Derek (Kael) has been super busy with the general expansion of Stardock Entertainment over the past 3 years. AS I type this, there are 7 concurrent game projects going on. Back in 2008, I dreamt of having a second team. Here we are, 6 years later with seven teams. I’m writing this from the airplane on my way to visit one of the new studios (one that hasn’t been announced yet).
So what does that mean for fans of the Elemental universe? The answer is, lots of good news. While Galactic Civilizations III heads towards its March alpha, the Elemental team is hard at work on a new DLC pack for this Winter tentatively called “Monarchs” which will bring more channelers to the world for players to play with. In addition, we expect to announce the third game in the Elemental fantasy universe this year. It will be dramatically different from War of Magic or Fallen Enchantress.
Without giving too much away about the new game, which we expect to formally announce this Spring, its planned feature set includes:
It’s been in development for awhile, prior to LH. LH was originally supposed to be a minor expansion on FE but as you’ve probably gathered, we really love making these games. The next update to LH is in the works, pathfinding improvements, performance and some other updates are scheduled.
nooo!! don't make me need to upgrade again....
I'm going to post some of this in the other article but I don't want to derail that discussion to much.
What sold me on Fallen Enchantress was faction creation and unit design. That being said, I get why you want to go in a different direction for the next game. Faction differentiation is a worthy goal. However, you may want to think about allowing some minor customization within each faction (if you aren't already). I think the traits system in FE/LH is a good idea to explore further. Perhaps each faction could have their own unique traits to choose from so players can engage in some minor customization and don't always play each faction the exactly same way.
And while I can see that allowing players to design units from the ground up is complex, a few minor graphical changes to units based on upgrades (different sword, cape, etc) could likely be done in a smoother way.
Sounds really interesting, glad you're still investing time in the Elemental universe. I personally think an asymmetric game where you have a series of challenges to overcome without necessarily having four AIs doing the exact same kind of thing as you at the exact same time could be really cool. It might work best in some sort of campaign mode, where you can have a story that you have encountered an old empire which you have to destroy or make your friends, but having said that you could presumably get a similar effect if a sandbox mode allowed you to specify the size and passivity of enemy empires. For example, you could start a game against a very large but fairly passive empire that will not declare war on you unless you provoke them. In general I like the kind of games where you have to "beat great odds". In a game like that you could also experiment with various game changing spells to see what strategy worked best; you could try to build up a mini-empire to increase your resources before the old empire decides you're a threat and declares war; you could try to befriend them so as to increase the time you have to build up; or maybe there could even be an alliance victory option, maybe you have to complete a big quest for them so they agree to ally with you.
I would definitely be interested in a game like that, where there might be some basic 4X mechanics but fundamentally it's you against the world, and you're going to have to rely on something other than out-expanding the AIs to win.
The description of "elemental 3" ( Can we call it like that? ) really reminds me of Master of Magic. Which is not a bad thing
I am curious as to what the visual style of the game will be. Honestly I was not a big fan of the Cartoonish style of the other games. Glad to hear that StarDock is doing well. You guys are my favourite company when it comes to PC games.
Uh, it may just me, but it sounds like this whole things is kinda dumping out the baby with the bath water. The tech tree makes more sense to me than just making what's built in your city dictate what units can you build. Also, i rather liked the ability to customize units to your preference, I and others didn't see anything much wrong with custom units, so why change that now? Custom ships worked for GC2, why not custom units in the new game? Finally, how does the sovereign improve their abilities if they can't adventure, if there is no tech tree and no ability for them to adventure? Does the sovereign make an appearance bodily to help defend your capital if it is attacked? Somehow, I don't know if the long-term effects have been properly thought out by Stardock with the changes that are being proposed. Then again, that is just me. What do ya'll think?
It sounds like the "new game" mentioned is something very different from WoM / FE / LH, and not intended to be the next iteration of FE:LH. A different game altogether, but still set in the world of Elemental.
I would hope we get to see FE 2 one day in the future, and that it will include all the good stuff in FE:LH including unit designs, tech tree etc...
Frankly, I've become bored with LH. I'm ready for some big changes; no matter what they are. And I do like to have to explore and try different things.
