Warlock - Master of the Arcane Demo

A playable demo for Warlock - Master of the Arcane is now available, offering the chance to sample this turn-based strategy game in advance of its release on May 8th. The demo is available on the game's Steam page, and if you are too reticent to download the demo, this recent live stream shows off the game. Here's what's included in the demo:

  • The game tutorial
  • One world map to conquer
  • The playable Great mage, Miralbus the Hat of Humans
  • Two Great Mages to battle against
  • The save/load function are disabled in the demo.
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18.
 
Re: Warlock - Master of the Arcane Demo
Apr 28, 2012, 11:09
18.
Re: Warlock - Master of the Arcane Demo Apr 28, 2012, 11:09
Apr 28, 2012, 11:09
 
Hmm, that WTF video made this a definite buy for me. I enjoyed Civ V, but I think the addition of magic to things will take it to a new level.
17.
 
Re: Warlock - Master of the Arcane Demo
Apr 28, 2012, 09:31
J
17.
Re: Warlock - Master of the Arcane Demo Apr 28, 2012, 09:31
Apr 28, 2012, 09:31
J
 
I'm enjoying the demo so far. My only bugbear is the lack of save/load, but alt-tab and master volume are making that more tolerable.
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Blue: What do you mean, "biblical"?
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16.
 
Re: Warlock - Master of the Arcane Demo
Apr 27, 2012, 23:43
16.
Re: Warlock - Master of the Arcane Demo Apr 27, 2012, 23:43
Apr 27, 2012, 23:43
 
I really enjoyed trying out the demo, it plays quite a bit like Civ 5 except the hexes/1UPT/tactical nature of things seems better suited to this scale rather than trying to capture a planet scale.

The best parts of the Civ 5 combat are there except you have the RPG layer on top, with traditional strenths and weaknesses between factions and creature types, along with improvements and equipment upgrades from your buildings, and the enchantments, blessings and curses that get thrown around by the magic system.

The overall gameplay flows very well and I really think they captured the "individual decisions are simple but they allow for good variety and strategy" well and at first glance I think it's got several advantages over Civ 5!

I agree completely with the disadvantages that Totalbiscuit was talking about:

* Microing all your units is a little bit too clicky (your city defenders wake up every turn even when the attacker is flying and they can't engage it).

* The tech tree is a set of spells but you are offered a shortlist of 5 each time, in seemingly random order so there doesn't seems to be progression or specialisation. Maybe this will get improved? It feels a bit placeholder.

* There are only 3 factions. I didn't see all of the one from the demo so it seems there's quite a lot to each one, but I can't see that that is enough.

Anyhow I am really excited about this one, it's very accessible and playable and seems to have a good RPG side to it. And it's £15!
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15.
 
Re: Warlock - Master of the Arcane Demo
Apr 27, 2012, 17:29
15.
Re: Warlock - Master of the Arcane Demo Apr 27, 2012, 17:29
Apr 27, 2012, 17:29
 
I liked a couple of Ino-Co's earlier games, so I might give this one a try.
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14.
 
Re: Warlock - Master of the Arcane Demo
Apr 27, 2012, 16:28
14.
Re: Warlock - Master of the Arcane Demo Apr 27, 2012, 16:28
Apr 27, 2012, 16:28
 
jacobvandy wrote on Apr 27, 2012, 16:16:
ASeven wrote on Apr 27, 2012, 15:05:
Hudson wrote on Apr 27, 2012, 13:20:
Oh yeah, only the hexes look the same. And the units, and the city names, and the symbols, and the unit highlight icons...and the map...my bad WOW HOW DID I MISS THAT!

So using this logic all iDtech games are mods for Doom3, all Unreal Engine games are mods of UT, all CryTek engine games are mods of Crysis.

Makes perfect sense!

Not really an applicable comparison... This game actually looks like a Civ V total conversion mod. Have you even seen it?

As I've said a few quotes below, that's because they've acquired the license to the CivV proprietary engine, no wonder it looks like it! Same with people who acquire the license of the UE to make a FPS with that engine and so on.
13.
 
