Hey everyone! This is my first post on the forum, so greetings to all fellow realm-shapers and strategists! I've been a huge fan of Age of Wonders 4 and after putting way too many hours into it (no regrets!), I finally decided to turn my wishlist ideas into something a bit more structured—what started as scattered thoughts has now grown into a full expansion proposal. I'm calling it "Web of Shadows", and it's all about diplomacy, stealth, and dark intrigue. It’s my take on what Expansion Pass 3 could look like if we dive deeper into the darker side of diplomacy and bring back some Rogue vibes from previous games. Fingers crossed some of this inspires future content—hope you enjoy the concept!
Age of Wonders 4: Web of Shadows – Expansion Pass 3 Proposal
"Where diplomacy is shadowplay, and peace is just another kind of control."
Web of Shadows is introducing a new Culture steeped in espionage, manipulation, and diplomacy—wrapped in gothic, Slavic, and Victorian flair. This expansion leans deeply into Dark and Materium affinities and reimagines the legacy of the Rogue faction from previous Age of Wonders titles.
The new Veiled Council Culture—split into two distinct Subcultures: Mediators and Puppeteers—offers divergent paths to victory, whether through noble diplomacy or sinister subterfuge.
New Culture: Veiled
Core Mechanics:
Affinity: Dark + Materium
Theme: Espionage, Influence, High Diplomacy, and Intrigue
Playstyle: Stealth, fast movement, manipulation of world events and relationships
Unique Mechanics:
Begins with extra Whispering Stones
Can construct Embassies in the capitals of other factions or Free Cities
Unique Diplomatic Ops Panel allowing for:
Sabotage treaties
Stage grievances
Spread rumors (to increase tension between others)
Can unlock enemy Tier III units via High Diplomacy or Infiltration, depending on chosen Subculture
Subcultures
1. Mediators
Inspiration: UN-style global peacekeepers, noble diplomats, Arcane monks
Philosophy: Peace through understanding, balance, and strategic alliances
Gameplay:
Focuses on open diplomatic relations and grievance mediation
Gains diplomatic bonuses and additional Prestige
Can reduce War Exhaustion across the realm
Easier integration of Free Cities and vassals
Tier III Unit:
Mediator – a powerful crowd-control support unit with high morale aura, mass pacify, and zone denial spells
2. Puppeteers:
Inspiration: Secret societies, shadow governments, manipulators in the dark
Philosophy: Power through manipulation, conflict orchestration, and proxy wars
Gameplay:
Gains influence when other factions go to war
Can secretly incite rebellions in enemy provinces
Special actions: Forge grievances, frame factions, or tamper with alliances
High infiltration enables the recruitment of enemy Tier III units as your own
Tier III Unit:
Shadowblade (or Rogue) – a deadly rogue-assassin with Shadowblend, Poison Blades, and Blink Strike
Faction's Units:
Scout: Grimbeak Crow - A magical crow with recon, concealment detection, and high movement
I Outcast - Light-armored skirmisher, good in ambushes
I Ranger - Ranged unit, can deploy traps and camouflage
II Warden - Shielded heavy unit with a taunt and defensive aura
III M Mediator - Support, CC-heavy, boosts diplomacy standing in battles
III P Shadowblade (or Rogue) - Assassin with shadow stealth and anti-leader burst damage
Architecture & Aesthetic
Style: Gothic Slavic-Victorian fusion
Dark timber buildings, tall iron fences- Witcher III, Bloodborne, Van Helsing and Dishonored vibes.
New Racial Forms:
When thinking about race forms to match the theme of Web of Shadows, I wanted something that reflected the dual nature of the new culture—its light and dark sides. On the one hand, we have the Satyrs, inspired by Greek mythology—half-human, half-goat (or bovine, if you want a minotaur twist). They embody the Mediator subculture’s focus on diplomacy, harmony, and charisma. Satyrs feel naturally attuned to fostering peace, negotiating with Free Cities, and celebrating alliances. On the other hand, we have the Arachnids—sinister, humanoid spiders with multiple arms, customizable abdomens, and eerie eight-eyed faces. They're perfect for the Puppeteer side—stealthy, manipulative, and built for underground and urban infiltration.
