Hey All,

Today we’re putting the next Update for Age of Wonders 4 into Open Beta. With this Update we’re looking to address the most critical feedback on the Hero Rework. Considering the time we’ve had this Update is incredibly jampacked with the separation of Hero Class and Hero Loadout, two new hybrid Hero Classes and 3 new Skirmisher Weapons/Loadouts.

Our hope is to be able to release this update fully before the Holiday Season, however that planning may change based on your Feedback. If you want to provide your feedback you can do so by making a Discussion Thread in the Open Beta Discussions.

May your pantheons thrive,

If you want to take part in the beta there are a few important things you need to know!

• This Beta is only available on Steam, owners on Console, Epic or Gog will receive this update later when it fully releases.
  
• If a save has been made in Open Beta, there’s no going back! Moving into the Open Beta will transition all your Custom Rulers, once this has occurred you cannot switch back to 1.2. If you do so all your Rulers will invalidate and no longer be accessible. Only participate if you want to try the new Hero Changes, if you want to join for specific fixes we recommend you don’t !!!
  
• Only use this in multiplayer if all participants agree. Make sure you do not use the beta in multiplayer without checking with the other players first, once a multiplayer game session has been updated to use the open beta, you cannot go back to previous versions!

That being said, to access the beta you will need to do the following:

To switch to a custom branch in the Steam client, right-click on the game from the library page and select "Properties".
Among the available tabs will be the "BETAS" tab.
The Tiger Beta should be listed in the dropdown menu under "Select the beta you would like to opt into:" A restart of your Steam Client may be needed if the Branch isn’t visible.

Game Version: 1.009.004.100853

---

Hero Class Updates

We’ve essentially overhauled the underlying Hero System once again to split up Loadouts i.e. Hero Background Traits into Hero Class and Hero Weapon. This change brings with it a lot of risk for existing Rulers as well as mods changing Hero Classes/Loadouts.

• Separated Hero Class and Weapon loadouts. Class and Loadout can be picked individually based on the expected weapon restrictions.
  
• Added new Hero Class: Death Knight - A Hero Class that specializes in high damage Melee attacks, backed up by Debuffs and summoned Undead units.
  
  • Can equip:
    
  • Great Weapons
    
  • One Handed Weapons
    
  • Shields
    
  • Fist Weapons
    
  • Polearm Weapons
• Added new Hero Class: Spellblade - A Hero Class that uses both Melee and Magic attacks to deal magic damage from a distance and physical damage when the enemy gets close.
  
  • Can equip:
    
  • Great Weapons
    
  • One Handed Weapons
    
  • Shields
    
  • Fist Weapons
    
  • Polearm Weapons
• Added new Icons to Hero Classes

Even More Skirmisher Weapons & Loadout Updates

• Added 3 new Skirmisher Weapons
  
  • Javelin
    
  • Melee Strike - 12 Base Damage +2 per Item Tier
    
  • Javelin - 22 Base Damage +4 per Item Tier
    
  • Cannot be Mounted
• Sword & Net
  
  • Melee Strike - 14 Base Damage +2 per Item Tier
    
  • Throw Net
    
    • 18 Base Damage +4 per Item Tier
      
    • 90% Base Chance to Immobilize
  • Cannot be Mounted
• Sword & Throwing Dagger (Ways of War Only)
  
  • Melee Strike - 14 Base Damage +2 per Item Tier
    
  • Dagger Throw - 22 Base Damage +4 per Item Tier
    
  • Cannot be Mounted
• Updated Culture Loadouts
  
  • Barbarian
    
    • Added Javelin Loadout
      
    • Added Sword and Net Loadout
  • Dark
    
    • Added Sword and Net Loadout
  • Feudal
    
    • Added Javelin Loadout
      
    • Added Sword and Net Loadout
  • Industrious
    
    • Added Sword and Net Loadout
  • Reaver
    
    • Added Sword and Net Loadout
      
    • Added Fire Orb Loadout
      
    • Added Reaver Staff Loadout
  • Primal
    
    • Added Javelin Loadout to all Primal Animals (except Spider)
      
    • Added Sword and Net Loadout to Primal Spider
  • Oathsworn
    
    • Added Sword and Throwing Dagger Loadout
  • Wizard Kings can now use Orbs & Staves of all Base Damage Types

