Well, this one seems decent. Their previous title was pretty good too, in its own right. Even though ultimately I got bored of it quickly,  but at least it was a pretty and polished game. I was not turned away by horrible UI after 5 min like it happened for Warlock: master of the arcane.

The main problems I found with Endless space was predictible AI and low re playability. The starmap also felt constrained.  But at least the immersion and Gameplay were good.

  In other words I will definitely want to try their second game. By opposition to Master of the Arcane 2, that I wont be playing for a while.

Great idea. We can have two versions of the game. Twice the profit.

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The Alpha footage is looking really sharp

The graphics are awesome.  What about acual game play, and the AI?  Will keep an eye on this one.

BTW, the game website is here...

http://g2g.amplitude-studios.com/Games/Endless-Legend

I'm liking the promotional artwork, with associated descriptons.  Looks like they have put some thought into this!

Frog, did you watch the video? Did you see how they handled combat? Also, did you see the "winter" mechanic?

Early access starts Thursday. 

Looks great... can't wait to give it a try.

As you suggester, I watched the video, and the youtube vids.  Wow, game, even in alpha, has so many really quality aspects.  Was a time warp for me watching the 'tactical' battles.  Most of what I saw I suggested to SD as my ideal tactical game play for Elemental.  The one thing I saw in the battles that needs fixing was the lack of any ZOC, or ZOE by melee units set to defend.  Any enemy melee type waltzed adjacent to three defending units in a line, and got behind to melee the vulnerable archer units.  That was the only thing I saw that was a killer (forgive the pun) for me.  Also, the designer has shere genius using the strategic map as the tactical map for combats.  Sheer genius! 

I played the alpha at PAX East. It looks pretty good even in alpha. Combat is tactical but it's interesting in that you combat on the actual strategic map itself. Though I couldn't figure out the game determines 'which' starting tiles you basically begin combat on. It was still kinda simplistic in its implemenation. not sure if they'll advance that more.

I felt it addressed one of the issues with Endless Space in that that world feels more 'alive and vibrant', where as endless space for some reason felt very sterile.

It's definitely something to keep an eye on.

I feel exactly the same about ES. Perfectly summarized. 

The game is quite solid in it`s own right. But it didn't have teh magic for me.

Also, kind if lacking in the Strategical aspects. Games felt more like grinding forward instead of strategy.

Since AOW III turned out to be bland and repetetive to me, I am happy that there is another game to try  

I buy all 4x games I find to support the effort, but rarely do I get really pulled in. I have spent the most time with Warlock and Fallen Enchantress the last couple of years. I have also tried games like Pandora, Endless Space and others without getting hooked. 

I want a 4x game where the focus is surviving a tough world, not a balanced game made for multiplayer. Hopefully the frog will deliver one day. Looks from a recent post of his that he is thinking about it

So tonight I buy early access to Endless Legend

I remember making some suggestions along these lines.  Specifically, the 'strategic view' of a city also being the tactical view.  I even mocked up an illustration...

Here the Sov, Mr. Elemental and Mr Dragon are positioned to repel some creatures menacing the city... I suggested using the 'strategic view' as your tactical map as well.  Imagine each 'mega square' being 8x8 or 9x9 on the tactial map, and place buildings appropriately....

I actually thought this is what we were getting before WoM was released, and still think it's a wonderful idea for enhancing immersion - just zoom the camera in so that the background for battles is the local strategic map.  Plus, the tactical battle maps don't need to be so detailed and pretty when the battle tactics themselves are (intentionally) so quick and simple.  I absolutely love being able to zoom in real close to see the little people working in my cities and my troops running all over the map, and also being able to zoom out all the way to see the world-at-large from the cloth map perspective.  Extending this trend to the tactical battles would be awesome!

Addition: Imagine draining all your mana with fireballs in a battle, then being able to zoom out and over to queue up some additional mana production in one of your cities, and then going back to finish up the battle.  Your stream of consciousness doesn't have to be broken by an invisible barrier between the strategic and tactical levels... they become one.