In this update3
Full notes
Full Age of Wonders 4 update
Read the full published notes in a cleaner layout. The original post stays linked below.
What changed
- Store
- Gameplay
- UI and audio
- Maps
- Balance
Age of Wonders 4 changes
Take a walk down memory lane
Unravel the Hidden Powers of the Cosmos in the Age of Wonders 4: Secrets of the Archmages Story Pack. Follow the footsteps of Athla’s renowned Wizard Kings through Tomes and Story Realms. Discover the Shrouded Isles they created, the Secret Arts they learned, and face the perils left in their wake as they ventured through the most infamous Worlds of the Astral Sea.
Age of Wonders 4 Secrets of the Archmages Guiding you on this nostalgic journey is the Sprite Update. This Free Update, available to all owners of Age of Wonders 4, brings a rework of the Reaver Culture, which introduces two Subcultures as Governments. A revamp of the Empire Development Tree brings new opportunities for expression of your faction identity, and a variety of Updated Settings, new cosmetics, and Faction Creation options bring you more of what you already love.
Check below for all the details on the Secrets of the Archmages Story Pack and the Sprite Update.
Secrets of the Archmages Story Pack
New Story: Circles of Power
Follow the footsteps of Athla’s renowned Wizard Kings. Accompany Merlin on his return to Evermore, where they comb through the secrets left behind by the Wizard Kings of the crumbled Circle of Deogai. On the Azh’Ruun Pit, the player encounters the target of Karissa’s unleashed fury: an ancient Circle of Deogai, teetering on collapse. Venture to the Burrow Downs on the fey world Duatha, learn to navigate and understand a realm of constant change and trickery, or Ham Binger will be lost!
New Form: Owlkin
The Owlkin embody quiet wisdom and subtle presence; wise and watchful beings associated with secrets and knowledge. They feel set apart from their kin, carrying an air of mystery without losing their grounded nature. Customize your faction with a variety of striking looks and create a unique character to rule.
New Tomes
Secrets of the Archamages contains 6 new Tomes, each themed around a Wizard King featured in the Story Realms. Follow in the footsteps of Merlin with the Tome of Abjuration & Tome of the Cosmos; embrace the Chaos like Karissa with the Tome of Gluttony & Tome of Burning Passion; make harrowing escapes like the famed explorer Ham Binger with the Tome of Sprite, and creep along the shadows like the Spider Queen Arachna with the Tome of the Weaver.
Learn More: Dev Diary & Part 1, Part 2
New Layer: Shrouded Isles & Secrets Spells
Shrouded Isles are “pocket dimensions”, small islands surrounded by an impenetrable void that have been created by wizards in ages past to guard their most powerful secrets, concealed from the eyes of the Archons. In these Shrouded Isles, you can explore unique environments, learn about the Godir who created them, and eventually claim these powerful secrets for yourself.
Secret Spells are more powerful or weird than normal spells, which would not appear in normal Tomes. When winning a realm while in possession of a Secret Spell artifact, the Godir can keep the spell as an Ascension Trait, instead of taking a trait from one of their Tomes.
New Content: Landmarks & Infestation
As the mysteries surrounding the Circles of Deogai are revealed, so are the things they kept hidden. Modified versions of the major Landmarks featured during the Story Realms can be encountered on your Custom Realms. Claim the Broken Wizard’s Throne, appease the Chained Hellion, or frolic in the Mistflow Gardens. The world is not without peril, though, as the Mistwalkers are expanding beyond the boundaries of Duatha and establishing Mistwalker Camp Infestations.
Even More Content
While we’re sure the above has your mouth watering, there’s even more that you can enjoy. Further included in the Secrets of the Archmages Story Pack are:
8 Achievements
5 New Music Tracks
2 New Premade Rulers
New Realm Templates & Realm Traits
Weaver Spider Mounts
New Secrets of the Archmages Interface Skin & Banner Emblems
Sprite Update
Reaver Governments
The Reavers were our first DLC Culture, closing out 2023 with the Empires & Ashes Expansion. Since then, we’ve introduced the concept of Sub Cultures and generally improved our Culture Designs. The Reaver's World Map Gameplay has had a problem of being too restricted and narrow, impacting diplomatic gameplay much more harshly than intended. With the Reaver Governments, we are making them much more two-dimensional and bringing them up to snuff.
Empire Development Tree Update
The Empire Development Tree has been updated and significantly expanded. Over time, the way that the tree was originally designed no longer matches the way that the game has evolved. Empire Skills now represent a broader interpretation of their affinities and provide a better expression of your faction.
Teams Update
Teams have always been about providing an easy way to work together towards Victory, without having to go through the various Diplomatic Requirements to establish an Alliance. However, this also meant all Diplomacy between individual Teams would be turned off. With the Teams Update, we’re adding two new settings that will allow you to team up at game start, without losing out on diplomatic intricacies.
Quality of Life and more
For each Major Update, we don’t just work on new Content, Balance Changes, or Fixes. We always try to dedicate some time to improvements that make the game easier, more accessible to use, or simply more enjoyable.
With the brand new Narrative Content Filter, you gain additional control over what kind of Narrative Content can appear during a game. Replacing some of our older Realm Traits, you can now adjust the probability and presence of various Happenings, Lost Souls, and Wandering Merchants. We’ve also expanded Customization Options with brand new Wizard King Outfits based on recognizable Tome Units, Magic Wielders have access to a new Class of Weapons called Grimoires, and your faction can now ride more beasties into Combat.
This has only slightly lifted the veil on the Sprite Update. For the full list of change notes, please visit:
All you need to know about the new content
Since the release date announcement, we've published a variety of Dev Diaries, Streams, and Feature Highlight videos. Feel free to explore them below!
Moreover, we are inviting you to a post-launch Dev Stream this Thursday (18th of June), 14:00 CEST, during which you can ask the Devs questions, share your feedback about Secrets of the Archamges or the Sprite Update, or just have some fun!
Watch on our YouTube this Thursday!
What’s next?
As mentioned previously, Expansion Pass 3 will become a dynamic bundle. This means that if you already own one or more DLCs included in the pass, you'll be able to complete your collection at a discounted price. The transition will take place later today at 18:00 CEST.
Follow us and be the first to know when we drop new content!
Source
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