Age of Wonders III coming later this year!

[Martok]

Will Age of Wonders III be a Steam-exclusive release? I would prefer to get it from GOG.com.

Edit: I found the answer to my query on the Age of Wonders forums:

Hi, posting here to confirm what Tanchiro and JeanLucPicard have already said.

We'll be on Steam, but not exclusively.
We'll also be on GoG for people who prefer that service.

In some countries you can even find us on a good old disk : )>

Great news!  Thanks for posting that, Greybriar. 

[Gusington]

Thanks Greybriar. I hope we can get it on disk in the US.

[Greybriar]

You're welcome, Martok and Gus.

[FarAway Sooner]

The devs have released a new walk-through that provides a lot of nice details around combat.  Some of the mechanics they have look subtly different, but they are the kind of tweaks that can profoundly alter the nature of combat so long as the units are well-balanced.  (tweaks include flanking attacks, and units get up to 3 counterattacks per turn which count against next turn's actions)

They're now talking about a late March release, but here are the details on the tactical combat for those who want 'em now!

http://ageofwonders.com/dev-journal-tactical-combat-bonanza/

[Greybriar]

"....a unit gets it's action points refilled at the end of its turn...."

I don't like that.

[Nefaro]

"....a unit gets it's action points refilled at the end of its turn...."

I don't like that.

AoW2 also used action points to regulate movement and combat.

I think they meant that they refill before your next turn.  ;)

[Greybriar]

"....a unit gets it's action points refilled at the end of its turn...."

I don't like that.

AoW2 also used action points to regulate movement and combat.

Sorry, but I meant that I did not like having the action points refilled at the end of a unit's turn. AoW2 refilled the action points at the beginning of a unit's turn.

[Nefaro]

"....a unit gets it's action points refilled at the end of its turn...."

I don't like that.

AoW2 also used action points to regulate movement and combat.

Sorry, but I meant that I did not like having the action points refilled at the end of a unit's turn. AoW2 refilled the action points at the beginning of a unit's turn.

I ninja'd you. 

Doubt it makes a difference since you can't use them until next time anyway.  They may have to do it that way if some of the opponent's abilities can do Action Point "damage" and slow you down (and vice versa if you have such).

[Greybriar]

"....a unit gets it's action points refilled at the end of its turn...."

I don't like that.

AoW2 also used action points to regulate movement and combat.

Sorry, but I meant that I did not like having the action points refilled at the end of a unit's turn. AoW2 refilled the action points at the beginning of a unit's turn.

I ninja'd you. 

Doubt it makes a difference since you can't use them until next time anyway.  They may have to do it that way if some of the opponent's abilities can do Action Point "damage" and slow you down (and vice versa if you have such).

It will make a difference if the unit is attacked, especially by multiple attackers. Each unit get three movement/attack points. So if an enemy unit moves one square and attacks twice, the defending unit will retaliate twice and have one movement point remaining. If a second attacker advances two squares and attacks the defending unit once, the defender will use its last movement point to retaliate. So at the beginning of its next turn, the defending unit--having already exhausted the movement points it was given at the end of its turn--will be unable to retreat and will have to undergo another round of attacks which could result in its being destroyed.

If I'm reading it right, that method is unacceptable.

[Martok]

The devs have released a new walk-through that provides a lot of nice details around combat.  Some of the mechanics they have look subtly different, but they are the kind of tweaks that can profoundly alter the nature of combat so long as the units are well-balanced.  (tweaks include flanking attacks, and units get up to 3 counterattacks per turn which count against next turn's actions)

They're now talking about a late March release, but here are the details on the tactical combat for those who want 'em now!

http://ageofwonders.com/dev-journal-tactical-combat-bonanza/

I read that journal as well, and I have the same concerns as Greybriar.  Unless they're changed, these combat mechanics will make attacking way too overpowered.  It'll become a game of "he who gets to go first, wins" -- something I've always despised in turn-based battles. 

[Martok]

By the by, a new gameplay trailer is out. 

[Greybriar]

Age of Wonders III is now available for pre-order from GOG.com for $39.99 U.S.

[Tpek]

Age of Wonders III is now available for pre-order from GOG.com for $39.99 U.S.

There's also the Deluxe Version at:
http://www.gog.com/game/age_of_wonders_3_deluxe_edition

It seems to be one of the 3 major promised pre-orders (the other 2 are obviously Witcher 3 and Divinity Original Sin).

[steve58]

...and both versions also available for pre-order on Steam.  (I'd love to be able to get this (and Piercing Fortress Europa), but I've put my game buying on hold until I pick up one of the new nvidia GTX750Ti video cards.)

[son_of_montfort]

It will make a difference if the unit is attacked, especially by multiple attackers. Each unit get three movement/attack points. So if an enemy unit moves one square and attacks twice, the defending unit will retaliate twice and have one movement point remaining. If a second attacker advances two squares and attacks the defending unit once, the defender will use its last movement point to retaliate. So at the beginning of its next turn, the defending unit--having already exhausted the movement points it was given at the end of its turn--will be unable to retreat and will have to undergo another round of attacks which could result in its being destroyed.

If I'm reading it right, that method is unacceptable.

I could have sworn that was exactly how it was done in AoW:SM. I seem to recall if your defending unit retaliated, then it would "use up" potential action points for the subsequent turn. This meant you could effectively "pin down" a unit with an assault (fairly realistic concept in warfare).

If this wasn't AoW:SW, then it was another TBS game that was fairly popular. I know I have seen the idea of burning up APs in defense before.