Age of Wonders 4 places its focus on faction and world customisation. The next decision is to select a kind of culture: are my toads a war-loving tribe of barbarians, or are they mystics who are attuned to special astral echoes that only they can see? Culture can then be tuned by selecting up to two society traits, which further shape the faction’s strategic options and limitations. The evening light in the desert casts sharp shadows on ruin walls as armies of necromancer rats hurl glowing green balls of sickly energy at the defenders, and I’m content to gaze down on my creation as only an inept prankster god can