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- Dominions 2: The Ascension Wars (http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/forumdisplay.php?f=55)

- - Do Tell.... (http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/showthread.php?t=17518)

First and second print by Lion Rampant, I believe.

Lion Rampant => White Wolf

Third print: Wizards of the Coast

Fourth Print: Atlas Games

This is a pen and paper RPG. In case you didn't know.

I grew up on pen-and-paper RPGs. Serious fun, especially when combined with soda and pizza. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon10.gif

Thanks for the info!

Any of you ever play chivalry and sorcery? That was in the vein of ars magicka but a little older.

You even generated the star charts for your birth day to see if your auspices were good. hehe

I first got into C&S in 1985. C&S was and is a great game. (IIRC, it was around as recently as 2000 when I saw it at GenCon, and may still be available.) Personally, I prefer Harnmaster/Harnworld. Imminently more playable than C&S (C&S can be cumbersome, and is not friendly to players who only have AD&D as their background in FRPGs, which is the only FRPG most pen & paper RPGers have ever played).

[ January 29, 2004, 01:01: Message edited by: Arryn ]

Quote:

Originally posted by Psitticine:
I've heard a lot about Ars Magicka around here and I have to say I'm getting very intrigued. Is it still available? Who published it, and does anybody know if there's a Version available in the US?

<font size="2" face="sans-serif, arial, verdana">Ars Magica arguably has the best magic system in an RPG game, and is definitely one of my Favorites. The "troupe" style of play and strong background are great as well.

It's latest incarnation is published by Atlas Games, and IMHO this is in general the best edition. They let you download the rules for free here:

http://www.atlas-games.com/arsmagica/index.html

Quote:

Originally posted by cpbeller:
So, again, what are your favorite aspects of the game (so far, anyways)?

<font size="2" face="sans-serif, arial, verdana">The awful lot of choices. Ability to tailor-suit things to your personal taste.

The more-is-better philosophy is correct. It even takes care of balance, because with so many diverse things included it becomes a question of simple probability that for every overpowering strategy someone will somewhere happen to find a counter.

I admire the ingeniously simple way of avoiding balancing issues by throwing so much stuff in that no one will ever be able to sort it out. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon10.gif

Copied from the first post of my rant thread about how great the game is

PvK wrote:

Quote:

"Why am I hooked on Dominions? Why is it such an awesome game?

One of the best reasons is that not only does it have thousands and thousands of units and spells and all sorts of other stuff to discover, but that practically all of the things in it are interesting, creative, and well-done. There are not only many different units, but many different game systems at work (things like effects of heat, morale, supply, different kinds of undead, equipment effects, experience, battle afflictions, etc), and those game systems all work together very well. Maybe not always perfectly, but generally in ways that make sense, and are in good and interesting proportion to each other, for the most part.

The result of all those systems working well together, is a game world where things happen for a reason, and the reasons make sense, and can be surprising and interesting, leading to an interesting game because you always have a different and often new set of toys to play with, and all sorts of ways to try putting them to use.

<font size="2" face="sans-serif, arial, verdana">

And lots more.

PvK

I bought alot of multiplayer strategy games that I was unhappy with. Too often a perfect strategy showed up that made it a test of only who could click the commands quicker. With Dom everytime you THINK you have a perfect strategy someone is bound to bounce you out of it. As long as that remains true, I will stay happy with Dom.

Here are my favorite after a few weeks of play.

1. The game allows you to become focused on Commander characters. The developers added a few things in to get me emotionally attatched to my men. The Hall of Fame is brilliant. You should give whoever thought of that a raise.

2. I have never liked magic that much, in any game. I always play pure fighters in CRPG's, and PnP RPG's. I do dig the magic item system. I also think that is was brilliant to have artifacts. That must be a pain in MP games hehe.

3. The sheer amount of units and nations. I wish that there were more indy types. And I wish that there were more variance in the indy ~ national units. I know that there are a lot of different units already, but I always think that there could be more. Its just me. Even though there are tons of units per nation, I wish there were larger lists per nation.

4. Mercs. I like the idea in general. I wish they had more personality, that the commanders were unique, and that the units and commanders had unique graphics.

5. The magic sites and gem system is great.

6. The developers are active in the community.

7. And the most important thing in any turn based game. It has that magic quality that developers can only hope for....it afflicts its user with something I like to call the "One More Turn Syndrome". You start at 4pm in the afternoon and before you know it its 4am in the morning.

Quote:

Originally posted by Strages Sanctus:
Any of you ever play chivalry and sorcery? That was in the vein of ars magicka but a little older.

You even generated the star charts for your birth day to see if your auspices were good. hehe

<font size="2" face="sans-serif, arial, verdana">I remember that one! I couldn't get my gaming group to bite, as it was a bit too complicated for their tastes, but I still enjoyed playing around with character generation and so forth.