Worlds of Magic 1.0 released

[FarAway Sooner]

I'm not sure that the build-out on AoW3 is any where near done yet.  They've kept implementing some fairly ambitious changes (e.g., introduction of faction-specific Race relations) and unit tweaks that add flavor.  I find the emphasis on combat isn't quite my thing, but it's still a bloody interesting game.

[FarAway Sooner]

How is the PvE aspect of this game?  That was one of the things that the original Master of Magic nailed perfectly, and I think it's absolutely critical to getting a good fantasy 4x game. 

Not only does having lots of dangerous monsters roaming around in the early game fit in thematically with a fantasy 4x game, but it also makes for much more complicated early-game strategic trade-offs as you try to strike a balance between building up your military versus building out your economic infrastructure.  I've always hated games that were about city spamming.

[bbmike]

There are lots of sites with monsters and also monsters wondering around. I'm having a very hard time expanding. Of course, I qualify that by remind you I have never been too good with these games.  :P
This game is lots of fun so far!

[Martok]

The map is a bit busy, and locating threats is difficult.

This has been my take so far as well.  WoM's map has always appeared rather...cluttered to my eyes.  It's nice to look at, but everything always feels jammed together somehow.  I know I'll get used to it eventually, but it's probably never going to be one of my favorite features about the game. 

On a positive note, the devs seem to be patching/updating the game like crazy as issues/bugs surface, so that's good to see.  I'm kind of waiting for the first major flurry of patching to taper off before I really dive in again. 

I'm not sure that the build-out on AoW3 is any where near done yet.  They've kept implementing some fairly ambitious changes (e.g., introduction of faction-specific Race relations) and unit tweaks that add flavor.  I find the emphasis on combat isn't quite my thing, but it's still a bloody interesting game.

+1

AoW3's focus on battles keeps it from being my favorite fantasy 4x title, but I think it's very good at what it does. 

[Rayfer]

A not so kind 'wot I think' review from RPS. I haven't played Worlds of Magic so I can't comment on whether it is fair or unfair. Curious what others have to say.  http://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2015/03/25/worlds-of-magic-review/#more-278211

[Huw the Poo]

Bollocks to what RPS think.  You usually find decent reviews on Steam once you scroll past the top-voted "funny" reviews.  Myself, I usually view a let's play video or two before deciding whether I want a game.

[Greybriar]

Das24680 has made a lot of videos about Worlds of Magic. Here's the first of the series:

Personally, I wouldn't mind having a go at it right now.

[Swatter]

Read the RPS review and it just confirms what many, many people have been saying. Its needs more polish and a more intuitive UI. RPS says its MoM at its core, which is good. Wasteland just needs to put the polish on this one.

[doomtrader]

We are polishing - currently at 1.0.8

[Yskonyn]

Why did you guys Choose to release and not delay to get the polishing done behind closed doors? Publisher agreements and rules?

[Anguille]

We are polishing - currently at 1.0.8

I am one of the kickstarter and chose GOG...do you have any ETA? Thanks

[bobarossa]

Just saw this (posted yesterday) on the Wastelands forums.

"We're doing our best to get WoM polished up before the GoG release. We decided that a slight delay was justified due to the number of unexpected bugs we've encountered. We're sorry for the delay, but there's a good motive behind it. "

[Huw the Poo]

I very nearly bought this this evening, but after reading around the internet about the additional polish that's required I gave it a miss for now.  However, having just bought Star Ruler 2, WoM is now at the top of my wish list.  I missed out on MoM and never got to play it, but everything I've read has convinced me that I'd have loved it.  I will certainly pick WoM up after a few more patches.  The Let's Play videos I've seen look really good.

[Martok]

A contrast of two reviews... 



SpaceSector rates it a 4/10, and is in general pretty harsh. 

The Good:
- Faction diversity is present in both city and unit design
- The 7 planes each offer a unique aesthetic both visually and aurally
- Watching your cities grow into something grandiose is rewarding
- Feels a lot like Master of Magic reborn
The Bad:
- Far too many bugs for a full release
- Combat system feels clunky both mechanically and visually
- Diplomacy is vastly underwhelming for a modern 4X game
- Lack of information makes specific game mechanics hard to understand
- AI is a one-trick pony and fails to challenge players beyond the early stages
- Exploration lacks a sense of excitement as there are few surprises
- Fails to innovate or expand the genre

Given the game's current state, I can't say it's a complete surprise.  I disagree with his criticism of the game's D20 system, though. 



Explorminate's review is kinder, giving it their "Consider It" rating (which means you may or may not like it depending on certain factors): 

TL;DR: Worlds of Magic is an unpolished game that still manages to capture the old-school, hardcore feel and fun of Master of Magic. It is almost a pure war game in that diplomacy, quests, and storylines are largely eschewed in favor of combat and exploitation. The game truly rewards unit diversity. You aren't stuck building the same stacks of uber units over and over. As a result, players really get to see what all the eight different factions have to offer. WoM also provides an immense amount of customization and depth to explore. It's hard to imagine a game with more area to see, build, and conquer with seven different planes and maps double the size of most other offerings in the genre. The game (version 1.07) isn't completely finished and has a number of bugs left in it. These will no doubt be fixed in time, and if/when they are, WoM will rightfully take its place as the first and only true spiritual successor to the 1994 classic.

You might like this game:

    If you were a fan of Master of Magic back in the 1990's

    If you want a highly customizable fantasy 4x sandbox game

    If you enjoy making and maintaining large and diverse empires



You might NOT like this game:

    If you are in need of a polished game right now

    If  you love diplomacy in 4X games

    If Storylines, quests, and heroic journeys are your thing

While the latter review obviously has a more favorable view of WoM, it's probably worth noting that both reviews state the game is currently buggy/unpolished, and that diplomacy is definitely lacking in its current state. 

Personally, I remain optimistic.  WI has been diligent in patching WoM on a regular (almost daily) basis, and I've already enjoyed what time I've spent playing the game; leader customization is a blast, and I love the huge worlds and diversity of gameplay options available.  Definitely one to keep an eye on.  :) 

[Huw the Poo]

To be honest, both of those summaries make me want the game even more.  Some of the pros that both reviewers listed are things I wasn't even aware of.  I'm definitely buying it; it's just a matter of time and patches.

Note: Factional differentiation is something that people complain about all the time.  If WoM is as diverse as it sounds I'd buy it for that alone.