Hero Balance
General

• Reduced Base Hero Stats
  
  • Reduced HP from 90 to 80
    
  • Reduced Defense from 3 to 2
    
  • Reduced Resistance from 3 to 2
• Reduced Base Dragon Lord Stats
  
  • Reduced HP from 100 to 80
    
  • Reduced Defense from 4 to 3
    
  • Reduced Resistance from 4 to 3
• The Command and Channeling Ritual abilities can no longer have their cooldowns reset
  
• Eldritch Sovereign: Enthralling Truth now correctly lasts until the end of combat
  
• Dragon Lords are now allowed to change their Class & Dragon Claw after Ascension

Warrior
Generally reduced their solo survivability

• Distracting Charge and Reckless Charge are now mutually exclusive
  
• Reckless Rage and Critical Momentum are now mutually exclusive
  
• Unyielding - No longer grants +2 Resistance
  
• Graceful Charge - Reduced Grace granted from +2 to +1
  
• Willbreaker - Increased radius from adjacent enemies to 3 hexes
  
• Warseeker
  
  • Now only works on enemy units
    
  • Effect now lasts for 2 turns rather than until end of combat
    
  • Reduced max stacks from 5 to 3

Defender
Made Tireless Retaliator a bit more niche, shuffled damage bonus on fighting skills to make it a more interesting choice between survivability and damage.

• Graceful Defence - Reduced Grace granted from +2 to +1
  
• Tireless Retaliator - Now grants Tireless Retaliation while in Defense Mode
  
• Resistant Vanguard - Reduced Status Resistance granted from +2 to +1
  
• Fighting 1 - Reduced Damage increase to 10% instead of 15%
  
• Fighting 2
  
  • Increased Damage increase to 20% instead of 15%
    
  • Now mutually exclusive with Greater Vigor
    
  • Renamed to "Greater Fighting"

Mage
Reduced leftover accuracy abundance, now Maximized magic is the primary source of accuracy while magecraft and arcane strength provide more damage to let mage keep up with other roles in damage better.

• Magecraft 1 - Replaced +10% accuracy with +10% damage
  
• Magecraft 2 - Replaced +10% accuracy with +10% damage
  
• Arcane Strength - Replaced +10% accuracy with +10% damage
  
• Lightning Evocation - Reduced Jumps from 3 to 2.
  
• Maximized Magic - Critical Hit Chance reduced from 30% to 20%
  
• Devastating Evocation - No longer incorrectly removes the chance to inflict burning from Fire Evocation
  
• Wildfire renamed to Wildfire Strikes, reworked to inflict damage and spread burning to adjacent targets with basic attacks.
  
• Displacement - Now only triggers from Melee attacks.

Ritualist
Astral bond retaliation count gain is reduced to make the benefit for melee or ranged targets more equal.

• Astral Bond - Reduce Retaliation Attack bonus from +2 to +1 (This change also affects Mystic School of Summoning's Summoners)

Ranger
Reduced power of invigorating takedown slightly.

• Invigorating Takedown - Reduced Strengthened granted from +2 to +1
  
• Go for the Kill now works on all attacks, not just melee and physical ranged.
  
• Scattershot now shoots at the center hex of the AoE
  
• Snapshot now always faces the target when shooting
  
• Fatal Strikes no longer shows up in the Unit Panel, only as an Ability Modifier.
  
• Critical Skirmisher now shows up in the Unit Panel.
  
• Critical Second Wind now shows up in the Unit Panel.
  
• Knockback Retaliations now shows up in the Unit Panel.
  
• Evasive Strikes now shows up as an Ability Modifier.

Signature Hero Skills

• Souldraining Strikes - Now inflicts 2 remorse when attacking with a single action attack.

• Added Ways of War Ruler Lore Entries to the Encyclopedia
  
• Arcane Artisans - Reduced Mana gain from mines from 10 to 5
  
• Added a horizontal scrollbar to our scripting dialog

• Improved likelihood of AI casting Race Transformations
  
  • The issue was that the AI discount for research did not correctly apply.
    
  • increase AI value for racial transformations. and adjusted the research for the AI.

