Pocus, if you spoke about me concerning the battles being not controllable enough, you have either misread it or I wasn't clear enough, more likely the latter.
The AI resolving the battles is very able and you can give it almost any instruction you want (save for a few ones, but that is due to gameplay balances), but I have to admit I love to play the battles myself. (That about the only thing I really enjoy in AOW, or rather, I would enjoy as I am not fond of the game) But contrary to what I wrote earlier, the lack of Tactical Combat is not what really matters for me, but the weakness of the Combat Replay. I would love to be able to actually see what is going on, like the Combat Replay for SE:IV. Is that going to be changed in Dominions 2? Thanks.
On the other hand, auto-combat in AOW is poorly managed, maybe that is what confused you Pocus? I don't imagine playing a game for a long while just to see the final battle resolved by a rather poor fast combat feature. (Unlike SE:IV once again where the AI is fine in Strategical Battles, except if you planned the worst strategy ever, but that is *your* fault.
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I am looking forward to play Dominions 2, even if the gameplay isn't exactly what I like, it is still far better than AOW for me.