Thank you for the update!

Would it be possible to adjust that to a non-shared Global Mana Pool, with Non-Channeler casters having their own individual mana pools? I just fear that there will likely be yet another uproar over that detail, to match the uproar over the To-Hit stat in the tactical combat system.

There is a decent discussion going on about this in the "Global Mana Pool Design Revealed' thread.

There also is no talk of NOT fixing the tech tree or including map generator. On the other hand, there is talk of "Lots of other goodies which we'll discuss later" which very well may contain just that. You also have NO idea what expansion 2 will contain, as there are no details as of today, yet already you know that most you can hope for after 2 expansions is 'a game that would be fine at release'?

For some people, the glass is always half-empty i guess.

What about to improve multiplayer some day?.

- Customizable characters

- Big size maps

- Tactical combat as an option

- Save game in multiplayer

A good multiplayer enlarges the game's life.

Any word on when some APIs for the AI would be available?

There is a painfully simple fix for the issue of   "Instant AOE spell annihilation in the first combat round".

Casting time.
Chain lightning or comparable large scale spells would require more than 1 turn to cast them.
That gives the opponent an opportunity to interrupt the caster with ranged damage or stun/freeze/damage spells.
Of course, a high level wizard would be more difficult to interrupt than an apprentice but that's details.

A large troop concentration would not automatically be at the mercy of an enemy caster.
If you see that caster start chanting, something big is going to come your way... presently.  So maybe scattering might be a good idea?

That adds a very important balancing factor to tactical spells.   High payload spells like Chain Lightning would include the risk of not casting at all.
There could also be a higher level and more expensive Fireball spell. It wouldn't do much more damage but be an instant spell while the basic Fireball takes 1 extra round of casting.
That way the power of spells can be balanced with "opportunity" and it doesn't all have to be cost vs damage.

We'd have some interesting magical duels then instead of granting an instant win to whoever gets to move first.

It's not coming, ever. They're going a different route.

I'm going to have to say that I share the same sentiment of fear, although I would phrase it less trollish.

Thus, translated; It is important to me as a player that you also place quite a bit of focus on creating additional content for the game - not just mechanics. Races that are unique, instead of carbon copies, would be a start. And no, I definitely WOULDN'T count campaign maps into this, unless they're significantly different from sandbox and last more than 1-2 hours.

Will these so-called "expansions" be independent of one another?  I like the sounds of the version 1.A "expansion" but I don't want 1.1

Frankly, I don't think you have a clue what you're doing with this game!  Your ideas regarding the global mana system sound incredibly stupid and not fun.  I don't want to have LESS FUN with the game.  When I first heard the term "global mana pool" I didn't like the sounds of it, but reading more about what is intended (Frogboy's posts on the matter) have really given me a terrible impression and taken what "faith" I had that the game will get better over time.

I liked the game in its release version, despite the major problems it had.  I spent a lot of time playing around those problems and enjoying myself for the most part.  Then the multiplayer patch completely failed to provide any kind of multiplayer I would want to play, PLUS it broke many key aspects of the game and I had to wait an awful long time for that to be fixed. 

I don't want to be a tester anymore.  I like the game and I think I will simply give up all hope of it getting better because it seems it's only going to get worse--especially with that 1.1 bullshit.

If these so called expansions are independent and one can skip the 1.1 global mana bullshit, then I might try 1.A after I've read how others feel about their test experience.

That only reverses the problem of instant annihilation in the first round.  It's neither fun nor "tactical" if a defending stack becomes unattackable.
Instant win for the defender is not preferrable to instant win for the attacker. *shrug*

Ok, so the expansions are going to be free.  That's been stated before.  Are the expansions going to download automatically for the people that bought the game early?  Will Impulse just know that I bought the game early and allow me to download the expansion?  I'm not sure where my receipt is.  I had to buy the game through Amazon as Gamestop and Best Buy didn't have Elemental and they hadn't even heard of it.

AOW system worked fine.  It's ok if the attacker loses a few units before he can fight, just not instant doom.

You should also be allowed to use strategic magic to soften up defenders, such as earthquakes, or siege such as catapults/ballistas/cannons.

Krauser: my guess is first expansion will be patch.

Second expansion those who bought will get a code in their emails.  Not 100% sure, but that's the most likely way.  You will have had to have activated the game on Impulse before 10/31 though.

For those worrying about additional content:

a) It's more important to get the base right first

There's no rule that says a game can't have more then 2 expansions.  Paradox's on its 4th XP now for EUIII.