Age of Wonders III

Age of Wonders III, like the previous games in the series, is a turn-based strategy game set in a high-fantasy universe, in which the player assumes the role of a political-military leader. Gameplay is 4X-based (explore, expand, exploit and destroy), with players exploring the world map and slowly building an empire through colonization, warfare and diplomacy with rival powers. New in III, however, is that players must choose and customize their leader, with all options dependent on the play style chosen. In the first version, six races are available: Humans, Draconians, High Elves, Dwarves, Orcs and Goblins, all of which determine the race of their empire, with each race having unique benefits and abilities. The leader and the empire are also shaped by the selection of skills based on traditional RPG classes, as well as by other specializations and skills you can choose. Each leader class also has access to its own unique units, visually based on its respective people, to pursue its own strategy both in combat and in managing its empire. At release, there are six different classes that a leader can be. The "Sorcerer" class focuses on using magic for enchantments and summoning powerful units. The "Theocrat" is based on an organized, religious society with zealous followers and the use of holy spells and warriors. The "Rogue" prefers a less direct approach to situations, using stealth, thievery, and manipulation, as well as dark magic in diplomacy and warfare. The "Archdruid" channels the power of nature and uses it to his advantage, being very self-sufficient and able to summon wild creatures. The "Dreadnaught" leads a steampunk-style society that relies on large-scale industry, machines, and gunpowder-based units like cannons and tanks. Finally, the "Warlord" specializes in direct conflict and battle tactics, using effective non-magic-based units and abilities. The leaders themselves and the individual recruitable hero units can gain experience and level up, while also gaining new equipment and powers. Players can also develop their alignment between good and evil based on the player's actions and the cultures the player takes into their realm, rather than race as in previous games in the series. The cities themselves provide much of the resources, infrastructure, and unit recruitment. Independent cities and units not directly associated with a player or leader are also represented on the world map. Units that come from an independent city fight to protect a city's domain, and they do not forget that they are tied to it. Many of these independent settlements are not cities in the traditional sense, but can be alternative settlements, such as a Giant's Keep. Players can conquer these settlements, which then provide them with units like a city, or they can take them over diplomatically by paying tribute and gaining diplomatic prestige and/or alignment. Quests can also be given to players by independent powers and cities, such as clearing out wild units, searching for relics, or conquering cities and other holdings. Quests can grant the player support from independent powers in addition to a reward such as gold or equipment, and the player sometimes has a choice between the two when completing the quest. Like the first game in the series, Age of Wonders III features a plot-driven campaign playable from two sides: the human-dominated Commonwealth Empire and the court of the High Elves. In addition to the campaign, single-player scenarios, online multiplayer, random map generation and a map editor are available. Age of Wonders III's graphics are presented in 3D, instead of the previous isometric view.