The Eternal Lords expansion for Age of Wonders III has been released today and is available for purchase on Steam, GOG, and other various digital retailers. Even assuming you aren’t interested in purchasing the new expansion, it’s worth noting that a fairly large v1.5 update for the game has also been released today, and that it adds new features like a new “play by mail” asynchronous multiplayer mode that does exactly what it says on the tin, and overhauls existing ones like the random map generator.
Here is the official press release, which includes a helpful reminder of the content that the developers at Triumph Studios have implemented in this expansion:
DELFT, the Netherlands, April 14, 2015 Welcome to the all-new Age of Wonders III, as today Triumph Studios releases both the Eternal Lords expansion and the massive free V1.5 Update to the main game.
Eternal Lords is the major, second expansion for the acclaimed strategy game Age of Wonders III, marking one year of continuous development since its release. With the introduction of the Tigran and Frostling races, and the new Necromancer class, players must adapt to a world on the brink of cataclysmic change. New mechanics include the Race Governance system, which allows players to tailor the features of each race in their empire to meet their strategic needs, add new layers of depth to empire development and diplomacy. Embrace forbidden powers and reign for eternity!
Eternal Lords content includes:
- The Necromancer Player Class: The Necromancer’s legions are on the march to establish an eternal kingdom, unifying all the world’s races in death. The Necromancer creates spectacular undead units in its cities, such as the Bone Collector, a crablike monstrosity which eats corpses to strengthen itself. Other units are summoned, such as the Banshee, which invokes despair in the hearts of the living. The Necromancer’s dark magic allows players to convert towns to cities of the dead, filled obedient Ghoul minions. Keeper, Grey Guard and Shadow Born Leader Specializations: Champions of Good, Neutrality and Evil respectively, these three new specializations deepen the alignment mechanics and provide players of all classes powers to withstand the challenges of the new age. Learn spells to summon mighty Angels, end game units who embody the essence of each alignment.
- Frostling Player Race: Frostlings are a race of humanoids that emerged from the frozen north. Lead by their Ice Queens, they embark on frequent raids into warmer lands. Their seafaring skills, offensive fighting style and frost magic spread fear among the coastline villages they pillage. Frostings are even more deadly in their home arctic clime, where they build cities carved into the very glaciers they hope will someday grow to cover the earth. Tigran Player Race: These feline humanoids hail from remote desert lands. They worship the sun and track the cycle of day and night; life and death. Their natural curiosity about necromancy and the passing of regal souls into kingdoms of glory in the afterlife inspires them to construct massive tombs. Tigrans are natural sprinters, capable of moving far faster in combat than members of the other races, and are familiar with shape changing magic, allowing their mystics to transform into Dire Panthers.
- Eternal Lords Story Campaign. An epic battle of the forces of creation: fire versus ice, life versus death. As Arvik, heir to a broken Frostling kingdom, you awaken forbidden necromantic powers to reclaim your realm. You will find unlikely allies, and must choose between your Frostling roots and the full potential of your new found powers.
- Cosmic Happenings: The dawn of the Eternal Lords has triggered cataclysmic events that can radically shift fortunes. These events occur as the game progresses, disrupting the best laid plans and providing opportunities for cunning players to gain an advantage. Falling Clouds can fill the world with mist, giving shock weakness to machine and armored units and reducing sight range, while the March of the Troll King can summon armies of trolls to rampage across the map.
- Race Governance: Relations are now tracked per race, allowing you to make careful decisions who to make war with. Declaring war on an Elven city might give you a quick conquest, but don’t expect your Elven citizens to be happy about it afterwards! As your relations with each race improve, you will be able to earn unique racial perks that boost your armies and economy.
- Unifier Victory Condition. As you unlock more perks with a race, the production of a Unity Beacon is unlocked in cities of that race. Building Unity Beacons for the number of races set in the victory condition will make you the Great Unifier, and let you win the game A dozen new Mysterious Map Locations: Capture the Reef Colony Dwelling, home to horrors of the deep, and discover new treasure sites such as the Lich’s Castle, Temple of the Sands and the Hall of the Forefathers to benefit your empire.
- Plus New Hero Items, Standalone Scenarios and more! Eternal Lords incorporates feedback from the community and coincides with the massive free V1.5 update, the biggest since release. Major new features include: The Vassal city mechanics systen, giving an alternative to expansion through conquest Race Relations system, be careful who you make war with.
- More diversity among core racial units.
- Improved strategic and tactical AI
- Random Map Generator Overhaul
- Mac/Linux support, also available for all existing customers.
- “Play by Email”, a new asynchronous Multiplayer Mode. In PBEM games, a player takes their turn in their own time and then uploads it to Triumph’s servers. Once it is uploaded, an email is sent to the next player in the game, who may then take their turn. This allows players to play when they like, without needing to set aside a large amount of time with other people to play a game all at once.
Eternal Lords and the Mac and Linux versions of the game are set for an April 14th 2015 release and available via online stores such as Steam and GoG. The expansion will cost EUR/USD 19.99. New comers can buy the Age of Wonders III: Collection Bundle with includes all DLC.
The story of Age of Wonders 3. After a hiatus of more than 10 years and with funding from benefactor Markus ‘˜Notch’ Persson, the third iteration marked the rebirth of the classic fantasy strategy series. In the original strategy games, kings, queens, and dark lords battle for the spoils of an ancient paradise. Age of Wonders III adds RPG-inspired classes and specialization, letting rulers craft empires of their own design and craft their own unique strategies and play styles in a detailed 3D world. Although it being the first self-published game by Triumph Studios, Age of Wonders III is the most successful title in the series to date.
Age of Wonders III® is rated T for Teen and PEGI 16 and is now available through Steam, GOG.com, and a variety of online and physical retailers. For more information, visit www.ageofwonders.com
About Triumph Studios: Founded in 1997, Triumph Studios B.V. is an independent video game and technology development company based in Delft, The Netherlands. Triumph Studios’ focuses on combining the team’s creativity with its proprietary multi-format Creator EngineTM to forge captivating and unique game experiences. As the original creators of the critically acclaimed Overlord® and Age of Wonders® series, Triumph Studios has a track record in creating games that are innovative, commercially successful, and which lead to demand for multiple sequels.
