What do you think is the most fun way to play?

dont all talk at once now

Huge and Irregular (my own map mod, for more snaky maps), Ridicilous Monsters, InsaneAI. (Epic Speed, Very Slow production)

If you try something else than mage sovereign, you will probably have a decent challenge

I've been messing around with the sovereign .xml file, and added some fun abilities you can't get in the customize screen as well. Calloused Hide (+1 defense per level) etc. is fun to have, and not really OP since you will be fighting Arcane Weapons very soon and can barely survive the first hit anyways.

I often do as many random settings as I can except the difficulty.

I play on normal/normal with the monster and quest set to dense/frequent.

- A variety of custom sovereigns, all from a sigle custom faction.

-Make trade agreements with all factions ASAP to maximize revenue and keep them off my back for as long as possible.

-Spam pioneers as much as I can at the expense of verticlal growth.

-Go on a monster killing mission to level up ASAP.

-Try to get the archers from the quest ASAP.

-B-line to the magic techs to get fireball and tireless march.

-Choose the mage paths that increase spell mastery and spell damage.

-Steal spirit on 3rd and subsequent champs to gain their spell paths that I don't have.

-go to war with any faction that settles close to my borders early game. (If I can't expand early game, then I'll be at a big disadvantage for the rest of the game, so I might as well try to eleiminate anyone who gets too close)

this sounds fun, thanks. every time i play a mage sov i start out feeling incredibly weak and then suddenly unstoppable

this is more or less how ive been playing, and i honestly feel its incredibly boring after several games playing like this. what I loved about MoM was I could play 10 games 10 different ways and they were all really fun

I usually play with dense monsters, plenty magic, quests and random events. The last two also because I bought the DLC and would like to see the new stuff.

The other settings are random.

Maye I am a bit dense, but I havent noticed a lick of difference with the DLC. I remember back in beta when I got ShadowWorld spell. I loved it, although the monsters it spawned usually didnt kill my opponents as hoped. Is this still in the game?

I play hard/expert, dense monsters and large maps. I wish there were more tough monsters and that the world was more dangerous. Players have complained and Stardock has tamed the world too much for my liking.

Shadow world spell is still in the game. It's a reward from a cave quest, so it's kinda rare to get. If you use quest maps a lot, you should get it eventually

You want tougher monsters? Up the monster slider... Ridicilous and Insane settings on monsters make them a lot harder to kill in the beginning, and they spam "children" a lot killing your cities etc. if you don't clear the camp somewhat soon.

By "fun" I assume you mean challenging, so:

Play as the faction that you view as the weakest, put all setting to the max except for resources and magic, set to scarce.

Only settle one city and don't buid any resources, don't use mounts of any kind, choose commander for your sovereigns and champs path.

Fight powerful moster early on so that you champs accumulate lots of weaknesses.

That should keep you on your toes.

If only there was a mod made specifically for players feeling like this...

If only...

https://forums.elementalgame.com/446047/page/1/#3387145