This would have been a lot better than dominions!

[Tichy]

A thought: It seems to me that magic summons are part of the design. The nations are supposed to become more powerful as time goes on, both horizontally (more provinces, money, larger armies) and vertically (more powerful individual units available). Vertical power is implemented in two ways. 1) Magic summons that must be researched, 2) items to give to recruitable units to put them more on a par with the units available through magic. The problem seems to be that most veterans agree that recruitable+items is almost never as powerful as decent mid-game summon+items.

A possible solution: A third way of introducing an increase in vertical power. Add in researchable spells specific to different nations that create magic sites that either allow the nation to recruit uniquely powerful units (thus adding in an upkeep component to certain particularly desirable troops) or allow mages to 'enter' the site and summon these units 1/turn (to prevent horde-ing).

I know that magic sites exist with these properties, but I don't know if the capacity exists for spells that create them. (Or if anyone would think this is a good idea.)

[bertiebond]

is there an experience upgrade system in COE?
i tried putting a stack into 'kill anything that moves' mood in the hopes it will gain experience, but doesn't seem to be happening.

and the combat *really* needs some way of balancing defenders strike first. creatures with varying quickness ratings and a bit of random jigging would mean you actually attack rather than hope someone attacks you :S

[Kristoffer O]

No experience. Perhaps a pity, but CoE is more of a fast paced - build army - conquer - get bashed - start over - see something fun - get bashed - start over - conquer - see more fun - kind of game

[bertiebond]

well, its fun, and can use to advantage, shaman is brilliant, if purely for fact if you possess someone and then move an army onto it, you get to attack first!
shamans rock :}
esp. just possessed a warlock, a druid, an elf queen, and i get all the leader's powers. wow

think COE and dominions would be third after master of magic and heroes of might and magic in my list of fantasy world domination games. if Dom was more geared to single player so you could pause and give orders in the middle of a battle rather than a fire and forget battle structure, it would be vying for top 1-2 spots.

but thanks for hours of fun