Fantasy 4x kick

[mikeck]

Ok, dominions is such a great game it got me hooked on this new genre. I am looking at "Age of Wonders: Shadow Magic"...seems similar. How is it? How does it compare to Dominions? Is it deep and complex? If it sucks, are there other good ones that are relatively new (no 1999 games please)?
I did not care for Fallen Enchantress 

[Bison]

I like Conquest of Elysium 3.  It's made by the same developers as Dominions 3.  And it's only $10 so if you hate it, there is little to be lost.

[Huw the Poo]

On my phone now so won't say much except that Shadow Magic is one of the greatest games of all time!

CoE3 is great too!

[MetalDog]

Come to Warlock Master of the Arcane.  You'll not regret it.

[TheCommandTent]

Come to Warlock Master of the Arcane.  You'll not regret it.

How did I know you were going to say that.  :)


I have to agree with MD especially if you want something combat heavy.

[mikeck]

I don't really like Warlock...hard to explain but it seemed that I was just playing civ 5 with a fantasy mod. I don't want to be able to just build a bunch of improvements and buy units. I like Dominions because you use commanders that troops must be under. The commanders can get improvements like armour and weapons and the game allows you to role play with them.

[mikeck]

Shadow magic seems to be getting great reviews. I'm still enjoying dominions but would like a little more flash in the graphics department. Not a big deal at all, but if I can get a similar "your wizard vs these bad guys" experience with better graphics i will give it a go

[tgb]

Masters of the Broken World will be released Friday, assuming it's not pushed back.  That comes closest to what you're looking for, I think.  The only caveat is that the last beta was very rough, and many people, myself included, are concerned about it being ready for prime time.  Read some reviews and watch some play videos before jumping in.

[Huw the Poo]

OK I have time to say a bit more now.

I am looking at "Age of Wonders: Shadow Magic"...seems similar. How is it? How does it compare to Dominions? Is it deep and complex?

It's definitely comparable to Dom3 in terms of depth.  Each nation has a distinctive feel and there are a lot of mages you can play as, as well as creating your own!  There's a massive list of spells and skills, not as many as Dom3 but still plenty.  The graphics aren't the most modern but the environments are beautifully drawn and accompanied by one the best in-game soundtracks I've heard.  Being able to roam underground and in the shadow realm adds some options, too.  I can't recommend Shadow Magic highly enough; it's a lovingly crafted and wonderfully complete game.  I've never heard a bad word said about it, and with good reason.

[mikeck]

Bought

[Huw the Poo]

Yay!  When you're finally able to tear yourself away from it, don't forget to post here about how awesome you found it! ;)

[undercovergeek]

whens the new one due?

[Nefaro]

It's definitely comparable to Dom3 in terms of depth. 

Naaa.. AOW doesn't have as much variety to it as Dom3.   It still has more than most others, however.

I'm hoping the new Eador is serviceable at release.   Been debating pre-ordering it but I'm willing to spend an extra $2 after release to be sure.

[Huw the Poo]

Geek, if I recall correctly AoW3 is due late this year! \o/

[FarAway Sooner]

If you're brand new to the genre, I have a bunch of options to recommend:

• Age of Wonders: Shadow Magic:  Has a huge cult following, but I never quite understood why (or maybe the basic Campaign game just sucked me in).
• Heroes of Might & Magic III:  Best title in the whole HoMM series.  Not a traditional 4x where you build new cities based on terrain, etc., but it's a rich, deep series and largely defined the Fantasy TBS genre for the latter half of the 90s.
• Conquest of Elysium:  Think Dominions Lite.
• Eador: Masters of the Broken World:  This one has the potential to be the innovative genre-buster for TBS Fantasy in 2013, but with a 4/19 launch and nobody having seen a smoothly functioning Beta yet, it might take a few months to whip this launch from small Russian indie developer Snowbird into shape.  It's also not traditional 4x, if you want to be founding lots of cities, managing your own research tree, etc.
• If you have Civ IV w/the Beyond the Sword expansion, the Fall from Heaven mod is free and had great depth.  There are a few exploits for a few factions there, but I think I spent more time playing FFH than the original Civ IV.

Warlock you've already commented on, and also Fallen Enchantress, so I'll leave that one be--although I think it's a lot of fun.