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Elemental: v1.1 Walkthru

By on December 13, 2010 10:33:39 PM from JoeUser Forums JoeUser Forums

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Welcome to Elemental:War of Magic, a fantasy strategy game for the PC!

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Elemental is about you.

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It turns out, you are a powerful Sorcerer. And the world needs you. Badly. About 160 years ago, there was a huge cataclysmic battle that nearly destroyed the world. It was so bad that it has been only in the past few years that people have become numerous enough to begin starting up settlements again.

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So the world is in pretty bad shape. How much of it you want to take on is up to you. You can either begin your efforts in a place you already know or you can just randomly be transported to begin your epic saga. But the world isn’t a very pleasant place right now.

During the past century though, the wilds have become populated by bandits, monsters, and other nasties that you will have to fight off as you try to reclaim the world in the name of your Kingdom – or Empire.

Speaking of which, you will need to decide which group of people you want to lead.  It turns out that very few people actually are capable of using magic. A long time ago, a group of evil magic users decided that only they should be able to use magic and took all the world’s magic and stored them into a series of large crystals that themselves are really just pieces of an even larger crystal. These “shards” will become crucial to your future. In the meantime, these people are looking to you for leadership since you happen to be able to channel magic from these shards.

The world is populated by 10 different groups of people.

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And I use the term “people” loosely here.

These people have loosely gravitated towards two ideologies.

One ideology believes in the rule of law and the importance of an orderly society. These are the Kingdoms. 5 different factions have chosen this ideology and all of them are the same race – men. However, if you ask them, they’ll scoff at this. They’ll say there are huge differences between Amarians and Ironeers. Whatever.

The other ideology believes that power comes from the individual. That the world has become savage and to survive and prosper, the strongest and most fittest must be allowed to rise up to their potential. These are the Empires. And unlike the Kingdoms which are all men, the Empires are much more diverse.

Each of the five factions of the Empires are a different race.

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Now, not all these factions are equally capable. Some are challenging, some are “normal”, some are fools and some are doom givers. How you deal with this is up to you.

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When you start out, you have nothing.

Nothing.

But you’re not alone. Well, okay, yes, you’re alone but you won’t be alone for long.

The world is still littered with the flotsam and jetsam of ruined civilizations which you can scavenge things from. In addition, there are some powerful people out there looking to join a cause greater than themselves.

The key, however, is making sure you find right locations for your settlements. The world isn’t in any shape to just build farms anywhere. Only tiny bits of land are arable.

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Once you found your Kingdom (or Empire) you will want to set up a beacon, some sign to let people know that you’re open for business. Get people to start coming out of the wilds to begin living a civilized existence again (and for some, the first time).

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As you venture out into the wilds, you will find that there are bits of civilization already out there. The occasional Inn or Hut may offer you a chance for some adventure. These are great ways to find much needed equipment, knowledge, and other relics.

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Unfortunately, the wilds aren’t particularly safe.  Wandering alone (or letting your settlement go undefended) is dangerous.

 

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For that reason, you’ll want to train some of your new citizens to defend the settlement and your territory in general.

As your new Empire (or Kingdom) expands, you’ll discover that you’re not the only one who has ambitions. Soon you will have to contend with them either peacefully or at the tip of a sword.

Your strategy for victory? That’s up to you. Magical Spell knowledge is one path. Mundane conquest is another. Or perhaps you may locate some ultimate magical weapon to dominate all beings in the world.  All I can say is that your adventure is just beginning.

Good luck!

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December 13, 2010 10:47:05 PM from Elemental Forums Elemental Forums

Looks great..  I am one of those that bought the game in anticipation of future expansions...   And let me say -  I feel like my investment is going to pay off.

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December 13, 2010 11:08:40 PM from Elemental Forums Elemental Forums

So shards are suppose to help to your mana generation then like the nodes did in MoM?  Havnt seen this happen in any of my games yet, but I hope so.  Are there any other plans for other buildings to generate mana as well?  Also, looks very nice and I cant believe you get a female NPC right off the bat!!  Heck, ive gone 100 years or more and not seen one!  Yet somehow, i get lots of escort quests for the daughter, but none of them want to marry me anymore!!  Cant I just keep her and not return her haha!

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December 13, 2010 11:11:58 PM from Elemental Forums Elemental Forums

See if you wait your REWARDED! Thank you!

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December 13, 2010 11:33:35 PM from Elemental Forums Elemental Forums

Does that mean 1.1 is coming out tonight?

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December 13, 2010 11:39:23 PM from Elemental Forums Elemental Forums

jmccrea, have you played the beta at all? Shard generate mana and you can even upgrade them to generate more mana. Also, women are much more easier to find now. Every game I find a couple of females. Usually in the very early game.

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December 13, 2010 11:41:21 PM from Elemental Forums Elemental Forums

Quoting jmccrea,
So shards are suppose to help to your mana generation then like the nodes did in MoM?  Havnt seen this happen in any of my games yet, but I hope so.  Are there any other plans for other buildings to generate mana as well?  Also, looks very nice and I cant believe you get a female NPC right off the bat!!  Heck, ive gone 100 years or more and not seen one!  Yet somehow, i get lots of escort quests for the daughter, but none of them want to marry me anymore!!  Cant I just keep her and not return her haha!

