By introducing unique RPG-inspired classes and specializations, players are able to craft empires of their own design, developing unique strategies and play styles. The world-changing conflict plays out on sweeping landscapes, loaded with mythical locations waiting to be uncovered, conquered and exploited.

In Age of Wonders III, we extrapolate RPG style classes to be the leaders of fantasy empires. For example: as a Goblin Theocrat you can build your own holy empire, recruit little goblin crusaders or cute winged goblin angels equipped with flaming weapons, and wage war on your heathen enemies. We want players to be able to choose between lots of different play styles, without being restricted by fantasy clichés, like All Goblins Are Evil.

The new engine truly reflects the choices players have made by affecting how their realm and units are represented. It makes the gameplay on both the strategic and battle maps more immersive than ever, while retaining the gameplay and feel of the previous games.

"Rogue Lords are masters of stealth, manipulation and theft. Any foolish citizen who makes trouble, disappears without a whisper in the middle of the night. Rogues employ charm, poison, assassinations, and the magic of the shadows to appease their subjects and manipulate rival leaders. Rogues have two faces: one they wear in public, while the other is a ruthless schemer behind closed doors, directing sinister forces that wait in shadow for the perfect moment to strike." --"Gifted Lords of the Third Age" - by Ralinstone Pedant, Chronicler

Age of Wonders III introduces RPG-style class-based character building to the strategy genre. The leader persona of the players, consisting of a main class, race, and specializations, forms the heart of their realm. RPG style skills are extrapolated to affect a whole empire. Leader characters range from Elven Princesses and to Machiavellian Rogues and ruthless Warlords. Today we reveal details of the Rogue class.

Examples of Rogue Class Units include:

• Scoundrel – The dirt fighting henchmen of the Rogue with the ability to climb fortifications.
• Succubus – Corrupted seductress built at cities from one of the main races.  (Yes – we also have Dwarven Succubi with beards). Can convert units on the battlefield.
• Shadow Stalker -  Incorporeal monster of elemental darkness.  Has protection against physical weapons.

Rogue Skill Examples:

• Mass Battlefield Panic – Attempt to panic all enemy units on the battlefield. Units that were not Panicked are Hindered instead. Panicked units don't obey orders and attempt to flee from enemies or escape the battlefield.
• Night Wish - The caster's domain is shrouded in a sinister darkness and becomes unexplored for other players and all units suffer a vision range penalty.
• Rain of Poison Blades - Rains down armor piercing blades covered in poison.
• Plague of Brigands - Infiltrates the domain of a target enemy city with brigands that attack everything within sight.

The Rogue Class can be mixed with any of the six races and can be further augmented using specializations leading to additional magical skills.