; ▁as ▁of ▁November ▁ 2 0 0 6 , ▁three ▁have ▁been ▁published ▁in ▁Russia . ▁ ▁Plot ▁ ▁Game play ▁Hero es ▁of ▁An nih il ated ▁Emp ires ▁has ▁four ▁play able ▁races : ▁the ▁El ves ▁( S ylvan ▁Fol k ), ▁the ▁Und ead ▁( Leg ions ▁of ▁Ash es ), ▁the ▁Mechan icians ▁( D war ves ▁who ▁use ▁machines ), ▁and ▁the ▁Cry o ▁Race ▁( bar b ari ans ▁with ▁a ▁special ty ▁in ▁cold ▁magic ) ▁also ▁a ▁fifth ▁race ▁is ▁available ▁through ▁a ▁mod ▁from ▁the ▁G SC ▁forum ▁called ▁S ols ▁( E gypt ian ▁Fire ▁Mag icians ). ▁The ▁player ▁can ▁select ▁one ▁of ▁three ▁hero ▁types : ▁War rior , ▁R anger , ▁and ▁M age . ▁When ▁a ▁game ▁begins , ▁the ▁player ▁can ▁cast ▁a ▁spell ▁called ▁" R ally ▁Tro ops " ▁to ▁turn ▁the ▁hero ▁into ▁a ▁statue ▁for ▁ 3 0 ▁minutes , ▁and ▁in ▁return ▁gain ▁a ▁few ▁builder ▁units , ▁or ▁sell ▁the ▁spell ▁for ▁ 2 1 0 0 ▁gold ▁co ins . ▁If ▁the ▁player ▁s ells ▁the ▁spell , ▁the ▁game ▁plays ▁as ▁a ▁role - play ing ▁game ; ▁otherwise ▁the ▁game ▁plays ▁as ▁a ▁real - time ▁strategy ▁game . ▁ ▁On ▁the ▁real - time ▁strategy ▁mode ▁the ▁main ▁focus ▁of ▁involves ▁around ▁base ▁building , ▁resource ▁collection ▁and ▁defe ating ▁the ▁oppon ent . ▁There ▁are ▁also ▁scored ▁games ▁where ▁both ▁players ▁focus ▁on ▁increasing ▁the