At first, thanx Stardock for great game!

After some ten hours of playing, its time to share few thoughts...

• Performance
• The game gets surprisingly sluggish (I mean, compared to the effort that was put into optimization) early on - I play medium/large maps (8 factions) and in the mid-game, it *sometimes* lacks noticeably (i7 notebook, Nvidia graphics, Win 7 64x). I have noticed that large objects like monsters make lag worse - in my previous game, Vertar slowed the game significantly, until he retired to FOW or was later dispatched by my hero:)
• Its still playable but I wonder, whether you achieved that playability for lower-end computers?
• I had surprisingly lot of CTD (with FE, I had like 1-2 so far) - but its beta, so thats expectable...no repeating pattern detected.
• Graphics
• I like the new graphics style, no complaints here:) Only one small glicth, in the city tactical (map with fountain), pedestrians-bystanders are significantly taller than brawling soldiers...I guess this is sort of scaling issue.
• Game mechanics
• I *love* the new fame and hero levelling system! It needs more balancing, as I often end up running around with many low level heroes, but no doubt you will flesh this out. Seems to me that levelling goes a little slow in the beginning, BTW...
• I *love* the new tactical battles elements, these would be, however, more significant, after new maps and arenas - designed to meet different situations - are implemented. Swarm is powerfull and can be your great ally or enemy...
• I like all the changes you are about to do to the core game mechanics, like pop cost for pioneers, or possibly even less drastic xp split for heroes armies (after all, its Legendary heroes ). The more meaningful changes to orginilal FE, the better! I have to say that I expect LH to force me to a different playstyle, compared to FE, and thats exacly what I like. Not just new content, but more intrigued mechanics.
• Have you considered adding some late game universal threat like Dreadlord or the Borg? As late game tends to bore me...that might be a way out.
• Misc
• Some raial abilities (Pariden) seem to me much less useful than others...Mancers and Urxen should get unique actions too!
• Bows do not have special ability...rain of arrows?
• Mounts need not only longer training time, but higher wages or gold cost, I would say... and spears doing + damage vs mounts would be great!
• Troops in general still need more differention...will see what the upcoming patches bring.
• Guardians and Guardian idols more sensible now...you moved them to lower tiers, havent you?

So these are my two cents for now... I am eagerly awaiting new content (Golem hero???) and game innovations you unleash upon us in following monhts:)