If you want the Steam version, it's on sale at Gamersgate this week for $27, though there's a chance it might get put on a daily sale for a bit less.
It no longer matters, I finally caved and bought it last Friday night.
Played through a game on beginner and won by the Spell of Making (though I wasn't the highest rated faction). Played through a second game on the next hardest skill level (Easy I think?) and won again by the Spell of Making. Now on my third playthrough.
My initial feelings are that the game is VERY much improved. It's actually enjoyable now. The UI is much better although it's still not on Civ V's level of smoothness. I've only encountered a few bugs so far, and most of them were graphic glitches that didn't stop me from playing. The tactical combat is well done and works well, although I wish there were more options for spells and such in them. I'm still learning the basics and mechanics of it, trying out new things and exploring the game. I haven't fully explored an entire map yet, this time on my third game I'm making it a point to explore and investigate everything.
And that leads me to a complaint I have. It's far too easy to win by the Spell of Making. I've done it twice now and pretty much just coasted my way there, almost winning by accident. Maybe it's just because I have it on such a low skill level (while learning the game) but it seemed like none of the other factions even cared that I was casting the Spell of Making to win the game. In both Master of Magic, and even in Stardock's own game Galactic Civ II, once you start the "spell to win the game" all of the other factions try to stop you. Stardock does an exceptional job of this in Gal Civ II, even preparing to win by Ascension gradually turns the entire universe against you, and it's an awesome way to end a game. Fallen Enchantress hasn't done this to me yet. Once I had the tech researched and the towers built I started casting the spell and like 8 turns later I won the game with no drama or friction of any kind.
So from now on I'm avoiding the Spell of Mastery on purpose and making the game last longer.
It's a good fun game, and I'll be playing it for awhile, but I don't think it has the breadth and appeal that will replace Master of Magic for me. I still wish someone would just make a Master of Magic II. Keep the spells the same, the races the same, the heroes the same, keep all of the game mechanics but update the game to modern times. Give it Civ V interface and modern graphics, add in empire borders ala Civ V, but keep the tactical combat like MoM and Fallen Enchantress has. Update the AI to Stardock levels. If someone made this game I'd pay $100 for it without a second thought.
I'll post more opinions on Fallen Enchantress after I play a few games on higher difficulties, but so far I'm enjoying it alot.
