So I've been playing this turn-based game called Warlords by Black Anvil and was doing another search and found Warlords Classic by ALSEDI. I guess it's been out a while since I've seen reviews since 2012, but it looks like it was just one map and cost $2.99(?) while the version today has several maps and costs $4.99.

Has anyone here heard of/played it? I'm not sure how it would be on my iPhone SE - it may be more for the iPad - but would pay it if it's still as good as the original PC game

I've heard of it.

Steve sold the developers the rights to the IOS Warlords I remake because they were dedicated fans of the game. Apparently they were developing a faithful remake in terms of the map/units/game play etc.

So if you buy it you'll be indirectly supporting Steve since he will make a tiny royalty I assume.

I don't have an IOS device so I've never actually played it.

KGB

The reviews I've read all generally say that gameplay is faithful to the original. I'll give it a go!

I just now watched the screenshots and read game decription... What a rubbish! Mobile games are abomination and perversion, with their gaudy cartoonish graphics and primitive mechanics.

Depends on the game.

I would give this one a chance; I still haven't found time to buy and play but if the mechanics are true to Warlords I, they may be "primitive" but that's by design.

Honestly, I haven't seen much similarity between good old Warlords and their iOS offspring. Mobile version is much closer to something like Fantasy General, with its hex-grid turn-based battles.
In this manner, any fantasy TBS could be titled as Warlords legacy. The makers of this mobile nonsense don't look as "long-time Warlords fans" or whoever they pretend to be.

<shrug> All I can say is that you really have to try it before making a true judgement. Obviously the $5 may be a bit of a deterrent but... if/when I get it, I'll let you know how it is

Thank Gods, I don't play mobile games, I have no iPhone, I even have no smartphone at all (as well as any other fashionable modern gadgets like tablet PC and alike monstrosities), so I can never evaluate the merits of this outstanding piece of game personally
But something inside me suggests that the very specialties of mobile platforms (and their target auditory as well) give life only to casual games in which I have no interest and in which I see no much point for the gaming history (that is on its decline obviously, alas).

I think it depends how it's used on mobile. Steve Fawkner's current game is Gems of War, which is on PC, mobile (and you can link accounts so you can play on either one), XBox, and PS4. The ability to play GoW on the phone is awesome as you're not tied to the PC for gameplay.

So isn't Gems of War a casual grinding anguish?

I sincerely tried to like Puzzle Quests in all of their 4 iterations (including Kingdoms and Galactrix) but I couldn't. For me, Puzzle Quests are the rape of Warlords world, with all these anime-ish graphics and effects.

It's understandable why Steve and many other developers shift to mobile market but it doesn't make games they make for this market better or capable to compare with PC games (especially with games of the Golden Era).
The same can be said about console games. Did you try console Civilization? It's a pure horror.
Deep, interesting, big games (read - strategy games) are for PC. Casual ones - for mobile. Action/simulations - for console.
Yes, we have rare exceptions like mobile King of Dragon Pass but exceptions just confirm the rules (and I haven't played mobile KoDP and can not evaluate how close is its gameplay to original). And it's just a remake of PC game in the end.