Arachnids - Humanoid spiders with:
- Two sets of arms
- Large eight-eyed spider heads
- Optional abdomen customization (silk sacs, spikes, or venomous traits)
Satyrs - Greek-inspired half-goat (or cow, for Minotaur variant)
In the end, this is just an idea I had bouncing around in my head that I thought would be cool to share with fellow players. I love the mix of diplomacy and sneaky rogue gameplay. Hope you all enjoy the concept as much as I enjoyed putting it together. What kind of Tomes of Magic do you all think would fit with this expansion theme?
Age of Wonders 4: Web of Shadows – Expansion Pass 3 Proposal
"Where diplomacy is shadowplay, and peace is just another kind of control."
Web of Shadows is introducing a new Culture steeped in espionage, manipulation, and diplomacy—wrapped in gothic, Slavic, and Victorian flair. This expansion leans deeply into Dark and Materium affinities and reimagines the legacy of the Rogue faction from previous Age of Wonders titles.
The new Veiled Council Culture—split into two distinct Subcultures: Mediators and Puppeteers—offers divergent paths to victory, whether through noble diplomacy or sinister subterfuge.
New Culture: Veiled
Core Mechanics:
Affinity: Dark + Materium
Theme: Espionage, Influence, High Diplomacy, and Intrigue
Playstyle: Stealth, fast movement, manipulation of world events and relationships
Unique Mechanics:
Begins with extra Whispering Stones
Can construct Embassies in the capitals of other factions or Free Cities
Unique Diplomatic Ops Panel allowing for:
Sabotage treaties
Stage grievances
Spread rumors (to increase tension between others)
Can unlock enemy Tier III units via High Diplomacy or Infiltration, depending on chosen Subculture
Subcultures
1. Mediators
Inspiration: UN-style global peacekeepers, noble diplomats, Arcane monks
Philosophy: Peace through understanding, balance, and strategic alliances
Gameplay:
Focuses on open diplomatic relations and grievance mediation
Gains diplomatic bonuses and additional Prestige
Can reduce War Exhaustion across the realm
Easier integration of Free Cities and vassals
Tier III Unit:
Mediator – a powerful crowd-control support unit with high morale aura, mass pacify, and zone denial spells
2. Puppeteers:
Inspiration: Secret societies, shadow governments, manipulators in the dark
Philosophy: Power through manipulation, conflict orchestration, and proxy wars
Gameplay:
Gains influence when other factions go to war
Can secretly incite rebellions in enemy provinces
Special actions: Forge grievances, frame factions, or tamper with alliances
High infiltration enables the recruitment of enemy Tier III units as your own
Tier III Unit:
Shadowblade (or Rogue) – a deadly rogue-assassin with Shadowblend, Poison Blades, and Blink Strike
Faction's Units:
Scout: Grimbeak Crow - A magical crow with recon, concealment detection, and high movement
I Outcast - Light-armored skirmisher, good in ambushes
I Ranger - Ranged unit, can deploy traps and camouflage
II Warden - Shielded heavy unit with a taunt and defensive aura
III M Mediator - Support, CC-heavy, boosts diplomacy standing in battles
III P Shadowblade (or Rogue) - Assassin with shadow stealth and anti-leader burst damage
Architecture & Aesthetic
Style: Gothic Slavic-Victorian fusion
Dark timber buildings, tall iron fences- Witcher III, Bloodborne, Van Helsing and Dishonored vibes.
New Racial Forms:
When thinking about race forms to match the theme of Web of Shadows, I wanted something that reflected the dual nature of the new culture—its light and dark sides. On the one hand, we have the Satyrs, inspired by Greek mythology—half-human, half-goat (or bovine, if you want a minotaur twist). They embody the Mediator subculture’s focus on diplomacy, harmony, and charisma. Satyrs feel naturally attuned to fostering peace, negotiating with Free Cities, and celebrating alliances. On the other hand, we have the Arachnids—sinister, humanoid spiders with multiple arms, customizable abdomens, and eerie eight-eyed faces. They're perfect for the Puppeteer side—stealthy, manipulative, and built for underground and urban infiltration.
Arachnids - Humanoid spiders with:
- Two sets of arms
- Large eight-eyed spider heads
- Optional abdomen customization (silk sacs, spikes, or venomous traits)
Satyrs - Greek-inspired half-goat (or cow, for Minotaur variant)
In the end, this is just an idea I had bouncing around in my head that I thought would be cool to share with fellow players. I love the mix of diplomacy and sneaky rogue gameplay. Hope you all enjoy the concept as much as I enjoyed putting it together. What kind of Tomes of Magic do you all think would fit with this expansion theme?
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