Conquest of Elysium II Windows, Mac, Linux game

Behold the lands of Elysium before you! Marshal your armies, o conqueror, and let all who would oppose you taste the steel and flame that you wield. Let them tremble when your name is whispered on the wind, and cower in their hovels when kissed by your shadow. Go now, and make an empire in your image. Go now, and let the conquest of Elysium begin!

Originally released in 1997, Conquest of Elysium II is a turn-based fantasy strategy game, and the precursor to the wildly popular Dominions series. As one of up to eight players (human, computer controlled, or a mixture) your goal, as suggested in the title, is very simple: total subjugation of all that do not fly your banner!

Choose your leader from twenty distinct character classes, including brutal barbarians, insane necromancers, mighty maharajas, sinister shamans, and even the Agarthan king from Dominions 3! Each character allows new strategies for the player to explore. The Priestess of Baal can summon demonic creatures, change the weather, and sacrifice the innocent. An Enchanter can create constructs out of corpses, lakes, forests, and more. Barons can build siege towers, raise levies, and keep his subjects in line, even in times of high taxation.

The world itself is ever changing with each new game. Worlds can be entirely randomly created, or players can customize the world creation, tailoring the world to the experience you want to play. Create maps that range from small to large, from thick with trees and mountains to barren steppes and plains, and even dictate the type of society.

Much like the ages in Dominions, Conquest of the Elysium II's societies alter how the game unfolds. Play in the Dark Ages and find the ruins of lost civilizations scattered about the lands, while mankind huddles in tiny villages. Or mayhap the Empire suits your play style. Great cities abound as man sprawls across the world, but trouble brews in the north as barbarian hordes make their presence felt. Each society reflects the strength of magic, the influence of civilization, and the might of man.

When battle is joined it is not only against those who are also seeking to command the realms, but also against the foul denizens that answer to no ruler. Numbering over three hundred unique types, the independent creatures players will engage boast a total of one hundred different special abilities, making each encounter new and exciting.

Combine the twenty character classes, the randomly generated worlds, over three hundred monsters, and plenty of surprises, and you'll find that Conquest of Elysium II is a game with hard drive staying power that can be replayed again and again, providing players with an unique experience each and every time.

And it's FREE! That's right, all this action will not cost you a single dollar, peso, euro, or pound. Consider it a gift from Illwinter Game Design and Shrapnel Games. Now you can discover how one of the most regarded fantasy series came to be.

• Turn-based, fantasy strategy.
• Playable on Windows, OS X, and Linux.
• 1-8 players, computer or human. (Note: Multiplayer only possible via hotseat play).
• Randomly created worlds, including the ability to influence what type of world is generated.
• Twenty different character classes of either sword or spell. Each class provides its own unique strengths and weaknesses.
• Six different societies, allowing a variety of play styles. Choose from uncivilized societies steeped in magic, to feudal societies that rule from massive stone fortresses.
• Over 300 different monsters to slay with 100 different special abilities.
• Recruit troops, tax the populace, and discover the mysteries of the world.
• Absolutely FREE!