If someone comes up with a really great mechanism that only works if the player builds a whole lot of the exact same thing, slap them. Not hard, that would be rude. But enough to let them know that this is a bad bad thing and they just made a mess. Maybe rub their nose in it? I dunno, I see people do that with dogs and it's just so degrading. You know, to the owner. Anyway, I didn't make the effort of loading up Elemental to play SimStudy:War of Studies. Please don't make me play SimStudy. Really, I'm asking you nicely here. Do it again and you'll get the whip(ped cream). What will we do with all those squares that won't be filled with hundreds of exactly the same thing? Well I suppose we could not have them! And perhaps have our buildings require a few more workers! It'll be ok, really. 

Oh, and the next time someone decides to write quests that mock how frequently they're repeated, slap them too (carefully!). Instead of spamming about eleventeen billion huts all over the map, each of which has one of exactly four quests, just make four huts. With just those four quests. Maybe six, if you're feeling outre. The rest of them can just not exist! And maybe make those four quests, since there are only the four, a little more exciting, a little more involved, and a little more rewarding. Don't go all out -- after all, these quests are gonna get really dull on round nine thousand and one -- but add a little spice. Something more exciting than some old lady in a hut. If I wanted to bother an old lady in a hut, I could go down to Central Park and poke one. And perhaps a reward that is a little more useful than a rock. I know, you can turn in several rocks for a sword but, really, I'd rather not walk around with a rock. It makes me feel like my character also belongs in a hut in Central Park. 

Basically, doing exactly the same thing over and over is only fun if you're brain damaged. Please stop building mechanisms that require it. Unless, of course, the name Elemental is supposed to mean, you know, trivially easy or something. I suppose that would make sense if it were a game for the brain damaged. Have I been utterly duped?!

Tactical battles, even though they've got more cheese than the average Texan, are enjoyable. I love the Dominate ability I found on this one lady wandering through the wilderness, and am using it quite regularly. I especially enjoyed finding it on some sullen tart wandering the wilderness! And my sovereign handing her a bag of money and then, five minutes later, marrying her was delightfully un-PC. Based on the speed with which the two of them are popping out children, I have a feeling that dominate must be especially effective in bed. On the other hand, since it's designed to prevent counter attacks, I suppose it isn't working there after all. But on the field? She's spearing people -- well, ok, spiders mostly -- down like a madwoman. In any event, it'd be nice if the sovereign's significant other could in fact have even the slightest bit of personality. 

I mean it just seems somewhat odd that everyone is so focused on the heirs and not so interested in their, you know, partner. Perhaps some slightly less antediluvian relationships could be employed?