History VideoGame / MasterOfMagic

** With a single exception (Barbarians), Dark Elves are at least as bad as Klackons for ruling over other races (or being ruled by them), and in many cases are worse. Even the peaceful [[{{Hobbits}} Halflings]] don't enjoy their reign.

*** TheKingdom: High Men are standard fantasy humans, notable for being [[HumanityIsAdvanced a highly-advanced civilization]] whose technology is only equalled by Orcs, with their nation defended by knightly {{Paladin}} cavalry and skilled Pikeman footsoldiers. [[HumansAreAverage They're one of the more balanced races in the game.]]

{{Stardock}} was in talks as of 2007 to make a sequel, ''Master of Magic 2'', but these talks broke down. Instead, they made a SpiritualSuccessor, ''[[ElementalWarOfMagic Elemental - War of Magic]]'', which has been released in 2010.

And yet another SpiritualSuccessor is in the works, called ''[[http://myworldsofmagic.com/ Worlds of Magic]]'', which is more of a lawyer friendly remake of ''Magic of Magic'' instead of being "inspired". However, the critical reception has not been kind.

''Master of Magic'' only held together after patching - in the pre-WWW era - and has more [[GameBreaker GameBreakers]] than you can shake a stick at, but is still fresh and offers numerous things to fiddle with. The in-game help system is marvelous. The game remains appreciated and has the odd SpiritualSuccessor, particularly the ''AgeOfWonders'' series, which is similar in having tactical combat, ItemCrafting and "research from random spellbook" approach, but weaker non-linearity factors.

* FightsLikeANormal: Life armies. Other forms of magic often phase out normal humanoid units to a greater or lesser extent in the midgame in favor of summoned monsters, but Life has only a handful of summons and they aren't designed to be made into armies. Instead, Life magic focuses on raising and buffing Normal Units, resulting in endgame armies of normal men supported by magic, but fighting with mail and steel instead of dragon-fire or sorcerous lightning.

*** BornInTheSaddle: Nomads are a nation of horsemen and [[ProudMerchantRace merchants who get extra income from trade routes]]. Instead of regular cavalry, however, they get [[HorseArcher Horsebowmen]].

** To a certain extent, the lowly spearmen as well. Their base stats are pathetic beyond reason, but they require zero gold upkeep (only eating one food per turn), and having just one in a city is enough to allow you to defend the city yourself with magic. Finally, spearmen units come with more figures than most other unit types, so they get more benefit from attack enhancements than an equivalent unit of swordsmen.

** OurOrcsAreDifferent: Instead of being TheHorde-like, they are a fully civilized race with access to engineers, universities and cathedrals (among other things). They can build every building in the game and have [[JackOfAllStats no particular specialty]], and their normal units are the baseline from which other races' units vary.

* XMeetsY: ''VideoGame/{{Civilization}}'' meets ''TabletopGame/MagicTheGathering''.

** Most of the races that can't research effectively get a lot of flak for it from players. Those who swear by such races expect to make up for it by using their race in an early ZergRush and conquering themselves an empire that ''can'' research.

* GrandVizierJafar: Here he is an Alchemist Sorcerer with the nasty habit of casting Time Stop.

* AllInTheManual: The Prima Guide for ''Master of Magic'' is one of the best computer game guides ever - some people just bought the game after reading the guide.

* BugWar: What happens when you get involved in hostilities with the Klackons.

* [[LethalJokeCharacter Lethal Joke Race]]: Most of the races that can't research effectively get a lot of flak for it from players. Those who swear by such races expect to make up for it by using their race in an early ZergRush and conquering themselves an empire that ''can'' research.

** OurDwarvesAreAllTheSame: Their only distinct feature is that one of their units, the hammerhands, have hammers instead of hands. Also, they manage to be a HigherTechSpecies without actually being good researchers or scientists; their knowledge of steam and machinery is a part of their racial tradition, and they disdain science in favor of "practical knowledge."

** AllTrollsAreDifferent: Tall, regenerating brutes.

** OurDwarvesAreAllTheSame: Their only distinct feature is that one of their units, the hammerhands, have hammers instead of hands.

** OurOrcsAreDifferent: Instead of being TheHorde-like, they are basically no different than other civilized races. They are the only race who can build all types of buildings and have no specialty.

Another SpiritualSuccessor has been released in May of 2012, this time by Paradox and InoCo, titled ''Warlock: Master of the Arcane'', which uses a hex-grid map and combat system very similar to ''VideoGame/{{Civilization}} V'', while changing the setting to the ''{{Majesty}}'' universe of Ardania.

* {{Merlin}}: Here he is a Sage Master (25% bonus to Research) and uses Life and Nature magic.

* XMeetsY: ''VideoGame/{{Civilization}}'' meets ''MagicTheGathering''.

* XMeetsY: ''Franchise/{{Civilization}}'' meets ''MagicTheGathering''.

{{Stardock}} was in talks as of 2007 to make a sequel, ''Master of Magic 2'', but these talks broke down. Instead, they made a SpiritualSuccessor, [[ElementalWarOfMagic Elemental - War of Magic]], which has been released in 2010.

And yet another SpiritualSuccessor is in the works, called ''[[http://myworldsofmagic.com/ Worlds of Magic]]'', which is more of a lawyer friendly remake of ''Magic of Magic'' instead of being "inspired". It is available via [[http://store.steampowered.com/app/265970 Steam Early Access]].

* EldritchAbomination: The Chaos Spawn. It flies, [[PowerFloats but has no wings]]. It is a ball of... flesh?... and a bunch of eyes (yes, like a [[DungeonsAndDragons beholder]]). It [[EyeBeams attacks by looking]] at its target. It has some of the worst attack stats in the game, but the negative effects it causes with those attacks are [[StandardStatusEffects crippling]] and [[OneHitKill fatal]]. Unfortunately, it's a GlassCannon that can't even make ranged attacks, making it AwesomeButImpractical. Rare for abominations, really...