Vastly expanding upon Age of Wonders III's empire-building foundation, Golden Realms delivers an enormous wealth of fresh content and mechanics. All of these exciting additions are woven throughout randomly generated maps, brand-new scenarios, and an original story campaign following Halfling survivors as they establish themselves in a perilous, treasure-laden frontier unlike anything seen before.

New Content Includes:

• The Halfling Race: The beloved small folk make their triumphant return, bringing with them new units, heroes, and leaders. Jesters launch dazzling firework displays to confuse and disorient enemies, while ale-wielding Brew Brothers hurl their trusty cleavers and keep Halfling forces well-nourished throughout long campaigns. Compatible with every available class, Halflings introduce the innovative Luck mechanic, granting them the ability to evade incoming strikes so long as their morale remains high.
  
• Golden Realms Campaign: Spanning three interconnected scenarios, this campaign tasks you with guiding the Halfling survivors of the tragic Heartwood Massacre as they forge a new empire in exotic, unfamiliar territory and ultimately face down an ancient, malevolent force.
  
• Exotic Map Locations: Seize control of the Naga Dwelling, inhabited by serpentine queens and towering man-snakes, and unearth remarkable treasure sites including the legendary Lost City, each offering substantial benefits to your growing empire.
  
• Over Twenty New Units: Face off against a colorful roster of exotic adversaries, including filth-hurling Dread Monkeys, enchanting Mermaids, and the terrifying Glutton, a monstrous creature capable of devouring entire regiments in a single bite.
  
• New Hero Items: Scattered throughout the Golden Realms are 50 brand-new magical artifacts waiting to be discovered and equipped. Harness the mysterious power of the Crystal Skull or don a flamboyant Witch Doctor's Headdress to blend in with the indigenous population.
  
• Wild Magic Specialization: Tap into the unpredictable power of wild magic to trigger spontaneous mutations, warp and distort equipment, and transform carefully structured battles into absolute pandemonium as the very fabric of combat bends and breaks.
  
• Partisan Specialization: Master the art of guerrilla warfare with an arsenal of new skills. Establish concealed hideouts deep within enemy territory and develop devastating ambush techniques to catch opponents completely off guard.
  
• Two Hand-Crafted Scenarios: Fully playable in both single-player and multiplayer modes, these standalone scenarios are purpose-built to showcase and highlight the exciting new features introduced in the Golden Realms expansion.

Features:

• Mystical City Upgrades: Arcane treasure sites situated within your domain unlock exclusive and powerful upgrades for nearby cities, elevating the strategic importance of city placement and specialization to new heights. For instance, founding a city adjacent to a Crystal Tree grants access to the Enchanted Armory, which provides significant reinforcement to your armored units.
  
• Empire Quests: Race to accomplish specific empire-building objectives before rival players to claim extraordinary rewards for your realm. This system introduces an engaging new layer of indirect competition between participants. Notable examples include the Eternal City quest, which rewards the first player to construct a metropolis with a breathtaking Monument, and the Prime Good and Evil quest, where the first ruler to reach maximum good or evil alignment receives a free party of champions matching that alignment.
  
• Seals of Power: A thrilling King of the Hill-inspired victory condition challenges players to capture and maintain control of the formidable Seals of Power structures. Hesitation is dangerous, however, as shattered seals draw powerful extra-dimensional entities determined to reclaim what is rightfully theirs.
  
• Defensive City Upgrades: Every race now possesses a distinctive defensive structure unique to their culture. The Draconians can erect a devastating Firestorm Pillar that engulfs attackers in flames, while Humans may construct a Bell Tower that rallies local citizens to unleash coordinated volleys against approaching enemies.

Random Map Generator: All newly introduced content and mechanics have been seamlessly integrated into the redesigned Random Map Generator.