Funny, most places it's the other way around.  Business people rushing the developers to hurry up and finish so they can get it out the door.  It's interesting that it's the opposite here.

Sounds like you folks need to hire some more business people.  

Edit:  I never answered the question.  Release it whenever makes the most sense.  I'm playing it now and having fun with it.  /shrug

As a SK EA fellow with multiple personalities, I first voted for the delay before I voted against it. I then had to act as arbiter between me and me, whereupon I judged using a single gildar, heads yes and tails no. Unfortunately, all three of us missed catching the gildar; it was lost down a storm drain. In conclusion, all three of us agree the lost gildar was an omen from Curgen so we abstain. We hope this was helpful.

Take as long as it takes to get it right. I'm already hooked, but 1.0 should be in a really good state.

"No new features" is different than "no new content"     But you really would be surprised how much 'polish time' can go into a game like this. Balancing alone is a "Play -> Critique -> Tweak -> Play Again" cycle. And for a 4x game that cycle isn't a quick one  

Pardon my French, but F*CK YEAH! I'm glad it's getting delayed then

Honestly, this game is so good already and it's just getting better. Keep up the damn good work, guys. The success will follow, I'm sure.

Regarding the minor races expanding I have also been wondering about this. 

I think it would add to the game if they were able to set up strongholds or maybe maximum 1-3 additional cities (depending on map size). 

I cannot see that Lore-wise they should not be allowed. Heck they could be the major force against the SK, while the we, player, are supporting the minor race. 

ps. Should the minor factions be called the Remnant faction?

I thought the premise was you against the SK.  If the minor races grow, then it is no longer 1on1, with minors being a resource to exploit.  They will compete for city placement, etc.  

If you do decide to let them grow, I think it should be in line with the story.  That is:

1) If they align with SK - they should follow his directives and NOT grow.  SK has his own expansions. (SK could force the minor to provide some troop support to those cities, though).  

2) If they align with you, they gain confidence to defy the SK and will expand, and SK will of course target them as well (take some pressure off).   But they should not expand until after you ally with them.   This would also provide another consideration to whether or when you want to ally with minors.  If this is the case, there should be an option in dialogs with the minors that would provide 0 influence change, not just +/-. 

I've always felt that the minor races should have a chance to overthrow the sorcerer king if they are allowed to expand and get stronger.

This would be especially true on larger maps where there is space. It'd be a pain in the butt if he they expanded on a smaller map though but part of that problem is that finding city sites is not always convenient. 

I will say that having to compete with the other minor races unless you convince them to join you would add another layer to the game. I'd hate for you to add this expanding feature without making them smart and fully functional. 

Personally, I'd love the minors to grow.  So 1 vote for this!  

Frogboy... coming from a software development background myself, I imagine that you jumped for joy when the people actually tell you that you get *more* time to refine the product. That practically never happens (for me at least). I'm all in favor of taking extra time and release in July.

My request for development focus: increase options for each sovereign (meaning that all world related choices being equal, the same sovereign can be played very differently from game to game).

Possibly consider sovereign specific quests that can grant an additional sovereign abilities as reward.

Perhaps detect certain challenge-modes that a player might artificially create for her/himself and have one or two quests that key into that specifically. (E.g. attempt to beat the SK without any allies; attempt to only use ranged units; attempt to restore most of the world).

If the minors are allowed to grow and expand, it would change a big dynamic of the game. Now, not only are you racing against the doomsday counter, you effectively have to have a conquest victory just to prevent the minors  from defeating the SK before you do.

Sort of like LH where you have to defeat the other factions to prevent them from building the towers and casting the spell of making.

Besides, there is very little settleable land anyway

SK is a different kind of game. It's focus should be the SK..or alternatively, different win conditions will have to be added.

So, a no vote for minor expansion.

I think minors expansion could be a fun mod / game+ option.