magic
Post by: bob48 on June 09, 2013, 04:44:21 PM
You were spot on with your advice, Sir Slash. I did it that way and have just finished turn 80 and most of the map is mine.

Thank You! :)
Title: Re: Age of Wonders Shadow Magic
Post by: Sir Slash on June 09, 2013, 10:10:09 PM
Great Bob. Those damned orcs are tough. The big finale is in the Spirit World. No need to go there until last.
Title: Re: Age of Wonders Shadow Magic
Post by: bob48 on June 10, 2013, 01:17:50 PM
Citys and mines rebuilt, a heathy bank balance, loads of troops and just  a couple of small pockets of resistance to finish off - then I assume its those big Dwarven Doors to the bad place?
Title: Re: Age of Wonders Shadow Magic
Post by: Sir Slash on June 10, 2013, 01:53:04 PM
That'd spoil the surprise. Way off to the north, above the Dwarf doors, is a Frostling city. They'll join you and have some excellent high-tier units.
Title: Re: Age of Wonders Shadow Magic
Post by: bob48 on June 10, 2013, 01:56:02 PM
Wonderful - I've got a few scout units covering that road until my main force moves up. Sounds like its going to be fun.
Title: Re: Age of Wonders Shadow Magic
Post by: FarAway Sooner on June 11, 2013, 08:51:52 AM
Dryads (Nymphs?) and their "Seduce" ability is a great cure for the Lvl 2 Orc brawlers.  Nothing like having a L1 unit that can neutralize an L2 unit of the enemy.

If, that is, he doesn't make his Resistance roll...   ???
Title: Re: Age of Wonders Shadow Magic
Post by: Sir Slash on June 11, 2013, 10:19:42 AM
Agree totally. Some of the orc units seduced by my nymphs stayed with me through the rest of the campaign. But some later turned back hostile and attacked my forces. Nymphs also are great for scouting using their ability to walk on or across water where enemy units can't reach them. In combat, the Druid's Entangle ability will work almost every time and they can also walk on water.
Title: Re: Age of Wonders Shadow Magic
Post by: bob48 on June 11, 2013, 12:47:20 PM
Keep the tips coming guys - I'm making notes  ;)