Age of Wonders III coming later this year!

[Tinkershuffle]

Thanks for the above PE. I have a feeling I will prefer AoWIII because I have enjoyed Civ V so much.

If you want fantasy Civ then FE:LH is the better option imo. Like Martok said, AoW is heavily focused on combat. I like FE better because the game allows you also to build peaceful and trade oriented kingdoms if that's what you prefer.

[tgb]

The patch is now final and can be downloaded from GOG

[Gusington]

Damn now I am back to square one. I thought that AoWIII was more Civ like.

[skeptical.platypus]

It's difficult for me to say if AOWIII or FE:LH is more Civ-like, because Warlock is so obviously Civ-like, and both AOWIII and FE:LH are much deeper and more satisfying than Warlock. None of the three come close to the depth and strategy of at least the last three Civs; none of the three can scratch my Civ itch. If you are not interested in a combat-focused 4x, then ultimately both AoWIII and FE:LH will be uninteresting disappointments.

(But still far more interesting than Warlock.)

(And I strongly suspect that if somebody wants a fantasy strategy game that is similar Civ, a Civ mod is the best option. I, personally, would love to see Civ with tactical battles similar to either AOWIII or FE:LH.)

(I once saw a picture of a rabbit with a pancake on its head.)

[Tinkershuffle]

Gusington, just get them both, FE is often on sale. :)

[Gusington]

Get them both?? Inconceivable!

[JudgeDredd]

Get them both?? Inconceivable!

Although......

[Martok]

The patch is now final and can be downloaded from GOG

Thanks for the heads-up tgb!  Downloading now.  :) 

Damn now I am back to square one. I thought that AoWIII was more Civ like.

I badly wish FE:LH had AoW3's visuals -- not only for myself, but also because I know that would make it a no-brainer decision for you.  :)  As it is, I suspect you'd enjoy both games, just in different ways. 

It's difficult for me to say if AOWIII or FE:LH is more Civ-like, because Warlock is so obviously Civ-like, and both AOWIII and FE:LH are much deeper and more satisfying than Warlock. None of the three come close to the depth and strategy of at least the last three Civs; none of the three can scratch my Civ itch. If you are not interested in a combat-focused 4x, then ultimately both AoWIII and FE:LH will be uninteresting disappointments.

I don't entirely disagree with what you're saying here.  However, it does sound as if you & I have divergent opinions regarding the difference in depth between the Civ series and fantasy-strategy titles in general, as I don't find the Civ series to be *that* much beyond games like FE:LH and AoW3.  (I'm curious what your take on things would be if the Civ games had tactical battles, but I suppose that's neither here nor there...) 

[mikeck]

Get them both?? Inconceivable!

You keep using that word. I do not think it means what you think it means

[Cyrano]

Putting it another way, though:

Are ANY of the games under discussion on a par with Master of Magic?

I have had it on my hard drive(s) since its release on 3.5'' disks and many have tried, but none have o'er-topped that particular mountain.

Best,

Jim
"Cyrano"
:/7)

[Tuna]

Get them both?? Inconceivable!

Someone's loins getting moist?

Easter's soon, probably a big Steam Sale coming!

[undercovergeek]

Get them both?? Inconceivable!

You keep using that word. I do not think it means what you think it means

Whilst I'm almost sure Gus is inconceivable.... I don't want to try

[skeptical.platypus]

It's difficult for me to say if AOWIII or FE:LH is more Civ-like, because Warlock is so obviously Civ-like, and both AOWIII and FE:LH are much deeper and more satisfying than Warlock. None of the three come close to the depth and strategy of at least the last three Civs; none of the three can scratch my Civ itch. If you are not interested in a combat-focused 4x, then ultimately both AoWIII and FE:LH will be uninteresting disappointments.

I don't entirely disagree with what you're saying here.  However, it does sound as if you & I have divergent opinions regarding the difference in depth between the Civ series and fantasy-strategy titles in general, as I don't find the Civ series to be *that* much beyond games like FE:LH and AoW3.  (I'm curious what your take on things would be if the Civ games had tactical battles, but I suppose that's neither here nor there...)
[/quote]

Civ is leaps and bounds more complex than AoW or FE. In unit and structure variety alone it's an order of magnitude. I'd argue that even against AI, there is no sure fire way to win in Civ. A player will win against the AI, but there are a huge variety of choices in how they get there. In both FE and AoW, there is one sure fire way to win -- race to the most powerful units -- and the rest of the game is built around mild tweaks to how and when you get to the uber units.

That's the 10,000ft view.

At the 1,000ft view, Civ has a vastly more complex set of balancing variables that force to you make tough choices at almost every point you are thinking about doing something. FE and AoW offer vastly fewer decisions or options at every point. This is by design.

So yeah, I think you're onto something there with the divergent opinions on complexity thing. :)

My interest in tactical battles in Civ is simply that I'd like to see how what they have accomplished technically and graphically in AowIII and FE might be implemented in Civ. I don't think Civ needs tactical battles to increase it's substance, and I don't think adding tactical battles would add much more depth to Civ. I just think it might be cool. It might be horribly bad (essentially the graphical equivalent of the famous knight vs tank battles of elder civs).

[Gusington]

So the tactical battles are best in...Master of Magic? And I tossed my 3.5" drive in the trash just yesterday. Loins still moist and getting danker, however.

[DennisS]

Putting it another way, though:

Are ANY of the games under discussion on a par with Master of Magic?

I have had it on my hard drive(s) since its release on 3.5'' disks and many have tried, but none have o'er-topped that particular mountain.

Best,

Jim
"Cyrano"
:/7)

Get me the trolls, with their regenerate skill, and I will take over the world. GREAT game.