Overview
Age of Wonders III is a fantasy strategy game and the first installment of the Age of Wonders franchise in over a decade since Age of Wonders: Shadow Magic. It is created by the series' original developer Triumph Studios, who are best known for the Overlord series. Like the previous games in the series, it features simultaneous turns, detailed tactical combat and a lighter, streamlined approach to empire management.
New to the game is the concept of Classes. The player selects their leader from 6 different races (Human, High Elf, Draconian, Dwarf, Orc, Goblin), all of whom were present in previous Age of Wonders games. Each race has their own strengths and weaknesses (Dwarves are tough and strong, but slightly more expensive and slow. Humans are well-balanced, etc) and their own set of race-specific units. The player also selects from 6 different classes, which determines some of the abilities and spells of their leader as well as granting them access to a different set of class specific units (some of which are affected by racial modifiers). Since any race can be paired with any class, that allows for many different combinations of forces with some combinations being more complimentary than others.
Races
- Humans: A well balanced but unremarkable race with no major strengths or weaknesses. All of their units get the "Mariner" trait, which improves their combat strength during naval battles
- Dwarves: Highly durable race with more HP and defense than the other races. All of their units have 20% Blight Protection but are slightly more expensive than their counterparts.
- High Elves: Agile race with the best archers in the game. They usually have higher Resistance than other races, but all of their units have a 20% weakness to Blight damage
- Draconians: Race whose units are generally offensively focused. Because of their relationship with dragons, all of their units have 20% Fire Protection but also 20% weakness to Frost damage.
- Orcs: Strong and Tough, Orcs are masters at physical combat but unfortunately have lower resistance and weaker archers than other races.
- Goblins: To compensate for their weaker physical attributes, many goblin units are cheaper and make heavy use of blight damage against their foes.
- Halflings (Golden Realms expansion): The new race added in the first expansion, all Halflings have an inherent "Luck" trait that allows them to sometimes avoid damage if their morale is high enough. The cost of this is that all of their units also have a 20% weakness to physical damage.
Classes
- Warlord: Warfare focused leaders who excel at brute strength and increasing the power of their infantry. Uses units such as the Phalanx and the half-ogre Warbreed.
- Rogue: Subterfuge focused leaders skilled at debilitating their enemies. Uses units such as the Melee/Ranged hybrid Scoundrels and the incorporeal Shadow Wraith.
- Theocrat: Religious focused leaders with divine blessings and curses. Uses units such as the damage-absorbing Martyr and the heretic destroying Shrine of Smiting
- Sorcerer: Magically focused leaders capable of summoning vast arcane power. Summons otherworldly units like Phantom Warriors and Eldritch Horrors
- Dreadnought: Technologically focused leaders using new technologies, including muskets and mechanized units such as the Flame Tank.
- Archdruid: Nature focused leaders whose druidic powers are aimed at summoning or enhancing creatures.
System Requirements (PC)
Minimum
- OS : Windows XP / Vista / 7 / 8 / 10
- Processor : Intel Core 2 Duo E6600 2.4 GHz / AMD Athlon 64 X2 5000+ 2.6 GHz
- Memory : 2 GB RAM
- Graphics : NVIDIA 8800 / ATI Radeon HD 3870, 512 MB VRAM
- Sound Card : Compatible with DirectX 9
- Hard Drive : 10 GB available space
Recommended
- OS : Windows XP / Vista / 7 / 8 / 10
- Processor : Intel Core 2 Quad Q6600 2.4 GHz / AMD Phenom X4 9900 2.6 GHz
- Memory : 4 GB RAM
- Graphics : NVIDIA GeForce 460 / AMD Radeon HD 6850, 1 GB VRAM
- Sound Card : Compatible with DirectX 9
- Hard Drive : 10 GB available space
Availability
Age of Wonders 3 can be purchased at GOG and Steam.
External Links
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