Warlock: Master of the Arcane [Download]

by Paradox Interactive

Product Details

• Downloading: Currently, this item is available only to customers located in the United States and who have a U.S. billing address.
• Note: Gifting is not available for this item.
• ASIN: B007XJR3CO
• Release Date: May 8, 2012
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (20 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #19,757 in Video Games (See Top 100 in Video Games)
  • #26 in Video Games > PC Games > Games > Strategy > Turn-Based

Product Description

From the Manufacturer

The latest game in the popular Majesty series, Warlock: Master of the Arcane introduces turned-based strategy and global conquest to the fantastic world of Ardania. In a time of chaotic upheaval, the player takes the role of a great mage, a warlord vying for ultimate power. Your mission is to build an empire, expand your borders, research new spells and conquer your enemies. Become the ultimate Warlock and rule over all of Ardania!

Features:

• Feel the magic: Research and master dozens of spells, conjure powerful enchantments and discover awesome spell combinations.
• Ready an army: Command a expansive range of units, all with unique abilities. Mobilize the forces of three races, along with special summoned troops and wild creatures.
• Choose your strategy: There are various ways to achieve victory: by military, diplomatic or even magical means.
• Fight your enemies: Engage in epic battles with large armies marching across the landscape. Players may develop their own tactics and learn to use a large number of units’ special abilities. Add some magic to this, and you will experience a true symphony of war.
• Command the game: Enjoy an innovative city management system, where there are no routine actions, and every decision counts!
• Have faith: Fight on the side of one of the eight gods. Complete their quests and spread their temples across the lands. -- Or throw all gods aside and become one yourself!
• Follow the traditions: Warlock – Master of the Arcane inherits all the best elements of the famous turn based strategies of old. It has modern feel and look, but deep down it is a classic game where each player may master his or her own kingdom through magical and military skill.

System Requirements

	Minimum Specifications:
OS:	Windows 7 and Vista
Processor:	Dual Core processor
RAM:	2 GB
Hard Drive:	4 GB
Video Card:	GeForce GT240 512Mb or higher
Additional Info:	DirectX 9.0c compatible sound card, DirectX 9.0c, 3-Button Mouse.

Steam account required for game installation and activation.

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

18 of 19 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Almost there. May 10, 2012

By S. Riniker

Amazon Verified Purchase

The review is written the first week of release. This game takes place in the Majesty universe (Ardiana)

A demo is available on steam that gives a good representation if you care to try before you buy.

First thing. Should you buy it? If you are looking at this game because you want to 4X game in a fantasy setting the answer is for $20 or less, YES!

Many people cite Master of Magic as "thee fantasy all others should be measured by." I never played it. My 4X history stared with Civ2, than Age of Wonders Shadow Magic (AoW:SM). AoW:SM was my gem, and I will say Warlock: Master of the Arcane (Warlock) gets close. First there are no separate instanced tactical battles. Fights are pretty much exactly like Civ5. The city building is like Elemental, which means, every building you produce takes up a tile, the space around your city is the limiting factor, every unit/building takes a certain number of turns to produce (there is no varying production). You are limited by area to build (city growth) and for troops your upkeep costs (which can only be balanced by building certain buildings in your cities. That is a unit may cost 3 gold per turn to upkeep, you can build (in one of your limited building squares) a market that will provide you with 3gold. If you produce more troops that you can support you will eventually go broke. In my opinion it works, at least in the early phase of the game. There have been complaints the AI doesn't seem to abide by the same system, and also that players can reach pretty much levels of infinite resources later in the game.

In addition to making units, when they level up you can pick a bonus much like in Civ4/5. Also units can be enchanted (by casting spells onto them at the cost of magic), or be "outfitted" with "equipment" (for a cost of gold). There is no "crafting" or backpack or item inventory. The way it works is once you build a foundry on a map iron resource you will have an option to click on a unit and click on masterwork armor pay 50gold and you're done. It is more a perk than an item. You can't transfer anything, and if the unit dies all your investment is gone. You choice is pretty much spam units, or produce less units but buff them up. Or work somewhere in-between.

