That's been my assumption as well.  However, that same assumption turned out not to be the case with East India Company, where the skirmishy type of MP game types were all that you could do.

Some sort of online persistant world with player diplomacy, borders and so on would be amazing.

Last couple of times I checked the very quiet Gal_Civ_2 forums one of the most recently activated topics was 'multiplayer'.  Since Gal_Civ_2 had significantly more advertising, several expansions and was even available in local stores I'm sure if multiplayer existed the Gal_Civ_2 forums would be bursting with activity at least equal to the activity on the Dominions_3 forums ... Dominions_3 is an independent game only purchased online with no digital download option. 

As I've mentioned in other threads multiplayer functionality brings many bonuses to the Elemental community such as longer forum activity, more user created game maps&modding content, more game sales thus more beta testers, and a larger community which means more individuals possibly willing to help others.

I'm actually pleased Elemental will be more singleplayer focused as well.  One of the problems which bothered me about Dominions_3 was those developers gave almost zero interest for correcting problems with AI opponents such as AI sending its pretender to the arena death match.  Also despite the game having almost 70 different nations to choose the developers would still nerf a single nation which seemed stronger than others for multiplayer balance reasons.  I believe in game balance when it involves 33% of the nations such as the flying draconians for neutral races from the original AOW_2, but when it involves 4% or less(a single nation of 24 nations from an era) then let there be a powerful player for new gamers and stronger AI opponents.

I would place money on the notion that MP is not limited to anything right now.   The point of the Beta is to help build the game with us, if we think of a really awesome multiplayer game mode they currently don't support during the beta period.  I'm sure any pitches thrown here will be considered, and it might actually be implemented by the final release.    

This game is going to support multiplayer, which means even though Stardock isn't focusing on it.   They are not going to let it suck.   So those of us testing, its up to us to help them not let those who buy the release version of Elemental not get "burned" by the multiplayer.

Is there another beta coming up? I hear that the deadline for beta was October 1st, not sure if that is the last beta, or if there will be another one sometime before release.

On-topic, if you wait for a period of time after the release, then it will hurt their initial sales demographic, and X-company may consider the game a flop, or a "dog" product, and not place too much more time and effort into it.

Either way, if your buying the game primarily for multiplayer, then I suppose waiting is a fine option unless you are absolutely sure MP will be winning material. After all, sometimes certain stats and spells are perfectly fine for single-player, although seem to tip the tide into a completely different game when based against a human player. Wether it be an exploit or simply an over-looked mechanic.

If you plan on playing the single-player campaign as well, as I am, then going ahead to buy the game when it hits shelves is perfectly fine.

As a note to current beta-testers, if ye are trying out multiplayer, could you double-check MP compatability over hamachi servers? I mean, sure hamachi has the best track record with certain mods, such as FFH, but for instance, the 1939 WW2 mod fails horribly at hamachi.

There are connection difficulties such as OOS to consider. In fact, the ability of hot-joining (joining as an AI player during the middle of the game) would be nice, although not required as you can always rehost. The real killer is OOS. So as long as the "official" campaign, aka "single player" campaign only with other Humans instead of AI, is available and does not cause OOS over hamachi, then I am happy

hmm, good point. All I want from multiplayer is a stable hamachi connection. With no Out of Sync errors (otherwise known as OOS)

If somehow those of you testing multiplayer would try hamachi, you would have my thanks

Yes indeed. I also exist in the Fall From Heaven 2 forums at Civfanatics. Tasunke is the strongest horselord of the Hippus tribes. The hippus are a nation reborn after the age of ice, that has culturally existed back in the Patrian Age.

The hippus are a Husbandry based economy, and their classic staple is sheep. Therefore they live on the foot-hills of a great mountain range, for the most fertile feeding grounds for their sheep and cattle.

All hippus are at home in the saddle, and the hippus were the first to invent stirrups, so they could use powerful bows while on horseback by standing up during  the ride and unleashing archer fury.

For a time after the rebirth, the hippus tribes were disorganized, and usually fought amongst themselves over grazing fields while the larger and more organized empires encroached around them. Finally a young girl named Rhoanna, after the death of her father, found an idea within herself to unite the hippus tribes.

She confronted Tasunke (the strongest) and the other hippus horselords to stop their bickering and fighting. Eventually Rhoanna was able to convince Tasunke (mainly through insults at first, to garner his attention) that a new order of the hippus was long over due. Once she was able to convince Tasunke, all the others pretty much followed Tasunke anyways, so the debate was over, and Tasunke put his own twist into it ... for publicly and as a figure-head, Tasunke is as much a king of the hippus as their ever will be.

This new Idea is to become a Mercenary federation, selling their battle-prowess to the highest bidder. Payment will come in gold, land, and technology. While the hippus may be one of the smaller nations, their fighting ability is un-matched by the other nations. They are known for flying in, causing devastation, and flying out, wether victorious or narrowly defeated.

As they fight to gain succor with larger empires, they eventually forge their own empire of merit as the winnings from their mercenary work help to build a new organized hippus nation.

Initially the Knight replacement for the hippus was the Windrider, which had several air-based abilities, including maelstrom, and also incredibly fast and very high withdrawal (flanking skill). It was a slick look, and the wind-riders had ornamental wings attached to their steeds (at least im pretty sure the wings weren't functional).

In the "real life" as it were, Tasunke Witka, who lived in the 1850s and 1870s, in North America (South Dekota) was a Native American, and probably fought "cow boys" at least from time to time. He was very spiritual, and believed strongly in the power of nature, Especially wind and storms. Tasunke Witka is also known as "Crazy Horse" which is probably a more familiar name.

I believe he, too, primarily fought on horseback. It is a picture of Crazy Horse that is currently being used as my avatar.