Combat AI

• AI is now much less likely to move before using a free ability
  
• AI understanding of the Command hero abilities has been improved
  
• AI understanding of the Astral Ward ability has been improved
  
• Melee units are now much less likely to move away from the frontline when using a ranged ability
  
• Reduced threat projection range of melee units from 4 to 3 hexes (so ranged units don't feel like running as far away from them)
  
• Lowered the importance of threat by 70% when victory is certain (so units aren't as skittish while winning)
  
• Lowered the importance of threat by 90% when loss is certain (so ranged units don’t kite as much when they're going to lose anyway)

• Changed the On Target Killed effect exclusion from Non-Vital to Friendly Units. This applies to the following:
  
  • Empire Tree - Rite of Possession - Balor: Power from Slaughter
    
  • Empire Tree - Knightly Order - Order of the Indomitable
    
  • Unit Enchantment - Bloodfury Weapons
    
  • Elder of Chaos - Fires of War
    
  • Order Paragon Skill - Lead by Example
    
  • Mage Hero Skill - Devouring Spell
    
  • Ranger Hero Skill - Invigorating Take Down
    
  • Ranger Hero Skill - Kill Shot
    
  • Ranger/Warrior Hero Skill - Grim Executioner
    
  • Warrior Hero Skill - Warseeker
    
  • Warrior Hero Skill - Willbreaker
    
  • Warrior Hero Skill - Killing Momentum (& Item Forge)
    
  • Gold Golem - Strike Gold
    
  • Ascended Warlord

Buffs/Debuffs

• Grace - Now stacks only up to 3 times down from 5
  
• Vicious Killer now does 4 more morale damage, and correctly affects units 3 hexes away

• Mystic School of Summoning
  
  • Unit “Summoner”
    
    • Astral Bond - Reduce Retaliation Attack bonus from +2 to +1
  • Combat Spell “Conjure Summoning Rift”
    
    • Now selects a valid empty hex in the province to be summoned on
      
    • Updated description to specify it summons on an empty hex in the target province.
• Oathsworn
  
  • Harmony no longer loses devotion when vowing to destroy a Umbral Dwelling
    
  • Oathsworn Peacebringer
  • Line Shot - No longer a base ability
    
  • Line Shot - Increased damage from 20 to 24
    
  • Line Shot - Reduced Range from 4 to 3
• Oathsworn Sealbearer
  
  • Reduced HP from 65 to 55
    
  • Reduced Defense from 2 to 1
    
  • Reduced Resistance from 2 to 1

Rulers

• Changed Ambitions for rulers that can no longer have the Prospector Ambition. This will cover 5 rulers in total, over 3 DLCs:
  
  • Blint now has the Delver Ambition
    
  • Fangir now has the Explorer Ambition
    
  • Aerelazaliar now has the Teacher Ambition
    
  • Ydgaard now has the Collector Ambition
    
  • Ryc'turi now has the Imperialist Ambition

Society Traits

• Keepers of Knowledge - Reduced knowledge income from Open Borders from 20 to 10
  
• Cult of Personality
  
  • Units not in an army led by a hero suffer -20 morale now instead of 10
    
  • Heroes gain +20 gold upkeep per Renown level

Ambitions

• Prospector “Artisan Equipment” - Upkeep changed to Hero Upkeep +50 instead of 10 per unit.
  
• Steward now gives 40 renown for having a positive stability city for 5 turns

• Added Oathsworn item skins that were missing from the item forge
  
• Sword and Pistol “Fire Magelock” - Reduced Base Damage from 20 to 16
  
• Sword and Crossbow “Shoot Crossbow” - Reduced Base Damage from 22 to 20

Materium

• Tome of Alchemy
  
  • Combat Spell “Antimagic Tincture” - Now dispels 2 Negative Status Effects instead of all
    
  • Special Province Improvement “Alchemist’s Lab” - Increased costs from 120 production and 60 gold to 250 production and 100g

Order

• Tome of Cleansing Flame
  
  • Unit “Pyre Templar”
    
    • Fire Cleave now correctly damages obstacles
      
    • Fire Cleave now has 90% chance to inflict burning to both primary and secondary targets and this shows up correctly in tooltips. (previously 60% to secondary targets)
      
    • Fire Cleave now correctly has 50% effectiveness on secondary targets on status effects as well.