How very MoM-like of you. And something I like, as well.
Do you run any mods?
I got somewhat bored of LH rather quickly too. The game is good for sure but I think for a combination of many small reasons It did not click with me as much as would have liked.
I tried some mods and they added some novelty but in the end it still felt like the same game but with different tweaks.
I think one of the main reason I did not click with LH as much as I might have is not enough immersion. Here are a few points off the top of my head.
-I am not a fan of the cartoonish art style
-The music does not appeal to me all that much.
-I find the civ leaders are a bit bland and lack personality.
-The strategic aspect is a bit overshadowed by the RPG elements.
I've been playing it for a long time It has lost its variety and is less challenging. New wildlands and quests would help.
I completely disagree "I am bored" crowd. It took me over a 1000 hours to even start to feel bored, and when I add mods to boost content, the game's fun comes right back to life.
I don't think I even played it 100 hours. Maybe 100h at most. Glad you thoroughly enjoyed the game though.
Still, 100 hours for a game is pretty good in my book. That means I did enjoy the game. I can count the games I have played over 1000 hours on my hand.
My 2 cents:
Think of Fallen Enchantress and Elemental X taking two totally divergent paths. The reason I'm for asymetical 4X (is that a thing yet?) for fantasy is that we don't have to "balance" things. People love being able to cast powerful spells. But in a "balanced" 4X, it becomes really problematic but in an asymetrical one, pow.
In the game we're working on,t he player STARTS with the Forge of the Overlord. I may have already mentioned that but the point being, you start out as a crazy powerful super being. You've already WON the game. Now you're taking on the gods.
So the objective of the new game is to find/build/research the item or spell needed to defeat the gods?
And since you can't really die in this game (not that you could in FE or LH either), it's just a mater pushing back against the gods until said item or spell is obtained?
I'm not trying to be snarky here, I just don't get the appeal of gods battling gods. It just seems like the unstoppable force meets an immovable object scenario.
I just don't get the appeal of gods battling gods. It just seems like the unstoppable force meets an immovable object scenario.
That's like saying Superman vs. General Zod is a boring idea. Or in the UFC, that two well-matched fighters make for a boring match automatically.
If no one can die, or be permanently harmed (e.g endless mana= endless heal spells) it's just an excercise in futility. I was thinking more along the lines of Thor vs. Loki. Both end up without so much as a scratch, and the only thing that's accomplished is the destruction of buildings and the death of bystanders.
But this goes back to my main point. The battle between gods ends when one of them discovers the Achilles heel of the other. In terms of Elemental, that would seem to be finding/researching the one spell or item that can defeat the other god.
Sort of like the spell of making from a different angle.
I bet there'll be a way for the conflict to be interesting, and for a decisive end to come about. S, your scenario does sound boring, but I don't think that's how it'll pan out.
A battle against the gods sounds cool!
Gods can die.
How well will this new game support modding? Will it be as easy to mod as FE LH was?
Will it be an expansion or a totally new game? And if it is new, will it be an x64 game?
A battle against gods will be cool, but it requires a lot of special effects for it to be cool.
Also, the focuse is that you are not trying to kill each other, you are trying to control the world. By destroying it... The land starts peacefully, and you build your station of life here, they build their station of death there. As you expand you encounter the chance and opportunity to destroy their world around them. Building volcanoes, launching blizzards, rending the earth to your will. Till you sap the other god from all power and ultimately leave them with the control over a smoldering hump of glass.
The ultimate battle is not between the gods, but between the mortals with godlike power to destroy the entire world or heal it in the process. Without the special effects and the grandiose spell like powers, the game will turn to be a simple slap to the face... ow... slap to the face... ow... slap to the face... ow... repeat until thoroughly bored.
This would be more of a goal to achieve with heavy magic usage.
Source?
Gods are immortal.
That sounds familiar...
I would enjoy using my familiar to keep the worshipers in line.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black_%26_White_%28video_game%29
Sounds like something a pissed off mortal would shout while looking toward the summit of Mount Olympus
Right before he gets a lightning bolt squarely between the eyes from the mythical Zeus anyways.
Ask Klingons.
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