Re: Ermor Themes
 

I partly disagree... every nation should have one theme which is extremely powerful for the purpose of new players not getting killed on turn_10 during multiplayer games. Heck if I play 10 games during a month and my brother only plays one game I'm going to want him to have a more powerful theme available so I don't slaughter him every game.
Also hopefully computer opponents will be more challenging and be supplied with better AI in DOM_3. It's sad watching them not cast the more effective spells like the elemental royalties, flames from the sky, ghost riders, etc. Also it's sad watching them lose battles because they starved their armies.

Re: Ermor Themes
 

Carrion woods is not that strong.

Soul gate also gets lots of stealthy units, so mass stealth attacks are possible.

Re: Ermor Themes
 

and having nations overpowered is good to give newbies advantages but what about when experienced players start using them??

Re: Ermor Themes
 

I agree with shovah. As Gandalf Parker says, the nations aren't balanced against other nations. They are balanced to be weaker and stronger against spesific nations/tactics. Marignon is made to be *the* anti-undead nation. It should be, but also weaker against something else (high-mr non-undead summons?). Similarly, Ulm should be stronger against some nations, weak against others (like Ermor themes). Playing Man against Soul Gate should always be hard, because Soul Gate's powers work well against Man (human units -> no exceptional magic resistance, fear works), although Man still has some options (lots of monks, vinemen/ogres to slow down the hordes of undead, Maggots).

This balance isn't perfect, yet, and might never be, but the situation was improved from Dom:PPP. Ermor themes now vost some design points, Ulm has some new units (although Sappers and Siege Engineers aren't the best possible units), Marignon wasn't changed. I trust that we will see something similar in DomIII.

Re: Ermor Themes
 

Heh, I'm always open for a 1vs.1 game with anyone. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/happy.gif

Re: Ermor Themes
 

That is not the purpose of themes! Themes are there for flavour, not balance. However, I do not understand why dominions does not simply allow different pretender design points for different players. Why are you not allowed to give a newbie just 80 extra design points? Of course, you can always leave design points unspent and there are the mods, but an option for accepting an 'easy' pretender design cannot be too difficult to implement...

Re: Ermor Themes
 

I'm not one of those who would argue that Ermor is unbeatably strong, but - purely in the interests of science - I'll challenge you quantum_mechani.

I'll take one of the dead Ermor themes, you pick any other nation/theme you like, and we'll see what happens.

Whadaya say?

Re: Ermor Themes
 

I am one of those who thinks that emor(AE) is one or the strongest nation around: The death magic is SO ULTRA strong in nearly every stadium: For example: exelent early, middle and late summons

desintegrate(i have desinterated 2 Water queens in the MP-Game Padadise lost)

Dark Knowledege needs only D1 to cast....

Wraith sword etc.

I am quite sure that you are able to win over any strategy that is not designed ecpecially against emor.

Of course there are quite many tactics against emor, but most are quite useless(never got probs with priest, because i use arch bischops)

Cunclusio finalio: I love emor http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/skull.gif http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/skull.gif http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/skull.gif http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/skull.gif http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/skull.gif http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/skull.gif http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/skull.gif

Re: Ermor Themes
 

i love ermor too and just try it in a rich game http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/laugh.gif 15 death gems a turn straight away+well of misery later on (tartarian/ghost rider spam anyone?)

Re: Ermor Themes
 

Not just in theory. They drop off like flies. I considered mentioning this, but figured it was covered by that whole "thugs vs ethereal" imperative, unless one favors 0-length weapons. Didn't think the whole morale weakness was worth pointing out, either, simply because SG has so many other, more easily exploited susceptibilities.

My mistake and point taken, respectively.