Elven Legacy

Lore & Background

Elven Legacy presents a time when five races—elves, orcs, humans, the undead, and dwarves—exist in conflict over a single land. The orcs were once driven away by the human race, and a hundred years later they prepare for war to recapture their motherland. Meanwhile, other races declare war against humans to seize their territory. The player can choose to play as either the elves or the orcs.

The game's graphics were inspired by World of Warcraft, partly because research showed that players did not resonate with an initially grim and dark world with realistic textures and light. The lead artist experimented by coloring a screenshot by hand, and the team liked the result, deciding to make a serious game that was fun to look at.

Gameplay follows the turn-based model of its predecessor, Fantasy Wars. Players move units—each representing a single hero or a small soldier company—across hexagonal maps, dictating movement and attacks. After all units exhaust their move points and single action per turn, computer-controlled enemies or other human players (if online) take their turns. Missions typically require fulfilling objectives such as killing certain enemies or reaching a town, with prizes awarded based on the number of turns taken.

Reader's Guide

Elven Legacy received mixed or average reviews according to the review aggregation website Metacritic. Its significance lies in continuing the turn-based strategy tradition of Fantasy Wars while introducing a more colorful visual style intended to appeal to players. The game's three expansion packs—Ranger, Siege, and Magic—expanded its content with new missions, heroes, artifacts, spells, and tactical possibilities. The Siege expansion introduced large-scale battles and capture of multi-hex cities with a nonlinear campaign. The Magic expansion added new heroes and unusual tactical options. The Elven Legacy Collection, released for Mac OS X on October 11, 2011, bundled the original game and all three expansions, extending the game's availability to a new platform. The game's legacy includes its role as a sequel that refined the formula of its predecessor and its attempt to balance serious strategy with a visually engaging fantasy world.

Did You Know?

• The game's graphics were inspired by World of Warcraft after research showed players disliked an initially grim, dark art style.
• Three expansion packs were released: Ranger, Siege, and Magic.
• The Elven Legacy Collection for Mac OS X was released on October 11, 2011.