And its really starting to look like something I will enjoy.

Here's the update post on the main website with a link to a Beta 4 walkthrough video, made by Brad.

While he just plays and occasionally points out several changed points (or bugs present), he doesn't really explain all that much. Its more just a 'look over his shoulder' while he plays and talks to himself.

Still, there is a lot to gather from the long video and shows that the game is starting to get in good shape after all this time.

For people already having access to the beta of FE I think Beta 4 might be a great point to jump back in.

I wish they'd do something about the unit models though, but I guess the art style is not up for debate.

I played and actually enjoyed the original but this newer version has been a rough go for me.  I gave up after the last beta, it would lock up and crash to desk top after about 60 turns (which with this game is very early in the game) and I would have to start over.  It just wasn't worth the effort.  Hopefully this all gets fixed.

I heard the great version is what they are playing in the unreleased internal build.

Well, that will always be the greatest build, of course.

I have downloaded Beta 4. Will post my findings after having spent some time with this build.

Well the 'latest' Beta update was interesting.

Installing it, I was prompted with a window informing me I don't have Fallen Enchantress installed.

I do.

So I took it's advice and uninstalled my version, which then prompted me that I was installing it and crashed Windows Explorer.

I then installed the whole latest version (2.5GB+) which took 1 hr 30 mins to download.

Then, it began unpacking. I say 'unpacking' because I'm assuming thats why the hard disk went into crunching overdrive and filled my system memory up to 97% for over 20 minutes before freezing my whole system.

No install progress meter, no unzipping animations, nothing.

Tried again. Two hard system resets later I guess I'll wait for more feedback before trying again.

I got the same error message, but had no problem uninstalling the previous build (I used CC Cleaner) and downloading the full, new version.  It seems to be installing as I write this.

No such problems for me.

I uninstalled the previous build without problems and I installed the new build without problems or oddities.

The only thing that I did notice was at the end of the installation the installer seemed to get stuck at 98% for a few minutes. Let it crunch its numbers and in the end it was finished without error or problems.

I did not use the smaller patch, but rather downloaded the new full beta build instead.

Will try to get an hour or two in later today.

I get a 100% user lack of interest error.

Looking forward to hearing impressions and if they changed the gameplay. Beta 3 wasn't interesting.

So did they ever get the original Elemental to be a good game? 

Looks like they were still charging $40 for that one, so I'd hope that were the case.

Originally Posted By Nefaro (17 AUG 2012 5:46am)

So did they ever get the original Elemental to be a good game? 

 

Looks like they were still charging $40 for that one, so I'd hope that were the case.

No they pretty much abandoned the original and went full steam at FE.

As you probably know it was supposed to be an expansion at first, but considering the utter failure of WoM they decided to make it a new game instead.

Stardock-crew does not advise you to play the original for entertainment, just to see how much FE has changed the gameplay (up until the current beta).

Thanks Ysk.  I had wondered what happened to the original.

Sad to hear - at least they're giving some of the original owners a free or heavily discounted FE version, right?

Originally Posted By Nefaro (17 AUG 2012 5:54am)

Thanks Ysk.  I had wondered what happened to the original.

 

Sad to hear - at least they're giving some of the original owners a free or heavily discounted FE version, right?

Don't know what you mean by some? All the original buyers upon release get FE for free, plus the next expansion/stand-alone as well. Then there was some deadline for buyers not on release but prior to a certain date who will get FE for free, but not the next expansion/stand-alone. All other buyers must have known the atricious state of WoM by then, so still buying it against all advise pretty much is their own business. Nothing free for them, however FE will be available at a discount up until launch.

Originally Posted By Yskonyn (16 AUG 2012 6:03am)

And its really starting to look like something I will enjoy.

 

Here's the update post on the main website with a link to a Beta 4 walkthrough video, made by Brad.

While he just plays and occasionally points out several changed points (or bugs present), he doesn't really explain all that much. Its more just a 'look over his shoulder' while he plays and talks to himself.

Still, there is a lot to gather from the long video and shows that the game is starting to get in good shape after all this time.

 

For people already having access to the beta of FE I think Beta 4 might be a great point to jump back in.

 

I wish they'd do something about the unit models though, but I guess the art style is not up for debate.

Glad to hear this is still moving.

Originally Posted By Yskonyn (17 AUG 2012 7:20am)

Originally Posted By Nefaro (17 AUG 2012 5:54am)

Thanks Ysk.  I had wondered what happened to the original.

 

Sad to hear - at least they're giving some of the original owners a free or heavily discounted FE version, right?

 

Don't know what you mean by some? All the original buyers upon release get FE for free, plus the next expansion/stand-alone as well. Then there was some deadline for buyers not on release but prior to a certain date who will get FE for free, but not the next expansion/stand-alone. All other buyers must have known the atricious state of WoM by then, so still buying it against all advise pretty much is their own business. Nothing free for them, however FE will be available at a discount up until launch.

 

I said "some" because it's just that, am I wrong?  The people who bought the original at release get the next one for free, right?  But there was some cut-off date shortly after that where people who purchased it don't get it? 

I think it's great they 'fessed up to the bungled release and are giving their customers the re-release of same.  I'd say that's the way re-releases of a mess should be handled.

Originally Posted By Nefaro (17 AUG 2012 12:22pm)

Originally Posted By Yskonyn (17 AUG 2012 7:20am)

Originally Posted By Nefaro (17 AUG 2012 5:54am)

Thanks Ysk.  I had wondered what happened to the original.

