Age Of Wonders Shadow Magic Mod

[Armanda Kicks]

Iwould like to try out AoW, but I do not have nearly the time to play these types of games as I used to.My question is, should I get AoW II: Wizard's Throne? Or go with Shadow Magic? It is my understanding that SM is AoW2 with a whole new story and gameplay, but uses the same engine.I know most of you may suggest starting at the beginning, but if someone asked me where to start with Heroes of Might and Magic, I wouldn't suggest the first game. I would likely tell them just to go right to HoMM 3, as it is a superior game in all respects versus the older ones. Especially if they don't have time to play two 60+ hour games.Let me know your thoughts.Thank you.. AuthorReplies: Henrysix

Member posted 01-28-06 07:05 PM EDT (US) 1 / 20 Shadow Magic. Better balance. Magog

Member posted 01-28-06 07:59 PM EDT (US) 2 / 20 Shadow Magic (basicly the same game as AoW2 but with a lot of more content, bugfixes, balance improvements, editor tools etc.)If you really want to start from the beginning you should check out AoW1, as that is still a really good game in its own way. [This message has been edited by Magog (edited 01-28-2006 @ 08:08 PM).] SubEffect

Member posted 01-28-06 08:51 PM EDT (US) 3 / 20 Thanks.. I figured as much. I am sure AoW1 is excellent, as is Ultima 1, Might and Magic 1, etc, etc, but if I could only play one game in any of those series, I wouldn't likely pick the first ones Every time I try to go back and play those REALLY old games, the nostalgia wears off when I think of the tedium of some of them.Anyhow, thanks again!

RogerRabid

Member

(id: Roger the Rampant) posted 01-28-06 09:10 PM EDT (US) 4 / 20 AoW1 is arguably the best game of the three, but it's the cartoony graphics that I can't cope with any more, sadly. Definitely wouldn't bother with AoW2, however... "Shooting down a plane of civilians isn't careless, it's politcal opportunism." - Stormraider Zylithan

Member posted 01-28-06 09:22 PM EDT (US) 5 / 20 I know sometimes people like to start you at the beginning, and its usually a bad idea. But, honestly really and truly, I think AoW 1 might be the best of the games. BUT, I would recommend getting shadow magic, because the main point for many people is online play, and there's a lot more action in shadow magic. I Love Bananas

Member posted 01-29-06 02:53 AM EDT (US) 6 / 20 I don't have SM[sad smiley]...But AoW2 is a good game, so it's recommended. Can't say if it's better or worse than SM.

Sweet baby maizes![This message has been edited by I Love Bananas (edited 01-29-2006 @ 02:54 AM).] Kaneohe

Member posted 01-29-06 12:36 PM EDT (US) 7 / 20 Well, first allow me to say that the three games in the AoW series are somewhat...disconnected...from one another, so starting at the beginning doesn't have the same value it might other games.My advice is to take a look at some of the screenshots of AoW1, and see what you think of the interface. In my opinion, the original game is one of the best - rich, deep storyline and an emphasis on choice make it a lot of fun. What I like best about it is that each scenario feels like a story in itself, rather than just a big pause in the continuity - the way it does in some games.On the other hand, AoW2 and onward are both very nice in themselves. They have superior graphics, longer campaigns, and more content. I've always felt they lacked some depth, but they are both excellent. I would definitely recommend Shadow Magic over The Wizard's Throne here. Unknown250

Member posted 01-29-06 05:33 PM EDT (US) 8 / 20 Here's how I rate them:Best: AoW 1. In terms of gameplay and feel, it's much better than the sequels. Graphics, AoW 2 and SM have much better looking graphics, while AoW 1 has a beautiful, hand-drawn feel to it. I guess whichever one I prefer depends on my mood. If you want, just download the AoW 1 demo. It comes with a great scenario, and you'll understand what I'm talking about. The demo should be enough to decide wether you'd like it or not.AoW SM: Better graphics and better mechanics (espescially combatwise, where they add in factors like range, obstacles, and attacks draining movement), but it doesn't have the feel of the original. Let's put it like this: AoW SM was designed to be much shorter than AoW 1. I've always thought of AoW SM as a fantasy game, where I go in and piddle around with some troops for a bit. An online game doesn't take very long (comparatively). On the other hand, AoW 1 is a fantasy world, where everything feels big and epic and you can lose yourself for hours. A lot of fun, but good luck playing online!AoW 2: The game that came between AoW 1 and AoW SM, it is inferiour to SM in every single possible way, except maybe Campaign and box art. MitchK1989

Member posted 01-30-06 12:05 PM EDT (US) 9 / 20 Shadow magic is by far the best, any possible advantages AoW1 had over it for gameplay are fixed by modding. Dwiggmod + SM is my personal preference, but there's plenty of other mods out there plus the standard ruleset and the UPATCH NTJedi

Member posted 01-30-06 01:35 PM EDT (US) 10 / 20 I also prefer AOW:SM... but I really miss the dungeon crawl exploring feature from AOW_1 when exploring crypts and stuff.There can be only one.