They do currently in Beta. Its a bottom tech that you can research called Shard Harvesting that allows you to upgrade the shard to a shrine. You then get +2 mana a turn from that along with any bonuses for that element's spellbook. Those spell books must then be researched to use in arcane research which the Shard Harvesting tech unlocks.

 

 

One ideology believes in the rule of law and the importance of an orderly society. These are the Kingdoms. 5 different factions have chosen this ideology and all of them are the same race – men. However, if you ask them, they’ll scoff at this. They’ll say there are huge differences between Amarians and Ironeers. Whatever.

 

This made me lol

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December 13, 2010 11:50:00 PM from Elemental Forums Elemental Forums

Can we make female soldiers now? Or is it still sexist in the land of Elemental

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December 13, 2010 11:52:22 PM from Elemental Forums Elemental Forums

Quoting jmccrea,
So shards are suppose to help to your mana generation then like the nodes did in MoM?  Havnt seen this happen in any of my games yet, but I hope so.  Are there any other plans for other buildings to generate mana as well?  Also, looks very nice and I cant believe you get a female NPC right off the bat!!  Heck, ive gone 100 years or more and not seen one!  Yet somehow, i get lots of escort quests for the daughter, but none of them want to marry me anymore!!  Cant I just keep her and not return her haha!

 

Ya, shards are 2 mana per turn, for each shard.  I haven't played quite enough to know all of the way to generate mana, but I must say, I see few.  The only other mana regen I have been able to find is the one I put on my Soverign when I created her.

In the current game, I had mana issues, as I was spending 3 out of my 4 total mana per turn on allowing other heroes to cast (I like to keep a casting hero at each city plus one in my adventuring party).  Once the knucklehead society next to me declared war, though, I ganked a couple of cities and ended up getting 3 more shards.  now I have so much mana I can add buffs to cities or heroes, or just start banking major mana for battles.  you sure can use that up quickly...

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December 13, 2010 11:53:12 PM from Elemental Forums Elemental Forums

I wish someone would make a video playthrough of a game. I asked a while ago http://forums.elementalgame.com/401498 but no takers. I just seem to get to a point where I'm not sure what I'm supposed to be doing or what I'm supposed to do next.

Like there are always options to build multiples of different types of buildings, huts, inns, workshops etc and I'm not sure if I'm supposed to keep building them until I run out of room or money or which I should build first.

Also, I build a city and then can't find some fertile land nearby to build another city or I end up getting landlocked by other races and then find myself just sitting in my one city clicking next turn and wondering what I should be doing.

Admittedly I haven't played it much, so maybe it's just a case of playing more and then everything will click...I 'd just like to see or know how other people play to kinda get me started.

I don't want to come across as moaning about the game because I know SD are working really hard on it and it has improved a lot. This is all me just being a bit dense and not quite "getting it!"

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December 13, 2010 11:53:22 PM from Elemental Forums Elemental Forums

Quoting heyhellowhatsnew,
Can we make female soldiers now? Or is it still sexist in the land of Elemental

 

One culture has the "Egalitarian" trait, which allows you to have female soldiers.

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December 14, 2010 12:03:54 AM from Elemental Forums Elemental Forums

Can't see any changes. Still ugly "you". Still good vs bad. Bad guys are ugly (why?). Same factions with no real differences. The view of the world is still sucks for the "epic" strategy game (cloth map is much better for playing). So what was changed? Mana pool? Bugs? Is it all?

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December 14, 2010 12:08:36 AM from Elemental Forums Elemental Forums

Quoting Panda_Power,
I wish someone would make a video playthrough of a game. I asked a while ago http://forums.elementalgame.com/401498 but no takers. I just seem to get to a point where I'm not sure what I'm supposed to be doing or what I'm supposed to do next.

Like there are always options to build multiples of different types of buildings, huts, inns, workshops etc and I'm not sure if I'm supposed to keep building them until I run out of room or money or which I should build first.

Also, I build a city and then can't find some fertile land nearby to build another city or I end up getting landlocked by other races and then find myself just sitting in my one city clicking next turn and wondering what I should be doing.

Admittedly I haven't played it much, so maybe it's just a case of playing more and then everything will click...I 'd just like to see or know how other people play to kinda get me started.

I don't want to come across as moaning about the game because I know SD are working really hard on it and it has improved a lot. This is all me just being a bit dense and not quite "getting it!"

 

Awesome.  I was in exactly the same mind-space as you just yesterday.  Then finally things clicked, and clicked quicly.  I will try to share some minor wisdom, maybe it will be helpful from someone who is only like a day ahead of you lol

Population and food are tied in together, I notice, but you definitely need to build huts to break your population barrier.  But you need materials to build huts, so I usually build a workshop first.  Later in the game, when I had food problems, I realized I can put a +1 food per turn on the city without a farm. 

As far as what to build, I notice that the super basic decisions early on are the aforementioned huts and workshop, then you choose between getting your tech knowledge (to learn techs) or your arcane knowledge (to learn spells) going (usually both in your first city).  I have found that specializing cities works well.

