Let me start off by saying I am a fan of Stardock and the products they put out. And while FE is stylistically somewhat better than EWOM, the endgame and gameplay still lacks a bit of flavor once the intial exploration phase is over.
Having played several complete games on small, med, and large worlds, it always comes down to the same thing: build up a single strong group, a couple cities, and just grind away. There are few surprises that come your way. And while things like the champion system and how food/resources are managed are both better than EWOM for instance, the much of the same uninspired gameplay is still there.
Things I'd like to see to "spice things up" include:
-More and different skills choices for the Champions. What's there is good, but even more differently available ones (different each game) would be nice. Have some be more weapon specific (sword master, axe lover, etc.) have more with both good and bad effects (i.e. Berserk - hit for double damge but no defense, etc.) and a bucket of very rare or unique ones in there too that show up from time to time (Touched by the Gods - Incresed in stats and mana production, but occasionally unreliable in combat, Psionic - an unblockable mental attack once per X turns, things of this nature). Having played several games, it seems the champions get the same skill increase options over and over, "paths" notwithstanding.
-Random Events, Please! The GalCiv games did that very well: you get on course, think things are going well or poorly and BAM... random event changes things up. That is something sorely needed to break up the mid/late gameplay. A city rebels with garrison included. Nodes spawn a very powerful elemental and you get no mana until you beat it. Mines running out, mines increasing output because of a "rich vein" of something. A fire burns down half the structures in a city. Things like that. Events to change things up.
-Spy/Sabotage units. Send one in to see what's in a city. Or try to destroy/damage a unit or wreck a structure. Have there be a chance for diplomatic consequences.
-NPC "ally" buildings/races. There is a little bit of that in there with the trolls and dragon from the techs such, but more and different would be nicer. Could tie it to a random event. Have a tribe of horse archers show up and build near one of your cities. Have a group of opposite faction "dissident" types show up and offer to fight or offer new items for production. Dwarven smiths, Gnome artificers, etc.
What do other people think?
P.S. - Random things not working: The AI is still a bit wonky, in regards to tactics and attacking/not attacking cities, and group/unit selection. I often lose the combat sounds midway and later during the game, in some battles. Still the occasional crashes and lock ups. Mostly when in combat.
Game is not bad, but not there yet.