There are plenty of special locations on the map. They provide a bonus once you build upon them. For example a silver resource for instance you can build a mine for extra Gold, or a silversmith for the ability to upgrade your troops resistance to melee and ranged damage. I really enjoy the choice of two different buildings most times. In past games it seems you pretty much only get one option of what to build on a resource node. One issue is right now you can not destroy a building, so if you decide you want to change your choice later you can not.
Quests. The games quest system if very similar to AoW:SM. Instead of the spirits of War, Magic, etc, you of the Gods of Ardiana. You get your basic, "Build this", "kill that," "conquer this." Complete quests gives immediate rewards (not completing has a penalty), and in some cases a successful completion will affect your relationship to the corresponding Gods. Favor of a God can unlock extra spells and units, as well as a Victory pathway within the game.

Magic. Magic feels potent. It can keep your troops alive or bring down your enemies. Focusing on Magic research can lead to a Victory pathway.

AI. It does a decent job resisting the player but never really threatens. You can also game the system once you learn the naissances of the AI behavior. For example I let an AI faction that I was at peace with whittle (6 unit army attacking that enemy city for probably 10 turns ) another factions city down to no defense and then just ran in with my rangers and captured it. The AI just slowly walks away, no fuss or complaint.

Overall. Warlock will likely scratch that itch that many gamer have felt since their beloved 4x fantasy game became too outdated. Out of the box it plays much more fluidly and faster than elemental. I've never felt the need to just pound end turn. To me that means the game is fun to play, instead of just parts of the game. For the price of $20 I would buy the game again without second thought. The game is not perfect, there are bugs, but most don't affect gameplay. Also some of the games features to me feel somewhat superficial (diplomacy, getting a quest to build a farm 5 times in a row, having an enemy attack your city every turn retreat->heal->attack again - this doesn't seem effect the output of the city at all) and some promised features that aren't available at all yet (multiplayer). If these features were flushed out just a bit and the bugs taken care of, Warlock could very easily be a satisfying game even at $40. As it is though I think the game is a very good entertainment value for the price of admission. A demo is available on steam that gives a good representation if you care to try before you buy.

14 of 18 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Great strategy game! May 9, 2012

By Glenn F. Graf

I downloaded the demo and spent more time playing it then my full game of Elemental. For those of you not familiar Elemental is a turn-based strategy game that was horribly produced and delivered. Essentially it was nothing more than a shell when first launched, even though it sold for $50! After experiencing Elemental I was nervous about Warlock, but I played the demo and immediately pre-purchased the game. It was that much fun. Plus, it appears to be well tested and smooth running.

Warlock is a mixture of Might and Magic and Civilization. There is no small scale combat, like in M&M. All combat is at the one on one unit level, with units taking damage in turn based attacks. There are spells that can be used against enemy units and cities, as well as buff spells for your units. I really don't miss the small scale tactical battles as much as I thought. I think doing things this way provides a brisker pace of play, and forces more strategic vs. tactical focus.

The interface is nearly perfect, with reminders for all activities that need to be considered. The graphics are appropriate, and I like the unit variety. There is a fair amount of randomization, so that each game provides a new challenge, even if the basic map layout is the same.

There doesn't appear to be any grand story here, so if you are looking for that sort of thing then it might not be your cup of tea. Basically your goal is to setup a game, using the available parameters like map size, number of players, etc, and then win using up to four different ways.

In summary, if you like turn based strategy, I think you'll really like this game.

9 of 11 people found the following review helpful

3.0 out of 5 stars Not bad, but could be better. June 15, 2012

By NCGuy

Overall, I did enjoy playing this game even with the cons I listed below.

Pros:
Price, on sale on Stream for $9.95

Runs fine on older computers.

Graphics are good.

Does have that one more turn feeling.

Cons:
Poor AI, one example is they kept on attacking my undead units even if they couldn't hurt them. One of my ghost units was attacked by 4 units per turn without losing any health. The AI doesn't know how to counter some units. If you create ghost units, you will pretty much win the game every time.

No Story mode or scenarios

Some units are overpowered, like undead units (ghost unit).

Only 3 factions

Magic research doesn't make sense.

Diplomacy is useless. Computer AI will demand gold or War. No other options for you. I had every computer controlled opponent at war with me as soon as they contact me. The AI is poor so I could take on all 3 at once and still win.
The problem is the enemy mainly just resisting the player attacks and don't really threatening your cities. I never really need to worry about guarding my cities.

Day one DLC

If they patch the game, adding scenarios and better AI then I would give it 4 stars.