Highlander Swolte

AOWH/AOW2H Seraph posted 01-30-06 02:34 PM EDT (US) 11 / 20 Try King Davids new map!

In terms of atmosphere (music, graphs), I think AoW-sm is close to aow1. The Shadow Magic editor, however, is that much more powerful that when you let go of nostalgia and learn to work with it, Shadow Magic is better.In terms of balance and gameplay, AoW-sm is much better then AoW1.Imo, you cannot really compare AoW-sm to AoW-TWT. In a way, AoW-sm is what AoW-TWT should have been.

Get the unofficial Patch v1.4. here!

My best AoW-Sm map: Drums of Death (This is the multiplayer version; for single player, or AI use different version)

Other proud AoW-sm maps: The Key of Kharzul, The Fight for Light, Waikiti Island, Goldrush Mountains

My proud AoW2 maps:The River Arne

Coordinator of the v1.4 and v1.5 patchteams, Seraph of AoWHeaven, PBEM Singles Champion 2008 Unknown250

Member posted 01-30-06 10:31 PM EDT (US) 12 / 20 "In terms of balance and gameplay, AoW-sm is much better then AoW1."I disagree. While SM is more balanced than AoW 1, it's not a huge deal, as the only really gaping flaws in AoW 1's balance were the dragons and air galley. For gameplay, are we talking mechanics? If so, then yes, AoW SM has much better gameplay mechanics than AoW 1. But in terms of actual gameplay quality, I find the original to be far superiour. SM is far too focused on small amounts of large cities producing small amounts of strong units. Every game is just a rush to level 3 and 4, after a while it gets a bit repetitive. AoW 1, on the other hand, has a very good mix between level 1, 2, 3 and 4 units. It also seems to have a larger difference in level 1 units, espescially swordsmen. They all serve the same purpose, of course, but typically each race's swordsman is significantly different from other races in terms of stats and abilities (the exception being Elf and Dark Elf). There's also a lot more variety between special level 1 units then there is between level 0s in AoW SM. These two factors are very important, as level 1s tend to play an important part in AoW 1. Swolte

AOWH/AOW2H Seraph posted 01-30-06 11:19 PM EDT (US) 13 / 20 Quote:

In the campaign, a corrupt new empire led by the wizard Phobius, has launched an aggressive assault on the ancient races and all things magic. Meanwhile, an even greater evil in the form of hellish demons, breeds within its shadows. The wizard Merlin has been captured by the demons, but can still communicate with his old wizard friends. The player is cast as these wizards as they fight the human empire and the demons.

The main character is the Wizard, who most of the time stays in his wizard tower casting spells in his domain. He researches new spells and abilities and becomes more and more powerful as the game moves on.

The Good

Finally, the AOW developers put in a random map generator: one of the basic elements to call a game replayable. The scenario editor was complete enough to allow interesting work, and more so with the event engine. Also, some tools were provided to easily edit units, mages and magical items. Mods were a breeze to make, and personally I care as much for the modding capabilities as for the game itself.

The best of the game, however, was the tactical part. Not that was a deep and exhaustive model of tactical warfare (in fact, it was simple), but had a good amount of unit characteristics (both positive and negative) that allowed many possibilities and made up for a rich and fun battle environment. Death strike, Cold strike, Fire strike... all were different and had different and unique effects; so their counterparts (immunities), and others like Blurred, Cave Crawling or Path of Decay (that transformed any land you walked into a lifeless desert).

Deities were a nice idea: although not much variety of them (only 4) , the missions requested by your god provided something random, yet adding flavor to the game.

The Bad

Unfortunately, that didn't help AOW:SM become anything more than a flawed end to a saga. It wasn't the deepest of the strategy games; the management part was limited to construct a bunch of buildings and balancing gold income with army support. Neither was the strategic part: no supply lines, no attrition, very little effect of terrain. However, it could be a fun light game nonetheless if the developers didn't abandon it, with bugs unfixed and with none of the things they promised (and even advertised) to implement.

And what suffered the most was the AI. Supposedly, the AI would finally be able to use ships and sea warfare; it didn't. Also, to colonize and create new cities; it could, but only in premade scenarios with starting settler units; it was unable to build them. Also, to build and upgrade wizard towers; it didn't. Warfare AI wasn't very brilliant; on hardest difficulty as stupid as on easiest, only cheating more. When pushed over, left cities undefended and gathered all troops at the capital. Even with cheats, it was only a matter of waiting for its gold and mana to fall, so disbanding enough units and driving the player to an only final assault.

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