PLANET OF WONDERS CLOSED

Sometimes bad things happen, and like it or not life must go on...

On November 2001 VirtualAve (our server) banned Planet of Wonders, deleting the account and all of its content on the server. Their reason is "Hosting pirated software, serial numbers or other copyrighted software.". This is rediculous because we don't do such things.

Sure, I can just sign up in another server and reopen Planet of Wonders, but there are some problems. Planet of Wonders in my hard disk in not fully up to date, while Planet of Wonders in VirtualAve has gone forever. It's because sometimes I work in my house, and sometimes in public computer. One lesson: Always synchronize the content on your hard disk with the content on the internet.

If I reopen the site based on the content on my hard disk, I need to spend more time to update outdated pages and to build lost pages. I guess I won't be able to, cause I'm really busy right now.

After lots of consideration I have decided to close Planet of Wonders. Yes, the site is now officially dead.

Let's go back to the past shall we...

When the game Age of Wonders 2 was announced (on year 2000), there was no fan site around and the info was lacking. I decided to build a fan site with my limited HTML skills. I was really ambitious that time, my goal was to make the Planet of Wonders the biggest and most complete reference for AoW 2 related information. If you want it, you'll find it in Planet of Wonders.

Because of your support, this site thrived. Until VirtualAve closed it of course...

By being a webmaster of such a big site, I learned many things. First is responsibility and loyalty. Maintaining this site could take 2 hours a day, without anybody paying you money. Without the will to serve the community this site will be dead in no time. Second, I improve my journalistic skills by activities such as hunting news, interviewing people, and writing articles. Third, well, there are a lot more, but I'm wordless right now.

There is another excellent site for Age of Wonders 2 info and news. Go to Age of Wonders Heaven, our affiliate.

I would like to take this chance to thank Triumph Studios for developing such a promising game, to Age of Wonders Heaven for being our affiliate, and for everyone else for their support. I would also like to say good luck to Triumph Studios with their game Age of Wonders 2, and with their future.

If you still want to be in touch with me you can go to my other site, A Whole New World. Oh, and you can discuss about this site's death or give me last messages/notes here (AoW Heaven, please allow us to use your board :) ). Take care, good luck, and wish me luck.

Gamemania signing off...

PS: My last contribution to Planet of Wonders, the promised interview with Lennart Sas. Enjoy!

1)Many people have requested a campaign editor. Will there be one?

We are not sure whether or not it willl be present in the first release.

2)Why don't you use the normal (gaussian) distribution when calculating the chance of a successful attack? It would be much more realistic - maybe the most realistic (You could determine the deviation, the mean could be the difference of attack and defense - if the result is positive, it's a hit).

The new rolls are simple substractions. Also, the stat system now varies between 0 and 20, instead of 0 and 10.

3)Will Julia, or Meander return in the sequel?

Without spoiling too much of the story, I can tell you that Julia returns. She looks better then ever! :)

4)Will I be able to communicate with other players in a multiplayer game using my own language? In AoW that's impossible since a few (but important) coutry specific characters are missing.

We have the standard extended ASCII character set present in the English version now, which should work for most European languages.

5)Will there be a cap on the number of heroes so you cant have 3 guys conquer the map?

Yes there is a cap, heroes are upgraded within the limits of their classes now.

6)Can you actauly ally with the AI?

Yes. The diplomatic AI is getting a major overhaul.

7)Can you name the 12 races included?

Elves Dwarves Halflings Archons Humans Draconians Frostlings Tigrans Orcs Undead Goblins Dark Elves

8)Will it be possible to exchange cities, units, and magics?

Spell trading will be an important diplomatic option. We have to see about trading units and cities.

9)Could you give more information about the campaign? Will it be like AoW 1?

The AoW2 campaign will not be like AoW1's; it has better presentation, but therefore is more liniear. The campaign is focusses on magic, with the player first being initiated, and then master all the spheres of magic througout the campaign.

10)How will the magic system differs compared to the original AoW?

Lots of changes here: At the beginning of a scenario, the wizards chose a magical sphere where they practice in, each has a deep spell research tree. Spells can be cast within the player’s magical domain which is defined by the range around the wizard, the range around wizards towers, when the wizard is present a tower.

During the game, wizards can walk the lands exploring, or leading battles, but most will reside in the safety of their wizard’s towers, giving the ability aid armies by casting spells over distance and wield the most powerful of all spells: the domain enchantments. For example, a Death Wizard can wrap his domain in darkness, a fire wizard’s domain can engulf any intruder with fire, while a life wizard can have a healing aura protecting his armies.

Wizards will also be able to cast combat spells during battles taking place inside the wizard’s domain

Most scenarios start the player out with a basic tower in a small hamlet, but during the game players build and upgrade additional towers, which not only function as hideouts, but also bestow many bonuses to the domain that encircle them. Towers rise above cities as medieval cathedrals, which were the center of towns. Not only are these towers the most important landmarks inspiring the population, but they work as magical antennae, with the wizard’s spells being active within the towers’ ranges.

Heroes become a Wizard’s spearheads, as the allow magic to be cast outside of a player’s Magical Domain.