Essentially.
E:FE was quite publicly the fix for E:WOM. E:LH would be fix for E:FE ...but i'd have to pay for it and would have to register with steam. Wardell said they'd honor refunds but asked us to be patient cuz they'd fix it. i've been patient. More than two years worth. i still can't play a full game without software crash even in cloth mode on small map. Each update swings the game radical. Back and forth the features go. Dropping much along the way. They'd promote big upcoming updates which never went far like faction differentiation and increased diplomacy. They spoke of free DLC like content updates as their method of DRM, then ditched it all and sold our Impulse accounts to gamestop without warning, then gave no bonus content and will sell it instead. Old well documented bugs remain. Blah blah blah. There is long history here i will not bother with. i'm so done with it. Will see if one promise is honored.. the refund ala The now infamous Gamers Bill of Rights.

This is my opinion. i feel i've come to it in a considered way over a period of more than two years. On the forums i frequently read CEO brad wardell telling people to just get a refund if they don't like it. So i shall.

I've been a staunch supporter of FE, and I honestly can't say I'm happy about this.

The first issue I have is purely monetary. I understand that they have to make money, but by making this expansion stand alone, and charging previous FE owners 19.99, they're basically forcing people who supported the game to pay a total of 60 dollars to get what new players would get for 40. I'd be much happier if it was a ten dollar upgrade for existing owners. I know someone will say "It's only twenty dollars" but that means a lot when you don't have much income and other comparable games are going for half that.

The other issue I have is that they're basically admitting that the game I defended and quite enjoyed isn't good. They're changing features I thought were just fine (such as hero leveling up) and changing aspects of the game I thought were fine. I noticed that they weren't even sure if they were going to continue FE development not too long ago. To me it screams of a development team that despite all their bravado and intentions made a game they didn't like, and now are trying to "fix it" and force people to pay again.

I like/liked FE. I defended it all over the place. But this honestly makes me feel like a fool for supporting, paying full retail, and playing a game that even the developers don't like.

http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/stardock2012
SURVEY2012 -10% for FE : LH ?

Update 1.3 soon
http://forums.elementalgame.com/440114

Requiring Steam for updates is not really a reversal of their former position. Their earlier games required use of Impulse for all updates, so it more a change in platform.

Also, there are now plenty of other online shops, which their weren't once upon a time. True, many of them just sell Steam codes, but there are some things you just can't fight. Also Brad's mentioned being pleasantly surprised by his dealing with Steam for FE and many of their sales were due to Steam highlighting that game with no prompting or incentives from Stardock.

The Escapist has released an interview with Derek Paxton regarding the new expansion:
http://www.escapistmagazine.com/news/view/122087-Why-Stardock-Is-Still-Working-on-Fallen-Enchantress

Here is also a small preview of the 1.3 update for FE:
http://forums.elementalgame.com/440232

http://forums.elementalgame.com/435680
Very good guide for fresh FE players.

If FE is to easy for you and dont have nothing to do in game( you see all in game) try this mods !!!

First mod for better textures: Triglav National Park (terrain+trees textures) http://forums.elementalgame.com/437209 FE looks much better !

Second mod is a Stormworld http://forums.elementalgame.com/421802 Wiki page: http://stormworld.wikidot.com/

What new in SW ?

Content

13 new factions
35 new champions
118 new magical artifacts
20 new events
4 new types of rivers
6 new quests
18 new monsters and their lairs
5 new types of Recruitable monsters

Thrid mod is Rise of the Magi (for SW) 35 new spells!!! and new magic system with traits.
http://forums.elementalgame.com/436647

Forth mod is Faction Ability : Lady Umber's Legacy http://forums.elementalgame.com/437950

You can also try Urxen Witch Mod and Elder Sion.

SW is just amazing.

Nice guide. Good to see that the game is so open for modding.

Might not be the best time to try out mods right now though, seems version 1.3 seems to be around the corner, and probably requires adjustments in the mods for those to work?

Max in 1-2 weeks after 1.3 will be version for 1.3 ( SW). Try now, you will fall in love in this mods :D In SW is a new wildland/quest > ruins of empire ( hard monsters, huge ruined city, good items> great fun).

Elemental: Fallen Enchantress 1.3 Now Available!
http://forums.elementalgame.com/440641

Stardock has released its biggest update to its popular fantasy strategy game, Fallen Enchantress thus far.

Version 1.3 of Fallen Enchantress adds:

New spells
Adds hundreds of new unit designs for the AI
Updates the economic balance
Improved performance on low end systems
And much more.
http://forums.elementalgame.com/440201

Read this guide http://forums.elementalgame.com/435680 not only for new players!




Get it directly from the Stardock site (they are selling for same price as steam), and use coupon code "SURVEY2012" to take 10% off ($12.23 after discount).

Here is a changelog for the upcoming beta of Legendary Heroes. The beta is supposed to start this Thursday, but that may still be subject to change.

Highlights from Legendary Heroes
http://forums.elementalgame.com/441381

http://www.elementalgame.com/legendary-heroes
It's out! Downloading now. Got my Steam code by checking my Stardock account.

http://forums.elementalgame.com/441432

Ugh.. is it out only on their site or other places too? I love this game, since I heard of the upcoming changes I stopped playing the old game.

I'm still miffed about their "the game sucked, here's an expansion to pay for that makes it all better!" attitude, but for those with the beta, keep us up to date on how it is.