So after searching for this came up with two dead threads, I figure a combined thread about both games and the universe is warranted. For those of you not in the know, Eador is basically like Heroes of Might and Magic on steroids, and not simplified in the least. Or, rather, Eador: Genesis isn't simplified. Masters of the Broken World may or may not be, but according to some beta footage off youtube, they both look rather deep. For information on how to buy these games, go to
http://www.gog.com/gamecard/eador_genesis and
http://www.gog.com/gamecard/eador_masters_of_the_broken_world, for Genesis and MotBW, respectively. You can also get the games off steam, but GOG doesn't have DRM so it's a no-brainer for me.
On that note, here's my analysis:
What Eador has:
Eador has size. Lots of size: Even the tiny worlds (or shards) are huge, in a sense. Each of the provinces are randomly selected and placed, and each can be considered a world of it's own. For example, you may explore a province until that province is 100% explored, and find various random events and even dungeons in there. It is to be noted that you cannot dungeon dive, like in a roguelike or adventure game. But you can make your heroes enter and fight the monsters/brigands there, and get loot and XP. Exploring grants XP as well, so do it often. Another benefit to exploration is that the population can expand into explored territory, but can't with unexplored.
Eador has detail. When you conquer a province without negotiating, the people of the province may grow discontent and may rebel against your rule. As such, it is a good idea to be nice to your people, in random events and with rituals such as extravaganza. In masters of the world the game has a karma system, and while I'm unclear on the long term consequences for being evil, I know that in immediate terms your populace may grow rebellious. Aside from good or bad, Eador has stamina, and good use of stamina and the statistics is critical to winning battles.
Eador has difficulty. My god is this game hardcore. You can, of course, go back in time, but the game includes, at least in Genesis, a penalty for going back each turn. This penalty applies to the metagame of the game, so be careful.
Eador is not:
Eador is NOT casual, and NOT simple. It's a deep game, and a very hard one at that. Do keep that in mind if you intend to buy it.
Eador (Genesis) is NOT graphically intensive, and as such can be run on a number of PC's, but it lacks quality in this department.
[End Analysis]
On that note, discuss this great series.