Age of Wonders II: The Wizard's Throne

Age of Wonders II: The Wizard's Throne is a turn-based fantasy strategy game and the follow-up to Age of Wonders, created by the Dutch studio Triumph Studios. Its standalone expansion, Age of Wonders: Shadow Magic, later added random map generation to the series. In this sequel, players control an immortal Wizard who cannot gain levels but can resurrect after death if a Wizard Tower is still standing. Tactical battle maps are smaller than in the original, leading to quicker fights with less unit movement. Hero progression is streamlined, offering one of three skills per level based on the hero’s class. Magic works through a "domain" system. Spells have a limited range around heroes, but this range extends further from Wizard Towers and relays when the Wizard is inside one. Global spells can only be cast by the Wizard, via a spell book located in the main user interface, within the domain of the casting or allied wizard. In combat, spells can be cast by heroes present or by the Wizard if the battle is within their domain (which includes heroes if the Wizard is in a tower). The game was announced in January 2001. It kept the 2D art style of the original but used a new Direct3D-enhanced engine with 32-bit color, a maximum resolution of 1280x1024, and a 3D special effects system. It was developed using Delphi 5. GameSpot named it a runner-up for PC Game of the Month in June 2002. It was nominated for PC Gamer US’s "Best Turn-Based Strategy Game" award in 2002, losing to Combat Mission: Barbarossa to Berlin. It was also a finalist for The Electric Playgrounds’ "Best Strategy Game for PC" prize, which went to Warcraft III: Reign of Chaos. Additionally, it was a runner-up in GameSpot’s "Most Improved Sequel on PC" and "Best Game No One Played on PC" categories.