Age of Wonders 4 takes its empires onto The Silver Seas

Cities move offshore

The Silver Seas expansion for Age of Wonders 4 arrived on November 3. Triumph Studios describes its Mercantile Culture as a way to establish cities at sea and develop floating strongholds. Its two branches pursue different pirate fantasies: the Cartel emphasises secrecy and smuggling, while the Barony uses wealth, imports and bounties. Sharkkin and Aqualon add aquatic forms for an empire's population. Director Tom Bird credits player suggestions with helping shape the expansion.

A new setting for a flexible strategy game

The underlying game combines empire management with tactical battles resolved in turns. Its official product description puts faction creation at the centre: players combine physical forms, social traits and magical powers, then change their people further through discoveries in magical tomes. Campaign decisions can produce different armies and approaches to expansion rather than a single fixed faction identity.

That background explains why an ocean theme can affect more than the map's appearance. Choosing a people, a culture and a route through magical development already forms part of a campaign's character. Players interested in the expansion can compare its cultural identity with the empires they already enjoy, while newcomers should first consider whether they want the base game's combination of long-term planning and separate battlefield decisions.