Re: Warlock - Master of the Arcane Demo
Apr 27, 2012, 16:16
13.
Re: Warlock - Master of the Arcane Demo Apr 27, 2012, 16:16
Apr 27, 2012, 16:16
 
ASeven wrote on Apr 27, 2012, 15:05:
Hudson wrote on Apr 27, 2012, 13:20:
Oh yeah, only the hexes look the same. And the units, and the city names, and the symbols, and the unit highlight icons...and the map...my bad WOW HOW DID I MISS THAT!

So using this logic all iDtech games are mods for Doom3, all Unreal Engine games are mods of UT, all CryTek engine games are mods of Crysis.

Makes perfect sense!

Not really an applicable comparison... This game actually looks like a Civ V total conversion mod. Have you even seen it?
12.
 
Re: Warlock - Master of the Arcane Demo
Apr 27, 2012, 15:05
12.
Re: Warlock - Master of the Arcane Demo Apr 27, 2012, 15:05
Apr 27, 2012, 15:05
 
Hudson wrote on Apr 27, 2012, 13:20:
Oh yeah, only the hexes look the same. And the units, and the city names, and the symbols, and the unit highlight icons...and the map...my bad WOW HOW DID I MISS THAT!

So using this logic all iDtech games are mods for Doom3, all Unreal Engine games are mods of UT, all CryTek engine games are mods of Crysis.

Makes perfect sense!
11.
 
Re: Warlock - Master of the Arcane Demo
Apr 27, 2012, 14:59
11.
Re: Warlock - Master of the Arcane Demo Apr 27, 2012, 14:59
Apr 27, 2012, 14:59
 
Total Biscuit did a WTF of this one:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0ydHz7X4GF8

I went out and preordered it after watching that. For $20, I'll take that gamble.
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10.
 
Re: Warlock - Master of the Arcane Demo
Apr 27, 2012, 14:10
10.
Re: Warlock - Master of the Arcane Demo Apr 27, 2012, 14:10
Apr 27, 2012, 14:10
 
Hudson wrote on Apr 27, 2012, 13:20:
Oh yeah, only the hexes look the same. And the units, and the city names, and the symbols, and the unit highlight icons...and the map...my bad WOW HOW DID I MISS THAT!

The fact that Cutter is happy for slop like GW2 makes me a little tingly inside

So how does it make you feel inside when you know I make your mom feel all tingly inside?
"The horse I bet on was so slow, the jockey kept a diary of the trip." - Henny Youngman
9.
 
Re: Warlock - Master of the Arcane Demo
Apr 27, 2012, 13:28
9.
Re: Warlock - Master of the Arcane Demo Apr 27, 2012, 13:28
Apr 27, 2012, 13:28
 
The game looks and in many ways feels exactly like what you would expect out of a well-made Civilization V mod with fantasy units and lore replacing the historical figures of the original. The interface is mostly the same. The graphics tile layout looks the same. The way the city boundaries shape and contort as they expand looks the same. It’s absolutely stunning just how much was apparently “borrowed” from the design of Civ V when constructing Warlock.

While this may make the people at 2K and Firaxis think to themselves, “Come on, really?” as a turn based strategy gamer, it’s an easy oddity to get past. Who wouldn’t want a new fantasy backdrop to play a game that’s based on the Civilization V design? In a nutshell, that’s precisely what developer Ino-Co Plus is shooting for with this one.

If you have played Civ V you will easily be able to jump right in. The preview build was not polished, as there was a lot of placeholder artwork and other unfinished areas left for the developer to smooth out but if you know Civ, you can play Warlock. That’s not to say the games are identical. There’s the obvious fantasy angle that warlock takes. You pick your leader from a preset group of icons, each with their own advantages such as Researcher, Scholar, Looter, and so on and some even come with unique spells. You can create your own leader if you wish, and pick their bonuses, which is a nice touch.

There are three playable factions from which to choose: Monsters, Undead, and Humans. Inside each of those main factions are various races. The Monsters, for instance can field early tier creatures such as goblin archers, gnome settlers, and ratmen scouts. Each unit has certain advantages and weaknesses and earns rank as they battle enemy units or wandering monsters, much like in Civ.