Shadow

• Tome of Severing
  
  • World Map Spell “Conjure Spellward”
    
    • Now selects a valid empty hex in the province to be summoned on
      
    • Updated description to specify it summons on an empty hex in the target province.

• Added a new property called “Cannot be Displaced”. This is given to the following units:
  
  • All Tower Type units
    
  • All Siegecraft Type units
    
  • All T5 dragons
    
  • All T4 Giants
    
  • Dragon Ruler
    
  • Horned God
    
  • Earth Titan
    
  • Bone Dragon
    
  • Ironclad
    
  • Karagh
• Displace effects from abilities previously sometimes worked against units with Large Target and sometimes did not. Now they consistently work on all units except units with Cannot be Displaced. This influences the following abilities:
  
  • Displace and Replace modifier on many charge attacks and the Item Forge
    
  • Push Back modifier on two Hero skills and the Item Forge
    
  • Cloud in a Bottle item ability
    
  • Water Spirit’s Tidal Wave
    
  • Thunder Bird’s Thunderclap
    
  • Ironclad’s Direct Fire
    
  • Mercenary’s Drive Back
    
  • Dragon Ruler’s Tail Bash
    
  • Dragon Ruler’s Astral Elder Stormcall
    
  • Wind Rager’s Whirlwind
• The following effects are reworded from displaced to teleported because they still work on all units:
  
  • Direcaster’s Hysteria Storm
    
  • Wizard Tower’s Displacing Reality Combat Effect (Shared with Astral Dew Combat Effect)
    
  • Sow Confusion Siege Project
• Increased the Magic Bolts damage of the following units by 2 damage:
  
  • Warlock
    
  • Awakener
    
  • Spellweaver
    
  • Banshee
    
  • Autumn Fairy
    
  • Winter Fairy
    
  • Watch
    
  • Pyromancer
    
  • Evoker
    
  • Transmuter
• Ghost Ship
  
  • Wail of the Lost now applies 2 Remorse
• Balor
  
  • Chaos Brand now correctly Berserks enemies until the end of combat

• It is no longer possible to reduce the duration of pillage operations below 1 turn.
  
• Added a new Raze Operation for Umbral Seeds

---

AI

• Fixed a crash that could occur due to no Diplomatic state being found while processing if a stack would walk over a city district.

Art

• Fixed an issue where Rulers doesn't face the opponent in the diplomacy screen
  
• Fixed an issue Non-Scout units with Pegasus mounts hold their reigns and weapons at the same time
  
• Fixed an issue where Mount Masters + Blessed Dragon mount causes your ruler to become a triplet
  
• Fixed an issue where the hero is not centered in the "Hero Panel" while having the "Blessed Dragon" mount equipped
  
• Fixed the Pyre Templar’s Weapon being shown on Boats
  
• Fixes for multiple units that weren’t visually embarking when going into water
  
  • Iron Golem, Accurssed Ogre, Accursed Blade

Animations

• Fixed a Vertex Explosion occurring when using Sprint on a Warbreed
  
• Fixed an issue where Unit mounted on the "Blessed Dragon" have a weird animation when they perform an attack
  
• Fixed an issue where Units mounted on "Horned Bear" move their legs when using range, support and eating abilities
  
• Fixed an issue where Hero's "Pushing Attack" ability has a wrong animation
  
• Fixed an issue where Ogrekin Sunderer throws Javelin in a odd way
  
• Fixed an issue "Sundering Sweep" ability has issues with its animation

Faction Creation

• Fixed an issue where Eagle Mounts in Faction Creation + Oathsworn cultures causes one to lose their entire body
  
• Fixed an issue where The "Herald of Glory" outfit does not hide the hair over the male "Halflings" feet
  
• Fixed an issue where "Herald of Glory" helmet is not correctly attached on the male Simian and Ogrekin forms
  
• Fixed a Simian race missing hair color option

Transformations

• Fixed an issue where Ascended Rulers with Angelic Transformation would not show their Wings
  
• Fixed an issue where Toadkin with Wightborn transformation had see through mouths
  
• Fixed an issue where Peacebringer with Naga transformation causes the portrait to only show part of a Naga tail
  
