Age of Wonders returns at last with a new game

After a little more than a decade, Dutch studio Triumph is bringing the turn-based strategy series Age of Wonders back with a new game.

The last appearance of an Age of Wonders title was in 2003, when Age of Wonders: Shadow Magic released. Age of Wonders 2: The Wizard's Throne came out in 2002. Before that, Triumph Studios co-created the property with Epic Games in 1999.

Now, Triumph is aiming for a 2013 release on PC. It has tentative plans for Mac and tablet versions.

Age of Wonders 3 is all about leading your empire to victory, and each is headed by typical fantasy classes like a rogue, druid, priest, warrior, or engineer, according to Eurogamer. You move your hero pieces around an explorable world map and do battle on a separate screen. Combat is turn-based, but you can speed it up or even let the A.I. take over for you.

"In Age of Wonders 3, we extrapolate RPG style classes to be the leaders of fantasy empires." said Lennart Sas, the development director at Triumph, on the studio's website. "For example: as a Goblin Theocrat, you can build your own holy empire, recruit little goblin crusaders or cute winged goblin angels equipped with flaming weapons, and wage war on your heathen enemies. We want players to be able to choose between lots of different play styles without being restricted by fantasy clichés, like All Goblins Are Evil."

Players can join two factions in the campaign: the Commonwealth Empire or the Court of the High Elves.

The "play-by-email" multiplayer mode lets you take your turn and alert your friend by message. He can then make his move at his convenience. You can do this with multiple people at once. Video replay captures turn-by-turn action.

Multiplayer also includes a "fight-there-and-then" option.

A scenario generator offers unlimited content while players can create their own content using a community toolset.

Triumph intends to add a lot more via downloadable content. You can visit the official website for more information and screens.

While you wait, you can download the entire series digitally on Impulse, Good Old Games, GamersGate, and Steam.

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