 

Sad to hear - at least they're giving some of the original owners a free or heavily discounted FE version, right?

 

Don't know what you mean by some? All the original buyers upon release get FE for free, plus the next expansion/stand-alone as well. Then there was some deadline for buyers not on release but prior to a certain date who will get FE for free, but not the next expansion/stand-alone. All other buyers must have known the atricious state of WoM by then, so still buying it against all advise pretty much is their own business. Nothing free for them, however FE will be available at a discount up until launch.

 

 

I said "some" because it's just that, am I wrong?  The people who bought the original at release get the next one for free, right?  But there was some cut-off date shortly after that where people who purchased it don't get it? 

 

I think it's great they 'fessed up to the bungled release and are giving their customers the re-release of same.  I'd say that's the way re-releases of a mess should be handled.

 

 

Some gives the impression of assuming only a few of the buyers of the original game get FE for free, but that might be a language barrier?

Pretty much all original game buyers get FE for free. Only those who bought after the deadline (don't remember that specific date from the top of my head) will not get it for free, but that deadline was pretty long. Anyone who still jumped in after that date must have known about the state of the game and took the gamble anyway or might have been an unlucky wanderer not really having done any research about the game. There is a line somewhere and I think the one drawn here was pretty generous. I don't believe many original buyers are left out.

Darn, hadn't time to start it today afterall. Tomorrow I'll jump in. Perhaps even record a little let's play about it.

Impressions from my playsession of tonight, for about 2.5 hrs.

I played as Tarth, which gives you a Sovereign with a bow and high initiative, which I like to pick off targets in tactical battles. And as you are going to have to do the dirty work yourself, as a sovereign of a new empire, in the early game I might as well choose a playstyle I prefer.

The factions amongst eachother are not too different (still). They are all humanoid. Fallen against Humans.

All the races now do have traits that are unique, which gives a different flow to your gameplay, but I still do not get the feeling that I am playing a wildly different side from one over the other.

But it has been improved with this system in relation to the original game.

Early game is the familiar landgrab your also experience in similar 4x games. And oddity immediately visible is that the AI seems to spam cities all over the place (regardless of difficulty), even if a site only has one useful tile...

Stardock is aware of the spam issue, though, so I would assume this gets fixed.

By the way, that triggers me to clarify the main aspect of this beta build; cities and economy. Beta 5 will be bug cleanup and polish.

So what has been changed regarding the cities? Quite a lot. The building tree has been revised. You can now only build ONE building of a certain type and they have made sure that every building is important, placing you for tough decisions right from the start.

Some buildings can later be upgraded (with the appropriate technology from research). A much more fun system and improves gameplay a lot.

A new resource has been introduced as well; Essence, which is the resource to fuel your Magical progress. Essence is not mana. Mana is de personal magical pool (resource) of a given unit to cast spells, while Essence is a map resource.

This gives the game now 4 resources; Gold, Production, Food and Essence.

The Quest locations and Treasure locations are back again (IIRC they were removed due to issues before) and provide a nice bonus or narrative. The Quest locations vanish upon completion, as do the Treasure ones, but the latter random respawn over the map during the course of the game. A neat little feature that makes you recheck parts of the map that you have already explored.

The Quests are most often far too difficult early on, but they provide nice bonussed or items. Also, they often come with a mini story in the vein of Space Rangers where you can choose between different course of actions.

The techtree has been revised over the course of the beta and seems to be in good shape at this time.

A lot of interesting choices in there. The only thing I dislike somewhat is that every tech branch starts with only 2 options on turn 1. Then as your progress along the tree, more and more choices open up.

While this system is fun later on, I would like to see more options in the beginning as well.

Spells have been revised as well, but truth be told, they are still a little bland. The usual uninspired stuff is in there like raising and lowering land, increasing city output, casting a beam of fire down on the map.

But no really neat stuff like some of the crazy stuff that, for example, Dominions 3 sports.

I would like to see them getting more creative on the magic, especially since the title is so heavily dependant on magic.

Tactical AI is smarter. Units now try to get the first strike and they will avoid much stronger enemies. I haven't see the use of any enemy magic yet so there I cannot comment.

But in my game Gildar had been raising a pretty big army of mages, so I assume it knows how to use them as well.

On a technical note; the game runs smoothly on my laptop. Turn times are quick and performance never slowed down. Also the game didn't crash once in my 250 odd turns.

So, there is still room for improvement, but the game is indeed fun. 

Creating your army (and equipping them) never gets old, especially with some magic thrown in. Oh and the interface! That is a big PLUS now too. Every item has a tooltip showing its meaning. And the UI as a whole has been cleaned up and made more efficient and that shows. It plays intuitively now.

Faction diversity is still on the bland side, though, and the graphics are something you need to be able to accept. They are not bad or ugly, but it has a very stylized look. Not everyone is going to appreciate that.

My two cents for tonight.

Thanks for the update/info, Yskonyn!  I'm still cautiously looking forward to this one. 

Nice work Yskonyn...thanks.  I look forward to upgrading to Beta 4 soon to try it out.  It looks like you made it well past the 60 turns that would always cause the game to crash for me (pre-beta 4).

http://www.gamersgate.co.uk/DD-EFE/fallen-enchantress?aff=ggnews

I didnt buy first one; may be tempted if i can get some more positive reviews of latest beta

A new patch is out for Beta 4. I think the game is much better now and worth buying.