Why is COE3 a better game than COE2?

[The_Hunter]

To the beta testers:

I can see that the graphics are updated, but, that aside, why is COE3 a better game than COE2?

(I have already pre-ordered)

Thanks and Cheers.

[AngelSong]

Better image, more convenient, pleasant background music, that's enough.

[Gandalf Parker]

Much better AI. Multiplayer. More terrains. More nations

[CoyoteTheClever]

I don't have access to the beta, but here are the improvements I can readily see or have heard about:

1. Spellcasting is a lot deeper. You can choose memorized spells to sort of customize your tactics in a battle. These units can also learn new spells from places on the map and often have a ritual that can upgrade them to a new tier of power. I really like how this system is looking.

2. The system seems a lot more transparent and user friendly. There seems to be a little shield icon indicating what the defender bonus on certain terrain is, for instance. The making your army screen shows just which commander you are putting your troops under (One of the more confusing things for a beginning in CoE 2, all too easy to have your commander accidentally march naked into a bunch of enemies =P).

3. Subcommanders! I think it'll definitely improve the flow of the game and get rid of a lot of the micromanagement.

4. Some new commanders, and some old ones seem to have been revamped to be more interesting. Though I think the total number is down (16 right now, from what, 22?), I think given Illwinter's track record that won't last for long. The Bergmeister, the Bakemono, and the High Cultist are all looking really cool from what I've seen and heard in the various AARs.

5. Conjecture on my part, but I wouldn't be surprised if the unit count is up by a lot from CoE 2.

6. Trade interface. Nuff said

7. More options in setting up a game, like individual difficulties for enemies.

8. And yeah, the graphics are improved =P

[Edi]

Specifically compared to CoE2, reasons why CoE3 is better:

- User interface
- User interface
- User interface
- Graphics
- AI
- Options
- Alliances
- Network MP
- Commander management
- Damage system
- Revamped magic system
- Powerful map editor
- Detailed manual

Aside from the user interface and graphics, you can put the rest in any order you please. Put all of that together and it makes for a very, very good package with a lot of things to explore and massive amounts of replayability.

[WraithLord]

I know IW takes pride in the monster count of their games.
I wonder what's the current headcount of CoE3?

[Edi]

Current count is at least 573 monsters. If you count each separate form of each separate monster and the units that are obsolete, broken legacies of CoE2 but have not yet been axed or will be rehabilitated in future patches, the count jumps to 630.

That's 630 documented monsters, which does not mean that there couldn't be more that have not been seen yet.

[The_Hunter]

Is it possible to mod in additional spells, or would that require programming effort?

<1 week to go...can barely wait>

[Gandalf Parker]

Modding hasnt been put in yet.

[CoyoteTheClever]

Is it really only less than 1 week to go? I thought it was being released on the 20th. I hope it comes earlier though of course.