Quests also pop up from time to time, asking you to build a certain structure or kill a particular enemy unit on the map. When you wander into enemy territory you are greeted with a pop up message from the leader of the faction basically saying, “Hey I see you guys!” Diplomacy looks a little light as Warlock comes off as more “wargame” than a game where one can win via diplomacy.
8.
 
Re: Warlock - Master of the Arcane Demo
Apr 27, 2012, 13:20
8.
Re: Warlock - Master of the Arcane Demo Apr 27, 2012, 13:20
Apr 27, 2012, 13:20
 
Oh yeah, only the hexes look the same. And the units, and the city names, and the symbols, and the unit highlight icons...and the map...my bad WOW HOW DID I MISS THAT!

The fact that Cutter is happy for slop like GW2 makes me a little tingly inside
7.
 
Re: Warlock - Master of the Arcane Demo
Apr 27, 2012, 13:01
7.
Re: Warlock - Master of the Arcane Demo Apr 27, 2012, 13:01
Apr 27, 2012, 13:01
 
This game looks great.

Cutter wrote on Apr 27, 2012, 12:45:
I just have a very low tolerance for bullshit.
Surprising, seeing as you generate an inordinate amount of bullshit.
You must be incredibly annoying in real life. I picture a tall thin rodent looking pale skinned bossy nerd.
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6.
 
Re: Warlock - Master of the Arcane Demo
Apr 27, 2012, 12:45
6.
Re: Warlock - Master of the Arcane Demo Apr 27, 2012, 12:45
Apr 27, 2012, 12:45
 
J wrote on Apr 27, 2012, 12:39:
Cutter wrote on Apr 27, 2012, 12:16:
Sweet sassy molassey! I've been waiting for this! This and GW2 today? Uh yay!
One of those rare moments in time where Cutter is happy

Lulz. I'm actually a very happy person most of the time. I just have a very low tolerance for bullshit. I also don't stay angry for long, it's too much wasted effort.
"The horse I bet on was so slow, the jockey kept a diary of the trip." - Henny Youngman
5.
 
Re: Warlock - Master of the Arcane Demo
Apr 27, 2012, 12:39
J
5.
Re: Warlock - Master of the Arcane Demo Apr 27, 2012, 12:39
Apr 27, 2012, 12:39
J
 
Cutter wrote on Apr 27, 2012, 12:16:
Sweet sassy molassey! I've been waiting for this! This and GW2 today? Uh yay!
One of those rare moments in time where Cutter is happy
nin: This forum is headed for a disaster of biblical proportions.
Blue: What do you mean, "biblical"?
xXBatmanXx: What he means is Old BBS, El Presidente, real wrath of SysOp type stuff.
Avatar 45926
4.
 
Re: Warlock - Master of the Arcane Demo
Apr 27, 2012, 12:16
4.
Re: Warlock - Master of the Arcane Demo Apr 27, 2012, 12:16
Apr 27, 2012, 12:16
 
Sweet sassy molassey! I've been waiting for this! This and GW2 today? Uh yay!
"The horse I bet on was so slow, the jockey kept a diary of the trip." - Henny Youngman
3.
 
Re: Warlock - Master of the Arcane Demo
Apr 27, 2012, 12:00
3.
Re: Warlock - Master of the Arcane Demo Apr 27, 2012, 12:00
Apr 27, 2012, 12:00
 
Uses the CivV engine, plays much better than CivV, it's if Master of Magic and CivIV merged.
2.
 
Re: Warlock - Master of the Arcane Demo
Apr 27, 2012, 11:46
2.
Re: Warlock - Master of the Arcane Demo Apr 27, 2012, 11:46
Apr 27, 2012, 11:46
 
Hudson wrote on Apr 27, 2012, 11:35:
Umm thats nothing but a CIV 5 mod...what the hell

No it's not. Just because the hexes look the same doesn't mean it's a mod. In your thinking, even Civ 5 could be a mod of any tactical hex game or the early HoMM games Rolleyes
1.
 
Re: Warlock - Master of the Arcane Demo
Apr 27, 2012, 11:35
1.
Re: Warlock - Master of the Arcane Demo Apr 27, 2012, 11:35
Apr 27, 2012, 11:35
 
Umm thats nothing but a CIV 5 mod...what the hell
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