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This is the homepage for Implode's Multiplayer Edition of Microprose/Simtex's classic game 'Master of Magic'. I am writing a client/server multiplayer version of the game, totally from scratch, because I still believe this is one of the most superbly well thought out and designed games, but suffered from a few killer bugs (the worst being the Raise Dead spell) and the lack of a Multiplayer mode. At first I just started playing around with trying to write a map generator that would produce MoM-like maps and never really knew how far I'd take this pet project, but then I added a bit more, and a bit more, and now 2 years down the line I'm very close to having a proper playable multiplayer version :-D

What I am aiming for with my version is to have a MoM game that:

• Runs on modern versions of Windows
• Can be played Multiplayer, Single Player or any combination of human and AI players
• Is Client/Server architecture (this simplifies the network connection architecture no end, and allows players both inside and outside of a LAN to be in the same game)
• Is fully multi-language, new languages can be added without having to recompile the code, and players playing in different languages can play together in a game without even needing to know what language the other players are using
• Has a central hosting server where players can look for multiplayer games to join
• Uses all the original graphics, sound and music (or at least graphics, sound and music closely based on the original) so that in every respect it looks and feels exactly like the original MoM
• Runs in 640x480 rather than 320x200 using the original size graphics, so you can see more of the overland map at a time (may eventually run in other screen resolutions/window sizes as well)
• Can use any map size (within reason)
• Can play up to 14 player games (so one player can play each of the pre-defined wizards)
• Supports simultaneous turns, so you don't have to wait ages while other human players take their turns in between each of your turns - all players allocate moves at the same time and once everyone has finished, the server resolves all the movement at once (this is the only way big multiplayer games will ever be bearable)
• Has a proper Fog of War (in the original MoM, you can see changes to enemy cities even if you don't have anyone close by looking at the city anymore)
• Is totally configurable via an XML file and game options (e.g. you can add new pre-defined wizards, units, buildings, races and certain types of spells)
• Sends all configuration data from the server when you join a game - so if someone does a mod to the XML configuration, they don't need to distribute it in order to people to join games on their server
• Will form the basis of a more generic turn based game engine that I can use to develop other games

I'm not trying to be competitive with any of the other home or commercial attempts at rewrites, in fact I think we've all got more to gain by helping each other out, so I'd love to hear from and compare notes with anyone else attempting a similar project.

I'd love to hear feedback, do come discuss MoM IME on the forum or drop me an e-mail at momime at roughseas dot ca.

You must have the original Master of Magic game patched to v1.31, or at least a copy of all the LBX files from original MoM v1.31. MoM IME needs to know the location of your original Master of Magic game installation so that it can use the LBX files, read 'Installation' below for how to set this up.

You must have DirectX 9.0 installed. If you don't have this you can download it from Microsoft. The client should now be fully tolerant of older graphics cards that e.g. only accept power-of-two size textures, or have other limitations. If you find the client will not run or the graphics are all corrupted, MoM IME 0.9.0 now includes a "Direct 3D Caps Reporter" on the start menu. Run this, follow the instructions and email the output to me and I will try to look at it and see if I can fix the problem.

Desktop resolution set to 800x600 or higher (the server New Game form is larger than 640x480. It is technically possible to run the client in 640x480 providing you immediately switch to full screen mode, but I don't advise it).

Desktop colours set to at least 16 bit.

For more details on requirements and recommended PC specs, read the FAQ that is installed along with the game.

The installer is a standard Microsoft Installation (.msi) file (link in download section below). To install and get it set up: 1) Click the link, download the file and either save it to a location and then double click it or open it directly; 2) Follow the standard installation procedure; 3) Before attempting to run the Client you must run the "Set location of original Master of Magic 1.31 LBX files" option added to your Start Menu to tell it where to find all the LBX files from (you only need to do this once). To then start a game, run the Server (you don't need to do anything in the Server - just have it running), then run the Client, pick the Connect to Server option, connect to "localhost" (assuming both are running on the same PC), then use the New Game menu option, set the number of players and click OK to start the game. If you specified any human opponents, then the game won't start until the correct number of additional players have joined.

Versions past 0.7.0 should install nicely over the top of the previous version, performing a straightforward update. Versions 0.6.0 and earlier should be uninstalled before installing a new version (because I used an older install engine for those).

Visit the downloads page to find the latest version.