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GamersInfo.net: Spellforce 2 is an RPG/RTS Hybrid. How does SpellForce 2 treat this hybrid? Is there more focus on RPG or on RTS this time around?

Phenomic: The main focus has been to create a harmonic synthesis of both genres. Many aspects of the game have been changed, so that both the RPG and the RTS feeling could be intensified and blended more seamlessly.

Unlike in classic RTS games, SpellForce 2 provides the player an RPG-deep story with a continuous flow and a variety of additional quests while simultaneously, strategic challenges can be experienced.

If you compare SpellForce 1 to SpellForce 2, the character development has been enhanced and streamlined. Previously, the player had to distribute points on skills and special abilities. Now we have a more user friendly skill tree, which allows the player to level in any chosen direction down the skill tree to get new skills or enhancing the existing ones, which gives him a lot more freedom for his avatar and still allows him clear view of where he wants to go with his character.

In addition, the development of heroes has changed completely. It's now more like a RPG, as the heroes play a major part in the storyline and have their own motives and goals. They will ask you for general orders at critical junctures during the level up, so you may decide for them to specialize in a certain area of magic for example. They are also staying with you during the whole campaign, making them even more customizable.

One of the most important changes in RTS Gameplay is its speed, which is now much faster in the build up phase than in SpellForce - The Order of Dawn. There will be less micro management for the resource gathering and a stronger focus on the units and combat. In essence we do not shift the focus between RPG and RTS so much as making sure the RPS gameplay becomes quicker and easier to pick up but at the same time offering depth and customization.

Moreover, the implemented enhancements in both the RTS and RPG parts allow hours of additional game experience due to the variability of missions and thus offer even higher replayability.

GamersInfo.net: Does SpellForce 2 continue the story from the original game and its expansions, which were never released in the US?

Phenomic: SpellForce 2 takes place five years after SpellForce - The Order of Dawn. The storyline does not tie in directly to the previous one but one may encounter some of the well-known heroes and of course you find yourself facing some of the races from the first game.

The most beautiful, perfect and deadly of the Dark Races, the Dark Elves, are threatening to overrun mankind. They concluded a Pact with the mysterious Shadows to combat together the people of light. You are one of the Shaikan, the legendary dragon warriors, which are attacked first in this beginning war and are threatened to be consumed by it.

You will have to resist the Invasion by fighting with your armies in monumental battles and leading the Avatar and his heroes in forging new alliances to combat the enemies! However you will soon come to realize that even more sinister forces are at work…

GamersInfo.net: Are there plans to release those expansions in the US so that American fans don't miss any of the story?

Phenomic: There are plans to release the expansions in the US market - still, for playing SpellForce 2, knowledge about the previous games won't be necessary.

Many changes and enhancements have been conceived, so that players who have played SpellForce already will certainly discover familiar and appreciated elements, but beyond it, discover a new game experience!

GamersInfo.net: What are the playable races for SpellForce 2? And can you tell us about the three factions: The Realm, The Clans and The Pact?

Phenomic: In SpellForce 2, there are three factions, each consisting of 3 races. The Realm comes with humans, elves and dwarves, The Clans consist of orcs, trolls and barbarians while The Pact features Dark elves, gargoyles and the shadows. In fact, the Dark elves and the shadows formed a pact and are using the enslaved Gargoyles as a third race in the battles.

Each of the three factions has cavalry, infantry and aerial units.

We also have some AI driven races that are not open to the player like Undead and Beastmen, which have their own bases.

GamersInfo.net: Are the Titans back for SpellForce 2? Can we expect anything new with them?

Phenomic: In SpellForce 2, we have a variety of very impressive titans, one for each faction. They are particularly powerful and expensive creatures. They are indispensable comrades in arms in the big battles and have special combat abilities enhancing other units. We will also have siege units that add a new element to the game, especially for multiplayer.

GamersInfo.net: How exactly does the cooperative multiplayer feature work? Can players team up to go through the game's regular campaign missions or is the co-op aspect merely the ability to join forces against the computer AI in skirmish-type games? How important is cooperative gameplay to the developers?

Phenomic: For SpellForce 2, the development of the multiplayer functionalities has been a major issue. A full strategic AI has been developed, which is not only used for the Skirmish mode, but also during campaigns and especially for the cooperative multiplayer.

Players can compete together with their friends against intelligent and adaptive enemy AI, or play in teams with AI against other players. You can experience "Player versus Player", "Player versus AI Player" or "Player versus Monster" games in over 30 multi-player maps. The Co-op mode is accessible to the player starting with a quest based special co-op campaign. A new, randomly generated loot and a wealth of items provides further variety and longevity especially in co-op multiplayer mode.

With additionally offered replay functionalities, you can analyze your tactics later on and optimize your strategies. You will even have the possibility to download replays from other players and observe the strategies of the best!

The greatest thing however is your avatar and heroes, which can be used in RPG as well as RTS style games, so you never know what your enemy will be fielding when you go against him - does he have 5 powerful elemental mages or a versatile crew of fighters, archers, healers and necromancers? This is a completely new approach to multiplayer which will allow the "continuity" of RPG with leveling up, hunting items etc to combine with the fast fun of a RTS.

GamersInfo.net: Does SpellForce 2 use the same game engine as its predecessors?

Phenomic: For SpellForce 2, we used a new engine, offering highly-detailed and carefully designed fantasy environments, with animations for even the smallest detail and amazing effects for light and shadows. Heroes and creatures are of course lighted individually with the ground colors reflecting on the players figure. It might be of interest to mention that the Titans consist of a whopping over 4000 polygons which is a level of detail seen in few in RTS.

Beyond the requirement for latest graphics technology, another important aspect for the new engine was to allow the game to run just as well on older computers. The current aim is 1,5 Ghz CPU, 512 MB RAM and a GeForce 3 as minimum specs.

GamersInfo.net: Are there any plans to release a map editor, campaign editor or any other mod tools?

Phenomic: We are going to improve support for editors and make creating maps much easier - just how much, we need to see further down in development.

GamersInfo.net: Can you give us a clue as to when we might see SpellForce 2 on store shelves?

Phenomic: Well, we do not want to promise too much, but you may want to reserve a top space on your wish list for Santa.

GamersInfo.net: Thanks for answering my questions. I, for one, am eager to get my hands on this game!