Elemental: Fallen Enchantress Beta

[Xiahou]

I just started a game with version 0.77 of the beta and it's been pretty awesome. I started this one with a challenging world difficulty, challenging AIs, 3 Kingdoms and 4 Empires and a "ravaged" terrain setting. By being a turn to slow to pick a starting location, I was forced to go on a 70 turn odyssey crossing most of the continent, going to war with the Empire of Yithril, and running thru 2 fierce wildlands before finally finding a secure place to found my kingdom. I recruited 4 champions, had some epic battles, gained several levels, and saw some downright scary monsters before finally even starting my kingdom. So far, 1 empire and 1 kingdom have been destroyed by the monsters of the world.

In case you wanted to know what the elemental lord who rules the Burning Lands looks like....

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

Look at those stats! I can't imagine ever defeating him!

Here's the map of the world as I know it, showing my long trek to home....

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

Here's a fun screenie of my best melee champion with a growth spell cast on her fighting 2 hapless ice elementals. This was part of a quest that had to do with farmers who were unable to grow crops due to constant freezes.

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

My city, Hope as it currently stands...

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My posse. I'm riding a warg that I rescued from a lair.

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

[Martok]

Thanks for your thoughts so far (and for the screenies), Xiahou!


Question: How is the game's immersion factor? One of the complaints I've read about War of Magic is that it feels pretty bland, so I'm hoping FE does a much better job in this respect.

[Xiahou]

Whoah, and this is free for anyone who bought the first one?

I'm not entirely sure- I think it's free to anyone who got the original game in 2010. People who bought the original and aren't eligible for the freebie get a discount I believe. If you're unsure, just login to your account at stardock.com and look under downloads. If you can DL the beta you should be good.

[frogbeastegg]

Whoah, and this is free for anyone who bought the first one?

If you purchased it before a certain date, yes. You also get beta access. I can't remember what the date was. October 2010 maybe?

Reportedly the game will appear in your stardock account page and you will also get an email notifying you of your beta access. Unlocks are being done in waves. That's still on-going - or I hope it is because I still haven't had the email and the game has not appeared in my account.

[Xiahou]

Thanks for your thoughts so far (and for the screenies), Xiahou!


Question: How is the game's immersion factor? One of the complaints I've read about War of Magic is that it feels pretty bland, so I'm hoping FE does a much better job in this respect.

I felt the original was very bland. I couldn't play it very long before it felt more like work than a game. Fallen Enchantress has done a much better job of drawing me into the game. They still have some work to do (it is a beta), but I've thoroughly enjoyed my time playing it.

[rvg]

This is most interesting. Please keep up the posts and the screenies at your convenience.

[rvg]

Any tentative release date for this game?

[Voigtkampf]

Q4 2012 is as tentative as it can get right now.