Another day, another classic PC games comes to Impulse! Today we have Age of Wonders released on Impulse, the classic turn-based fantasy strategy game that kicked off the Age of Wonder series.
Grab it now on Impulse for just $5.99!
http://www.impulsedriven.com/aow1
I have no idea how I ever missed this game, but I did.
So, bought it on Impulse tonight, started playing, then 15 minutes in the game just closes completely. Try to reload and it goes about 5 secs into the loading screen and crashes again. Can't get it working. Restart my computer and it's fine for a bit then crashes, and I can't get it back up
Is anyone else having this problem or have any idea about it?
thanks
DL and tried SM last night. Awesome, I don't know how I missed it the first time around.
Does anyone know more about what the fan-made patch does for SM and whether it's compatible with the Impulse version?
Sounds like shadow magic is the one to get. I'll prob pick that up this weekend. Thanks for the feedback.
Would be quite interesting indeed. I bought the first part of the series yesterday (couldn't find the other parts on impulse yet). I would buy AOW:SM too and I don't think a fan-based patch will be applied for purchase.
It should be compatible I guess [..but I am not sure]. + I guess you are talking about the 3in1 modpack [..because it combines the best mods available for SM like Dwiggs & CoMA].
More infos about Dwiggs 5.0
More infos about CoMA
The unofficial patch is compatible with the Impulse download, as is the AoWI mod for Shadow Magic (which was more likely to not work, as it has a separate executable to launch it). The UPatch only changes resources that were normally mod-able, the diffrence between it and a mod is its resources are made default (and the 1.3 resources are listed as a selectable mod).
UPatch 1.4 link.
(The site has lots of other mods, maps, and other stuff; and there is another like it for AoWI)
For those that are confused, Shadow Magic is like an expansion for AoWII.
I recommend getting the Trilogy pack (link is somewhere on the thread); 1 and SM are worth getting and if you get the trilogy then 2 is not that much more than getting just the other two.
Am I the only one who can't get AoWII or SM through Impulse? I follow the links and try to add the game to my cart, but it just says that my cart is empty no matter now often I try and add them. I can add AoW to my cart just fine.
I'm thinking that they removed the ability for people to actually buy the games since they are only advertising AoWI and you can only find AoWI (and not AoWII or SM) with Impulse's built in search engine. They really shouldnt even have the pages up if you can't actually purchase the games, but whatever.
LOL, looks like you're right.
http://www.impulsedriven.com/aowsm
I just tried visiting the Shadow Magic page and adding it to my cart and says "There are no items in your cart." So looks like they changed it today.
I was able to order it last night and install it. When I view the history, it shows that it's version 1.30. I haven't played it yet though.
I still think it's crappy that they're selling AoW1 without mentioning the Trilogy (3 in 1) is going to be available. Oh well... maybe it's a good thing cause it sounds like Shadow Magic is the best of the 3. Sucks for the people who are buying AoW1 right now though.
I hope AOW SM is available soon, I still can't add it to my cart and I want it now. (I have been looking for it for years but it is impossible to find)
AoW:SM is definitely playable.
I changed a bunch of settings the first time - increased the display mode to 1900x1200, checked "Allow Resolution Switches", checked "Use Direct3D" but wasn't able to watch the intro. So I ended up resetting those options. I put the display mode back to 1024x768 and unchecked the other two options. Game runs fine.
Only problem I'm encountering is a BSOD (3x now) after exiting the game. It's with the senfilt.sys which turns out is the sound card driver. It's an integrated sound card which I've never found updated drivers for. So updating it is not an option. I'm going to try unchecking "Direct Sound" to see if that stops it. Like I said, it's only when exiting the game when it occurs, otherwise the game runs great.
Speaking of the game... I have to say for a game that was released in 2003, it still looks good and entertaining so far. I can definitely recognize similarities between AoW:SM and Elemental. I couldn't help compare some of the features and how it was implemented in Elemental. All I'll say is I can see why fans of AoW might be vocal in their criticisms.
Just avoid AOW2 and you're fine. That game gets completely overshadowed and made irrelevant by SM.
... unless you want to see the campaign's story; in that case wait for the package to be availible (which it will be).
I would avoid 1 and 2 and just get SM. AoW 1 was kind of like the paid beta version of the other 2.
Regarding the fan made patches, are they reasonable to use if you are playing through the campaigns? Or will they completely break them?
The UPatch does not cause trouble with single player balance; I have not tried any others extinsively. The configuration program lets you easily change rule sets so even if it does not work with the campaign.
AoW I is a seprate game from the other two. AoW:SM is a stand alone expansion for AoW II.
I hear there are problems switching rulesets for AoWI; I have not tried but I saw a post on another forum saying it made the game request the CD be inserted when using mods.
Right but AoW I was kind of like the first attempt which didn't work very well. It had an extremely bad release with crippling problems and while later patches improved things it was never able to quite recover from it. AoW II was kind of like how AoW I should have been if they had taken more time to get it right before releasing it.