• Fixed an issue Insectoid units with helmet loses their eyes when applying certain Major Transformation
  
• Fixed an issue where "Simian" form legs disappear from the knees down when the "Astral Attunement" transformation spell is used
  
• Fixed an issue where The "Shield of Artica" has a very bright texture when the hero is affected by "Astral Attunement" transformation
  
• Fixed an issue where Gloomstrider's tentacles have a few puffed spikes
  
• Fixed an issue where Dragon Lord Order and Chaos' crown is placed around the neck

Combat

• Fixed issue with Keeper’s Mark out of turn activation
  
• Fixed issues where Ghostfire did not properly count as burning for multiple effects, like Immolate (extra damage if target is burning) and Curse Eater
  
• Fixed a crash that could occur when apply the Combat Results
  
• Fixed a crash that could occur on getting Unit Kill Rewards
  
• Fixed an issue where Summon Auto Spells would run (infinitely) on Water Maps
  
• Fixed an issue where the "Astral Dew" magic material doesn't provide a combat enchantment during combat

Culture

• Mystic School of Potential
  
  • Fixed an issue where Arcane Inspiration picked spells that are already max inspiration

Diplomacy

• Fixed an issue where the Demonic Warlord personality was allowed to respond to Improved Diplomatic State Events

Economy

• Fixed an issue where the Bathhouse could be moved in front of the Tavern
  
• Fixed an issue where Master Masons discounted SPI’s

Events

• Fixed the following events not unfogging the quest location
  
  • Power Made Flesh
    
  • Profound Desire for {Unit}
    
  • Into the den of {Unit}
• Fixed an Exploit with Profound Desire
  
  • The ranking up of the units now happens after the battle, upon quest completion (the units now actually have to fight in the battle to gain the additional experience)
• Arcalot
  
  • Fixed an issue where Urrath's Grasp applying to Pantheon Heroes

Happenings
Cosmic

• Fixed the signature hero skill Shield of Faith lacking an identifier for counting as Faithful so that the Dawn of the Lodestar can correctly recognize the Hero.
  
• Fixed the signature hero skill Condemning Strikes lacking an identifier for counting as having Zeal so that the Dawn of the Lodestar can correctly recognize the Hero.

Intrigue

• Added mana cost to "Short-Lived Regency"
  
• Removed location button from "Day of Judgement" event
  
• Fixed an issue in the final event of the usurper intrigue (Return of the VictimPlayerLeader): Ensured the correct cities were used in the event.
  
• Fixed an issue where the Reaper ruler that appears during the "Possession: Reaper" intrigue happening was not correctly centered in multiple screens
  
• Fixed a crash that could occur when updating the Banner of a Intrigue Player
  
• Fixed the ending of the Prisoner Happening when you assassinated the hero, which could soft-lock the ruler from being defeated.
  
• Fixed a crash that could occur due to Intrigue Rulers with no names triggering Notifications for the Player

Heroes

• Fixed an issues where not all Pantheon Heroes were eligible for Pantheon Recruitment
  
• Fixed issue where Consolidating Push would damage or debuff the user
  
• Fixed Still as Stone hero skill now works correctly when engaged
  
• Fixed Rustbreath not removing status effects
  
• Fixed Restore (Overflowing) granting 20 THP instead of 10 THP

Ambitions

• Fixed an issue where completing an Ambition refreshed the City Income which completed the Ambition again.

Interface

• Fixed a crash in the faction creation screen
  
• Fixed an issue where The ability bar does not update when pressing the defence mode
  
• Fixed Ways of War Ascension Skills having the wrong icon in the Skill Tree

Customization Interfaces

• Fixed an issue where Panels with customization options remain displayed after switching to a different tab inside "Appearance" screen
  
• Fixed an issue where The "Outfit" image change to an image of the shader's head instead of the shader's body when changing the body type
  
• Fixed an issue where The "Halfling" shader images for the choices under the "Head" category are tiny
  
• Fixed an issue where some items in the hero editor would not properly update their visuals
  
• Fixed an issue where the picker would stay open when switching tabs in the appearance screen
  
• Fixed an issue where The first two "Molekin" beards are impossible to view on the shader inside the "Beard" window

Controller

• Fixed an issue where the right stick button on controller would not react properly to presses

Text & Descriptions

• Bounties for capturing cities now also mention that vassalizing the city is an option for completing the bounty.
  
