You wander through vast landscapes controlling your character in an angled camera 3D perspective view. Unlike Etherlords, Etherlords II allows you to control one character throughout the game. Miscellaneous combat with baddies that are randomly spread throughout as well as quests that you can complete via NPCs allow you to gain experience and loot. Taking a page out of the classic RPG book, Etherlords II surrounds you with hundreds of optional quests as well as the more defined and usually more complex required quests which must be completed to progress in the game. As usual, the completion of optional quests will allow your character to build experience and arsenal which will in the long run make the game easier and more entertaining.