AoW I was there first game they made, and that the others are better shows they learned from the experience. However, that does not mean it was a beta. It was its own game (as a note, even Shadow Magic has a number of unresolved bugs).
Man, I'm really disappointed Put off buying AOW:SM until today because I didn't have enough time to play it during the week. Anyone know when it's going to be available?
Dunno, I'm having fun with the campaign in AOW wizard's throne. I'm sure SM is better, but this one is enjoyable as well.
Well I meant it was beta in the sense that it was an incomplete and buggy game that was released before it was anywhere close to being ready. Not beta in the sense that it was a literal beta test. But in the end it kind of worked as a beta test for the much better games that came later, they got to see what worked and what didn't and make changes, something they never got to do in their initial rushed development cycle.
I enjoyed AOW more than I did AOW SM, but that's probably because I played AOW multiplayer only. There are ton of maps and mod still online for AOW over at http://aow.heavengames.com/ and AOW II, SM maps and mods http://aow2.heavengames.com/
They really need to make AOW 3.
Well Craptastic! I guess I should have purchased SM when this thread started LOL. I was too busy playing the campaign in AOW 2 and forgot to buy it! Wonder when it will be released?
The 3rd fire mission in AOW2: Wizards throne was so huge it took me 5 days of playing here and there to beat the darn thing, the map is pretty huge. The underground adds extra strategy as well. I left an unexplored cave, missed due to fog of war, so close to my starting city I was shocked when I found it, and the undead city that was hiding in there as well.
The AI seems to do a pretty good job, even on beginner. If you leave any resources unguarded, and they have the ability to go after it, the AI will.
While EWOM has a fantastic technology tree, something that AOW does not really have, it seems to be lacking in complexity otherwise? Maybe Stardock should hire a psychologist to study what the hell makes me stay up till 3am playing AOW, but not EWOM in its current state. I know EWOM is a work in progress, and I mean that totally constructively. Not knocking the Dev's at all, but seriously, where is the difference?
Comparing the two further ..... I do like the cloth map, and the ability to zoom out, but the maps at the zoomed in level of EWOM are way too simplistic in the empty spaces. I do like the art work in EWOM, but all that open space is plain ugly! I also see similarities with HOMMV, the maps are very pretty.
The tactical battles in AOW2 are sometimes nail biters. There is something different in EWOM that I can't quite put my finger on. Are the graphics better in AOW2 here? No! EWOM has that feather in their cap. I think it is the "Heroes". I have two heroes in AOW. Both have very different skill sets. One is somewhat the tank, the other is the spell caster with wall climbing. Trying to get the last hit with them so they get the XP makes the battles a bit interesting. At first I did not like the fact that none of my units got the XP unless they killed the mob personally, I guess I have learned to live with it. Makes me maneuver my heroes in for the last kill, while also trying to avoid getting them killed, they can still die fairly quickly just like any other unit.
Anyhow, this is probably the wrong place, really just wanted to say how much I'm enjoying AOW, and when can I buy it, since I forgot to buy it last week LOL.
I played AoW:SM this weekend and feel the same way. Shoot, last night I was up until 3am finally finishing off one of the early missions.
There are a lot of things that AoW:SM just seems to have nailed that I wish were in EWOM. I love the tactical battles. One small element I really like is how when you move a unit away from an enemy unit that they get free attacks. I lost a few units to it cause I keep forgetting about it. I love the wizard towers and the range of magic. I love the shrines. I love the build merchandise or housing option (increase gold or increase growth). I love how you can teleport items back to heroes. I love the underground levels. I love flying units. I love the list of traits for each unit, enchanted weapons, items, etc. I LOVE the Hexes!!
There, I've said it. I've so wanted to make a thread comparing the two games and how I wish EWOM was more like AoW:SM but I know the devs are tired of the comparisons as well as the rest of the community. At this point it serves no purpose. So here's my one post where I proclaim my love for this game.
I hope they can afford me this one love post about AoW:SM.
Now back to your regularly scheduled discussion topics.
EDIT: I should mention that I continue to play regardless of the fact that whenever I quit I'm guaranteed a BSOD.
Your right Gravedancer. Do you risk moving the engaged unit away to put the finishing blow on a more powerful unit or not? 100% agree with the things you have listed. Trying to line up several units on the hexes so they can all participate in the attack is critical.
Something about this game that makes you want to curse at the enemy AI, or yourself, for not overlooking your stupid mistakes.....
Has anyone been able to buy AOW:SM from impulse? I found the product page but I can't add it to my cart. I click "Add to cart", and it says "there are no items in your cart". I have no trouble adding the first Age of Wonders(I don't really want that one)
I have been trying to find this game forever!!!
The only appeal i see for AOW 1 is that you can totally customize your wizard with any skill in the game.
But i didnt like how how the window was cluttered with giant buttons or the main movement view is about 1/3 the size of the screen. SM graphics blow AOW1 away. But it seems that alot of the mechanics in AOW1 made it all the way to SM. And i love the mechanics of AOW. So props to that.
I played SM for about 10 hours. And AOW for about 20 mins. So its a bit unfair.
Any reason why i should give AOW1 another chance?
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