A Dark Enchantment

[Thorondor]

Stardock's upcoming turn-based strategy game, Elemental: Fallen Enchantress, is, according to the studio's CEO "a pretty radical departure from War of Magic".

 

Though an expansion, this is meant to be a stand-alone product and the origin of a new branch, which basically shares the same universe but aims to take its own direction with a dark-fantasy flavour and a new initiative-based tactical combat system as conveyed in this first video developer diary voiced by associate producer Toby Sarnelle.

 

As explained by Lead producer Derek 'Kael' Paxton:

 

(...) it will be much more dangerous. It will be filled not only with randomly generated artifact items that provide powerful bonuses, but also with dangerous monsters, up to and including elder dragons and ancient gods that you simply won't have any chance of defeating until you have a highly developed kingdom.

Having (Civ V's) Jon Shafer now at the design helm, great care will be taken to make the single-player experience of this title captivating, varied, non-linear and, of course, magical, when it comes out later this year.

[Space Voyager]

I was intrigued by the Elemental (and held down to Earth by your prophetical, almost insider-like warning) and this too looks very interesting... I guess this game should be free of the birth defects Elemental had so it may be worth looking into. If they only lowered the prices. This would be the biggest boost for sales.