Baron,
I am sorry. I dont think you are right if you say that MOO3 is rather a Moo2,5.
Just imagine the radical change of the tactical combat. Its real time! (One reason I will not buy this MOO3 game.)
This game will be rather like a more complicated shogun or medievial, not like MOO2. They just took the background and some races/names of MOO2.
I said it often before and I will say it once more. MOO3 will never reach the qualtity of MOO2 or the SE series.
There is a long row of similar unlucky game experiments like: MAX II, Deadlock II, Age of Wonders II (yes!)....-and I hope NOT SE5
bye
Klaus