• Forming Realm now mentions in its description that it disables free cities.
  
• Primal Dispute now mentions the victory condition in its description.
  
• Lightless Realm Unit property now correctly indicates -2 vision instead of -3.
  
• Fixed a debug text being present in the tooltip of the "Necrotic Spires" city structure
  
• Fixed incorrect description of Warrior’s Soul
  
• Fixed an issue where quest objectives that were set through scripting could not always get the correct description.
  
• Snow Spirits had Freeze Immunity but now it shows on their unit panel
  
• Elusive Form Trait passive now has the correct value
  
• Mistling Fey Trick now has the correct bleed chance value
  
• Fixed Keepers of Knowledge not mentioning all aspects it gives.
  
• Fixed description of Wizard Kings' Quickened Ritual
  
• Fixed Swift Restoration skill description to say "reduced" cooldown instead of no cooldown.
  
• Sundering Evocation fixed typo in sundered resistance string, now hyperlinks correctly.
  
• Cascading Evocation no longer mentions it gives Fire Evocation +5 damage, because it didn’t.
  
• Added the word “gain” to the Wildfire description.
  
• Sundering Evocation now correctly states that Lightning Evocation is now ‘also’ a Debuff ability instead of becoming a Debuff ability.
  
• Fixed a missing string insert in Willbreaker
  
• Fixed Blood Trail not mentioning it inflicts Marked

Multiplayer

• Fixed an issue where Combat would softlock after the Vassal Turn in Manual Combat if Control AI Allies was enabled.
  
• Fixed an OoS that could occur due to the same Unit Upgrade being provided from multiple places.

Rulers

• Fixed several Rulers who suddenly wore unintended capes
  
• Removed any headgear from O'neron (Eldritch Realms) to show his bold bald personality again.
  
• Fixed the loadout of Naz’ru (Eldritch Realms) so he correctly uses a barbarian weapon
  
• Fixed an issue where the Pronouns of Dragon Lords & Eldritch Sovereigns would reset

Tomes

• Tome of the Reaper
  
  • Greater Reanimation now correctly works to keep enemy undead after combat.
• Tome of the Crucible
  
  • Meteor Arrows now correctly give +3 Damage instead of +4
• Tome of the God Emperor
  
  • Was wrongly stacking condemned, now can no longer stack

Umbral Abyss

• Fixed an issue where Umbral Tyrants heroes don't have the Umbral Demon tag
  
• Fixed an issue where Free City AI with war coordination does not attack the Umbral Dwelling but instead roams around

World Map

• Fixed an issue where moving an army onto a city or province base of a friendly vassalized city would not be handled correctly.
  
• Fixed an issue where indirectly defeating an infestation, by attacking an army that is not on the infestation itself, would not complete bounties for clearing the infestation.
  
• Fixed a crash that could occur due to a unit temporarily gaining more vision and triggering a meet while re-activating post combat, before their relation modifiers had been reactivated.
  
• Fixed issues where Underground Terraforming doesn't work
  
• Fixed issues with Primal Den Generation
  
• Fixed an issue where battles inside owned Ancient Wonder's borders retained their special combat enchantments

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Rulers!

This past year, we have invested countless hours into improving Age of Wonders 4 so it can be the best version it will ever be. We've released six free updates, multiple major expansions, and continue to put your feedback into the game to foster endless replayability.

25 years after the release of the first Age of Wonders, this newest edition continues our labor of love. If you feel the same way, then nominate Age of Wonders 4 for Labor of Love at this year's Steam Awards!

Your support is invaluable to us and we are so thankful that we can keep on improving this series. It's because of you that Age of Wonders 4 has achieved new heights, and continues to grow over time. We hope to carry on working with the game!

Thank you for all your comments and feedback, thank you for your participation in the open betas, and thank you for having faith in our game. We are waiting for your vote!


Get the base game, premium edition and first expansion pass for up to 35% off this holiday season!

Follow us and be the first to know when we drop new content!

• Share your thoughts on the Forum[forum.paradoxplaza.com]!
  
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