The unofficial patch is compatible with the Impulse download, as is the AoWI mod for Shadow Magic (which was more likely to not work, as it has a separate executable to launch it). The UPatch only changes resources that were normally mod-able, the diffrence between it and a mod is its resources are made default (and the 1.3 resources are listed as a selectable mod).

UPatch 1.4 link.

(The site has lots of other mods, maps, and other stuff; and there is another like it for AoWI)

For those that are confused, Shadow Magic is like an expansion for AoWII.

I recommend getting the Trilogy pack (link is somewhere on the thread); 1 and SM are worth getting and if you get the trilogy then 2 is not that much more than getting just the other two.

Am I the only one who can't get AoWII or SM through Impulse?  I follow the links and try to add the game to my cart, but it just says that my cart is empty no matter now often I try and add them.  I can add AoW to my cart just fine.

I'm thinking that they removed the ability for people to actually buy the games since they are only advertising AoWI and you can only find AoWI (and not AoWII or SM) with Impulse's built in search engine.  They really shouldnt even have the pages up if you can't actually purchase the games, but whatever.

LOL, looks like you're right.

http://www.impulsedriven.com/aowsm

I just tried visiting the Shadow Magic page and adding it to my cart and says "There are no items in your cart."  So looks like they changed it today.

I was able to order it last night and install it.  When I view the history, it shows that it's version 1.30.  I haven't played it yet though.

I still think it's crappy that they're selling AoW1 without mentioning the Trilogy (3 in 1) is going to be available.  Oh well... maybe it's a good thing cause it sounds like Shadow Magic is the best of the 3.  Sucks for the people who are buying AoW1 right now though.

I hope AOW SM is available soon, I still can't add it to my cart and I want it now.  (I have been looking for it for years but it is impossible to find)

AoW:SM is definitely playable.

I changed a bunch of settings the first time - increased the display mode to 1900x1200, checked "Allow Resolution Switches", checked "Use Direct3D" but wasn't able to watch the intro.  So I ended up resetting those options.  I put the display mode back to 1024x768 and unchecked the other two options.  Game runs fine.

Only problem I'm encountering is a BSOD (3x now) after exiting the game.  It's with the senfilt.sys which turns out is the sound card driver.  It's an integrated sound card which I've never found updated drivers for.  So updating it is not an option.  I'm going to try unchecking "Direct Sound" to see if that stops it.  Like I said, it's only when exiting the game when it occurs, otherwise the game runs great.

Speaking of the game...  I have to say for a game that was released in 2003, it still looks good and entertaining so far.  I can definitely recognize similarities between AoW:SM and Elemental.  I couldn't help compare some of the features and how it was implemented in Elemental.  All I'll say is I can see why fans of AoW might be vocal in their criticisms.

Just avoid AOW2 and you're fine.  That game gets completely overshadowed and made irrelevant by SM.

... unless you want to see the campaign's story; in that case wait for the package to be availible (which it will be).

I would avoid 1 and 2 and just get SM. AoW 1 was kind of like the paid beta version of the other 2.

Regarding the fan made patches, are they reasonable to use if you are playing through the campaigns? Or will they completely break them?

The UPatch does not cause trouble with single player balance; I have not tried any others extinsively. The configuration program lets you easily change rule sets so even if it does not work with the campaign.

AoW I is a seprate game from the other two. AoW:SM is a stand alone expansion for AoW II.

I hear there are problems switching rulesets for AoWI; I have not tried but I saw a post on another forum saying it made the game request the CD be inserted when using mods.

Right but AoW I was kind of like the first attempt which didn't work very well. It had an extremely bad release with crippling problems and while later patches improved things it was never able to quite recover from it. AoW II was kind of like how AoW I should have been if they had taken more time to get it right before releasing it.

AoW I was there first game they made, and that the others are better shows they learned from the experience. However, that does not mean it was a beta. It was its own game (as a note, even Shadow Magic has a number of unresolved bugs).

Man, I'm really disappointed Put off buying AOW:SM until today because I didn't have enough time to play it during the week.  Anyone know when it's going to be available?

Dunno, I'm having fun with the campaign in AOW wizard's throne.  I'm sure SM is better, but this one is enjoyable as well.

Well I meant it was beta in the sense that it was an incomplete and buggy game that was released before it was anywhere close to being ready. Not beta in the sense that it was a literal beta test. But in the end it kind of worked as a beta test for the much better games that came later, they got to see what worked and what didn't and make changes, something they never got to do in their initial rushed development cycle.

I enjoyed AOW more than I did AOW SM, but that's probably because I played AOW multiplayer only. There are ton of maps and mod still online for AOW over at http://aow.heavengames.com/ and AOW II, SM maps and mods http://aow2.heavengames.com/

They really need to make AOW 3.