14 DAY TRIAL // The bears are starting to be a problem. I fought four of them, supported by a few auxiliary units, during a big siege and they mauled a few of my archers. Maybe because I got overtly cautious and refused to use any magic to help my forces. But this could be a long war and it’s a good idea to avoid spending resources early.
Now the bears are fighting alongside wolf riders and a Rusalka, and my army might take some significant casualties. They pushed their cavalry too far in front, which made it easy to deal with. A few fire bolts softened up the brown terrors. But my nagas and swordsmen will surely take hits in the coming turns, and I know that another army might challenge me in a few turns.
Master of Magic: Scourge of the Seas is developed by MuHa Games and Eerie Forest Studio, with publishing from Slitherine Ltd. This is the second downloadable content pack for the strategy title, designed to introduce a range of new options and mechanics for fans.
The scourgers are made up of orcs that labor under a curse that gives them spectral abilities. They are very good raiders and can move quickly on both land and sea, which offers players extra strategic options when they battle other factions.
Four powerful wizards seek to rule the world: Gayn the Sea Hunter, who focuses on Death and Nature; Horatio the Sea Tamer, interested in Chaos and Life; Belit the Cursebringer, wielding Sorcery and Death; Queen Xar’xla, focused on Sorcery and Life. Three new heroes can be recruited.
Mechanically, Master of Magic blends a strategic map with tactical combat, both of them turn-based. Gamers need to develop their cities, recruit forces, find heroes to lead armies, and then battle rivals. Magic plays a big role, both directly in combat and on the world map, with different wizards researching and using the spells of their chosen domains.
The name makes clear that Scourge of the Seas adds a focus on the watery depths of the world. Three lairs with capable defenders offer players a chance to test their battle skills and gain loot. There’s a Kraken boss that can only be defeated by the powerful hero and a solid spell line-up.
Cities now also work pearl, reef, and fish resources. Gamers can also use a harvest spell to turn any of these nodes into more immediate rewards and deny their use to enemies. It’s a powerful tool and it’s a good idea to research it as quickly as feasible.
The small changes to mechanics the DLC makes improve the core loop. The Scourgers can become powerful quickly and will challenge players to adopt new strategic approaches. Tactical battles remain tense and good use of magical resources is always important.
Scourge of the Seas doesn’t make major changes to Master of Magic’s presentation. The world is beautiful, with clearly defined points of interest. Characters show off their personality via design, but I don’t love the throwback look of the recruitable creatures. The interface is clean and easy to understand. I like the soundtrack a lot and the rest of the sound design is pretty forgettable.
Conclusion
The new scourger faction adds variety, while new heroes make war more engaging for everyone else. Newcomers should engage with the main game and see how they like its core mechanics. Master of Magic remains a little too classic in its approach but has tactical and strategic depth.
Review key provided by the publisher.