Another basic catagory is money.  In my current game, so many of the hirable heroes were +1 gildar per turn that I just never had to think about money. 

Finally, an army is necessary.  Gold and materials and population seem to tie into this. 

I am sure there's more to it, but those basic catagories:  food, population, materials, tech knowledge, arcane knowledge and army.  Many of the buildings simply enhance these in the city you build them in, or reduce the cost or build time of them.  So it becomes about balancing and building these main components.  I do notice I periodically get stuck early in game if I don't do it right.

Oh, and also, for food, in the tech tree, Civilization branch has a lot of food items, including one that literally places new food tiles on the map.  Also, buildings that raise food output...oh, and I found and hired a hero that raised food production in the city which they are stationed by +20%.  Funny enough, she's a total bada$$, because I raised her intelligence and charisma and leave her in the city to guard.  So she's a spallcaster that raises prestige and food output by being there.  obviously I have to take her out to fight monsters etc to raise her level to keep her tough enough to guard the city (with other soldiers, of course).

Oh man, forgot about Prestige.  that simply makes your towns grow faster, and your boundaries expand faster.

Anyway, I am sure that was confusing, but hope some small snippets help.

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December 14, 2010 12:11:49 AM from Elemental Forums Elemental Forums

Can't see any changes. Still ugly "you". Still good vs bad. Bad guys are ugly (why?). Same factions with no real differences. The view of the world is still sucks for the "epic" strategy game (cloth map is much better for playing). So what was changed? Mana pool? Bugs? Is it all?

Patience. I'm 99% confident that all this will be adressed. Only so much can be done in one update, homes.

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December 14, 2010 12:28:42 AM from Elemental Forums Elemental Forums

Thanks Mhantra...glad it's not just me! I think like you said it hasn't clicked with me yet because I'm not sure how everything ties together. I've got some free time today so I'm gonna play some more...maybe start with the campaign again and see if I get the click!

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December 14, 2010 12:30:58 AM from Elemental Forums Elemental Forums

Brad could take a dump on a CD and I'd buy it.

 

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December 14, 2010 12:37:43 AM from Demigod Forums Demigod Forums

love what you've done with the place. 

Great work brad.  Things are shaping up more and more.  I'm confident you will have a diamond soon enough.  Keep on polishing (or enlist superman to crush the coal into a diamond and then polish it up).  I really like the direction you and your team have taken with this and continue to wish you and Stardock the best! 

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December 14, 2010 1:27:08 AM from Elemental Forums Elemental Forums

Quoting charon2112,
Brad could take a dump on a CD and I'd buy it.

*insert stinging reference to Demigod*

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December 14, 2010 1:30:59 AM from Elemental Forums Elemental Forums

I love the challenge this game presents.

It is so complex, but unlike any other game I've had, this one has got me fully engaged and I'm loving every session with it.

-.-

 

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December 14, 2010 1:48:59 AM from Elemental Forums Elemental Forums

I love the challenge this game presents.

It is so complex, but unlike any other game I've had, this one has got me fully engaged and I'm loving every session with it.

-.-

You're kidding, right? This game is good (now), but I'm not exactly sure I'd call it complex.

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December 14, 2010 1:51:21 AM from Elemental Forums Elemental Forums

Quoting LightofAbraxas,

You're kidding, right? This game is good (now), but I'm not exactly sure I'd call it complex.

Yeah, I'd personally like some more depth. Especially for tactical battles, magic and quests.

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December 14, 2010 2:07:57 AM from Elemental Forums Elemental Forums

Wait...  Can someone please explain what is different in the OP of this thread than the original release?  I've been following the 1.09x -> 1.1 beta goodness but what in Brad's post above specifically indicates anything different from September?

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December 14, 2010 2:13:32 AM from Elemental Forums Elemental Forums

What does this have to do with 1.1? I haven't played the betas. The only thing I noticed is that shards now generate mana. Is that all 1.1 has to offer?

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December 14, 2010 2:16:52 AM from Elemental Forums Elemental Forums

Quoting abomination5,
What does this have to do with 1.1? I haven't played the betas. The only thing I noticed is that shards now generate mana. Is that all 1.1 has to offer?

That and population as a resource. And FPS optimizations. And balance passes. And tech tree modifications. And... some other stuff. Someone else might be more helpful.

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December 14, 2010 2:17:07 AM from Elemental Forums Elemental Forums

Quoting Mhantra,

Quoting heyhellowhatsnew, reply 7Can we make female soldiers now? Or is it still sexist in the land of Elemental

 

One culture has the "Egalitarian" trait, which allows you to have female soldiers.

 

Okay, I'd like an actual answer to this - why does it cost any points at all to have this trait?  It is purely aesthetic, and offers absolutely no mechanical benefit.

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December 14, 2010 2:25:24 AM from Elemental Forums Elemental Forums

Okay, I'd like an actual answer to this - why does it cost any points at all to have this trait? It is purely aesthetic, and offers absolutely no mechanical benefit.

Good point. Aside from the fact that combat troops before say, 1990 have traditionally been all-male. But, since there's no gameplay difference, I understand your point.

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