So what new fire and ice content have you seen?

[aristobal]

Here link to russian site where some new content has been presented:

http://www.gamer.ru/king-s-bounty-vo...ty-voin-severa

[MattCaspermeyer]

Originally Posted by aristobal

Here link to russian site where some new content has been presented:

http://www.gamer.ru/king-s-bounty-vo...ty-voin-severa

Pretty interesting read - some highlights (hope the above link is accurate as well as the Google translation):

• You need to acquire all the Valkyries before you get the ability to fly - after the first battle with Guilford? Wow.
• Better tooltips for using the Valkyries' special abilities
• Some new items and sets
• Quest items may be usable
• Medals go up to level 5
• Looks like at least heaven in Demonis is now open (maybe the rest of hell, too)
• Some of the new units seem to be inspired by mods - there are Glacial Thorns and the Snow Nymphs (Army of Darkness had Ice Thorns and Ice Nymphs). Someone already mentioned the Undead Lizards from Red Sands.
• All bears have a chance to stun
• Looks like there is some Underworld/Twilight-inspired extra damage that werewolves do to vampires and vice-versa
• I'm not 100% certain, but it looks like Rune Mages are Level 5 again (or is that a new unit?)
• No mention of Marshan Swamp - that's too bad

There are more changes, but these seem to be the bigger ones - looks like they listened to some of the complaints about WotN and incorporated them into I&F.

/C\/C\

[aristobal]

Besides two additional bosses were mentioned.

[camelotcrusade]

Cool, I will check out that Russian site soon and thanks for those highlights, Matt.

I hadn't seen the bear stunning thing come up yet, so I went back and read an ancient bear and sure enough, there was a 25% stun chance (no icon, just ability text for 'stun').

I also can report that combat experience levels can offer different rewards, though I don't know the details of how that works. My Gorgon got to level 3 and he got +10% more summon power instead of +1% crit. So far, he's the only one of my units not to get crit% (the rest all are vikings faction, maybe that's relevant...).

Edit - just had another unit reach level 4. I have three level 4's now and they are all different. Axe Thrower has +6 attack, 1 defense and +2% crit. Mystic (also a viking) has +4 attack, 3 defense, +1% resistance and +1 runes (which still says zero on the info screen, could be a bug as the popup said +1 runes), Jarl has +4 attack, +3 defense and +1% crit and resistance. I have also noticed it has some randomness. Upon loading and experimenting, I saw my Jarl get +5% health and +1 runes. Note - if you get +1 it doesn't update the display. Not sure if you get one or not.

I'm quite glad to hear about the flying, really. The biggest killjoy of WoTN for me was lack of combat pacing once I had wings. Flying allowed me to pick and choose my fights, so naturally I went for the biggest challenges I could win. But the downside was after I'd had my fun the maps were only left with easy fights that made combat boring. Hopefully that won't happen this time.

[Mandea]

One question: are the fights more varied or are they the same as WotN? I mean in AP and CW the enemy troops were a mix, a different and interesting mix every time so you had to fight accordingly. But this didn't happen in WotN, you had to fight undeads and then orcs and vikings and so on. are they different here, more like CW?

If they were mixed from the beginning it might get interesting to play the game again.

[Zhuangzi]

Okay, you guys have convinced me. I'll get it

[sethmage]

Hi there
I see the regulars are back.

I for one am in support of later flying access, reminds me more of AP/CW, just finished the starting 4 islands. Getting higher end units on the beginning makes easier start without question.

So far, Book of Evil didn’t find worthy adversary.

[Zhuangzi]

The problem with WoTN early on is that you are stuck on those first islands (similar to AP, I know) but more importantly you are more or less forced to use Viking units and most of the enemy stacks are undead based. The good news is that they've definitely improved the Vikings, especially with the addition of the Mystics who can cause havoc in enemy ranks. I'm playing Impossible Mage and I'm finding it quite easy to defeat Very Hard stacks with a combination of Level 3 Trap, Christa's Gift, Mystic and Soothsayer abilities and finally Berserkers, Vikings and Warrior Maidens to mop up.

That second island, Vestlig, is still quite boring though.

[camelotcrusade]

Originally Posted by Mandea

One question: are the fights more varied or are they the same as WotN?

I can only speak to the first island, and those fights are between vikings, animals, undead, spiders and snakes. Most groups had slight to moderate variations in composition. The story makes an effort to include each of these types in the narrative, so it's possible we'll see more enemy variety when story opens up later.

As for your team, I had 8 or 9 non-viking units available - more if you count variations from opening eggs and reloading. There is also an early quest to unlock a supply of higher-level viking units to spice up your army (you can pick a maiden, jarl, or soothsayer), plus there's the new Mystic to try. Reading its abilities hints at letting us finally recruit undead later on (it has tolerance) so cross your fingers.

Edit - woot, The first ghost ship has undead in it! Yay! It's not enough to field an army, but it's a start. I had 13 pirate ghosts and 40 undead spiders for sale.

With all of that together I had a good time on the first island and my finishing army was nothing like the one i started with. So is it crazy different? No? Was it fun? It was for me.

[Zhuangzi]

Originally Posted by camelotcrusade

I can only speak to the first island, and those fights are between vikings, animals, undead, spiders and snakes. Most groups had slight to moderate variations in composition. The story makes an effort to include each of these types in the narrative, so it's possible we'll see more enemy variety when story opens up later.

As for your team, I had 8 or 9 non-viking units available - more if you count variations from opening eggs and reloading. There is also an early quest to unlock a supply of higher-level viking units to spice up your army (you can pick a maiden, jarl, or soothsayer), plus there's the new Mystic to try. Reading its abilities hints at letting us finally recruit undead later on (it has tolerance) so cross your fingers.

Edit - woot, The first ghost ship has undead in it! Yay! It's not enough to field an army, but it's a start. I had 13 pirate ghosts and 40 undead spiders for sale.

With all of that together I had a good time on the first island and my finishing army was nothing like the one i started with. So is it crazy different? No? Was it fun? It was for me.

For me the biggest positive difference out of that lot is the combat experience for troops. That sounds like a great idea. I like Ancient/Polar Bears so I'm happy to see them get some new abilities too. I've only just started (still level 1!) but I'm having fun so far.