FE: Latest Screenshots

If it's anywhere near as fun...

Great graphics by the way. 

The skeletal drake is awesome.

So based on the recent screenshots released in this post and a couple of the FE sneak peaks, it seems that tactical battle maps will be related to the terrain being contested. If this is the case, then this is awesome and a huge improvement. 

It would be even better if this had real effects on the battle field. For instance:

Sieges (hint, hint): know this wont be in FE, but next expansion maybe?

Rivers: Already in FE, it would be great if these provided choke points, maybe there are only designated places where you can ford the river, or allow the construction of bridges. Then said bridge can provide a chokepoint on the tactical map. Put a beefy guy on the bridge and pick off everyone else with archers.

Forests, swamps, etc: it would be great if types of terrain had effects and traits associated with them. Forestry traits that gave units increased initiative when in forests, swamp navigation that gave units increased tactical movement in swamp tiles, etc. A whole host of options.

I see botulism, famine, and crying puppies. The HORROR!!

I hope that D&D description fits better to Fallen Enchantress than it did to War of Magic. The wildlands make it sound a lot closer to that.

The screenshots look awesome. It does look like the tactical maps take at least some inspiration from the location on the strategic map at which the battle takes place. For example, I would guess the bottom screenshot is of a battle taking place at a city. Is this in fact the case?

Just need some photoshop skills, a stardock logo, a picture of Brad's head and a mock up of a boxed copy of E:FE.

I didn't know anything like context-specific battlefields were being planned.  Have you guys been holding out on us?!

Love the setting of the battlefield in the third one.  Love the statues in the first one.  Love the greater diversity in battlefields suggested by the second one.

Those wildlands just look tooo mean, I'll be sending a 'welcome me to the neighborhood' gift quickly followed by another

Edit: and another, and another, and another.  So can we 'ally' with certain wildlands?

Yes! Soon... precious! This cancer shit really did a toll on me. 

I was one of those bitterly disappointed by EWOM, but I have to say that I am now cautiously optimistic about FE.  If the tactical combat is now closer to Battle for Wesnoth or Elvin Legacy, the game could be a hit for me. 

Well, to be honest, it looks dark and grey. In my opinion units must be more bright and colorful. Now units and terrain colors is very similar.

The other day in another thread someone mentioned being able to include all adjacent "hexes" in a battle [as in AOW Shadow Magic].     This would be a great addition to FE.     I never saw any comments from Stardock on that posasibility- did I miss something?

Another issue to consider is the number of units allowed to stack in a single hex.    The original Elemental allowed more units [either 12 or 16 I think] in one hex but the total allowed now is lower [8?].    To some extent the more units allowed in a hex the more complex the battles can be.    Have there been any comments on this by Stardock?     I haven't noticed any but it would have been easy for me to have missed them.

LOL! Saurons!  j/k

Looks awesome!

Come on Brad you can give us more than 3 pics can't you? :'(

since these questions weren't answered in the last thread Brad...

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Are wind and water walking spell options?

In the screenshots I've seen above you have toned down the appearance of dead tree forests it seems. Is this so?  If so, this is a good thing because I have advocated, and still do, the remaking of the ugly thick dead trees ingame.

The river reeds also imo need to be lighter in colour to blend into the surrounding terrain.. possibly they need thinning like others have suggested but I would do the reeds first and see how they go. (edit: the reeds look fine on the purple background)

Are roads still in FE?

And where is Derek?!

In that third screenshot, are those walls consequences of player actions, or is that part of a campaign/mission scenario where those are pre-placed? 

I'm pretty sure that is just a pre-built map for a quest location. The file is named Imperium Arena and I remember a quest called that from a sneak peak video. I imagine this is a city battle.

The way you described Elemental to your buddy is the way folks normally describe Majesty. It's not quite as true for Elemental since you directly control your forces, and no party of adventurers could stand to be that micromanaged.

And I too am wondering what ever happened to Derek? Why doesn't he post? Does he just not like the forums?

Today is the 15th.

*gives his kiddo an extra cuddle*

Four days, and daddy will be in afk-mode... ( away from kiddie).

Birthright? I played that, was fun.

Derek probably doesn't have time to post because he is trying to justify delaying the beta by one day, everyday for the next millennium! Muahahahahahaha. But seriously Derek, you need to be using your powers for good.  

Right now, tactical battle maps are chosen from a library of maps based on where you are.  So they aren't generated on the fly but rather pick the one that closest matches your current circumstances.

How do you know if youre eligable for the FE beta, does one see it in impulse? How will the distribution occur? do you get an email etc?

See this announcement for beta information: https://forums.elementalgame.com/415056

A summary: first beta phase will be for those who pre-ordered WoM, second phase a week later for those that bought WoM after release in 2010 (that covers all the people getting FE for free, there's no mention of making it available to others). There shall be an e-mail sent to those eligible with instructions on how to download it (they're using their own new distribution platform, a remake of the old Stardock Central).

As far as I know, it will be available on the new Stardock Central (which certainly must be released soon) or possibly available from the Elemental web-site when logged in in a valid account.  It will *not* use Impulse or be associated with Gamestop in any way, although the complete game for those who don't get it free will probably be available on various digital distribution platforms, including Impulse or whatever Gamestop calls it these days.