Shepherds of Creation
 

Once, before the first thoughts of Dominions emerged, I had another game idea. It went under the name Shepherds of Creation and was supposed to be a fantasy game of evolving species. Each player were to guide the evolution of one or several fantasy species and attempt to claim the center of the world from the guardians placed there by a creator that had left the world in despair.

Recently I thougth that the creational myth of the game would suit Dominions, but unfortunately there is nothing left of my notes. So I made a new one. Slightly different, shorter and with some influences from the Nag-Hammadi texts, but basically the same.

I intend to make a scenario and map based upon the myth. It will probably come with the next patch.

Read the myth.

Re: Shepherds of Creation
 

A bit on the hominidocentric side. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon12.gif Personally I would think it cooler if there was a conflict of philosohy even before the world was created. That way there's no right or wrong, treason or justice. It's a battle of divine motives and every corner appeals to someone.

Also means every being that walks the land is in the same boat as everyone else. Explains why you have all these completely different pretenders available for each faction.

Re: Shepherds of Creation
 

<font size="2" face="sans-serif, arial, verdana">But there is rigth and wrong! As the sacred texts of any religion would tell you http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon12.gif .

Not sure if I get your greater conflict thing. Please explain.

There is a primordial conflict but it is only hinted at. The world is already created by higher beings, but the demiurge is not aware of this. The demiurge is petty and ignorant, not unlike Ialdabaoth. I considered introducing the higher spheres from which he got his spirit, but the myth would perhaps be too long. I also considered making the part covering the seven corners and their races longer, but stopped myself.

BTW would it bother anyone if the God of each nation was fixed and premade according to later developments of the myth?

Is this kind of background good as it is, good if complemented with special units/sites/features or just a curiosity?

Re: Shepherds of Creation
 

No. Premake the gods and scales. Let the scenario be about playing with what you are given and not about making an abusive race/god for the scales.

Then you can kind of balance out the scenario based on the strengths and weaknesses of each nation.

It is good if you compliment it with a few specials to give it a more mythic proportion. I felt the myth was good enough to have a basis of what is going on.

[ January 21, 2004, 22:58: Message edited by: Zen ]

Re: Shepherds of Creation
 

Cool! http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon6.gif

It definitely has an excellent feel to it, very mythic in feel, if you know what I mean, without being derivative.

Which nations are you planning for the Shepherds, and which human nation is for the Baphomet?

Edit: I'd vote for developing the myth as far as you'd like to. IMO, the more backstory the better, and it is also interesting just for its own sake. I'd also prefer things be preset. It makes more sense that way and lets it be tied more into your vision of the mythos.

[ January 21, 2004, 22:58: Message edited by: Psitticine ]

Re: Shepherds of Creation
 

I agree wholeheartedly with Zen. A scenario that hands you a deck to play with are often better than the ones that lets you draw your own cards. Better balance and more story for everyone. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon12.gif

Re: Shepherds of Creation
 

<font size="2" face="sans-serif, arial, verdana">Not sure if I follow the gods question.
Fixed as in being defined in this myth? OK
Premade as in leading to the definition of pre-made gods that will go out with the demo and game? Great!
Fixed and Premade as in part of a mod or map package? That would be cool.
Fixed and Premade as in we dont get to choose/create gods anymore? Surely not.

Re: Shepherds of Creation
 

It strikes me as a perfect Dominions scenario. Go Kristoffer go!

I'm guessing that the object of the scenario would be to capture the Throne of thr World. Would this mean that the Baphomet would be a computer player "randomly" harrassing the other seven, who are all striving to topple him from his throne, or would his side be playable as well?

Re: Shepherds of Creation
 

Sounds like it would be a lot of fun! I know I would play it without hesitation, once patch #2 is released.

Speaking of which, any info on how soon the next patch and its much-anticipated expanded mod powers will in our greedy hands?

Re: Shepherds of Creation
 

<font size="2" face="sans-serif, arial, verdana">Baphomet is the creator, nothing exist unless he illuminates it. Baphomet is AI.

Re: Shepherds of Creation
 

<font size="2" face="sans-serif, arial, verdana">Premade pretenders are cool -- provided they're interesting! http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon12.gif

However, why not do it both ways? It would be a simple manner to make a copy of the scenario with the Pretenders not fixed.

Re: Shepherds of Creation
 

Of course. This is always a viable option. I just wondered if there was an interest in premade gods for the scenario.

Re: Shepherds of Creation
 

I also vote for pre-made gods. Sounds like great fun!

Though I do like starting out with only one province.

Re: Shepherds of Creation
 

The map is finished, but not yet available. The scenario is not finished yet. I'm considering starting some kind of Illwinter-hosted tournament/competition based on the map. Until the competition is finished you will not get access to the scenario map files and premade gods (only the basic map file).

Does this sound OK?

I'll have to do a bit of tinkering to make the scenario balanced in competitive games.

Shepherds of Creation

Re: Shepherds of Creation
 

Sounds good to me. You might have a lot more than one gameful of takers though! http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon10.gif

Re: Shepherds of Creation
 

They could host several servers... That would certainly stop any cheating.

I'm in! Sign me up!

Regarding Baphomet, I love him! We just need a nice sprite of a goat headed dude with lots of nice pentagrams. (just make sure to give him a nice long caduceus http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon12.gif )

A very misunderstood fellow, to be sure.

"Templi omnium hominum pacis abhas"

[ January 26, 2004, 23:07: Message edited by: diamondspider ]

Re: Shepherds of Creation
 

<font size="2" face="sans-serif, arial, verdana">The dominions baphomet is the flaming head available to Marignon. Which is very loosely based on the bearded head that the knights templar were accused of worshippong in their trials, not the Eliphas Levi goatgirl. So no pentagrams or cadeceus.

Re: Shepherds of Creation
 

<font size="2" face="sans-serif, arial, verdana">Then both you AND JohanK should have it as your avatars, not just him!

Re: Shepherds of Creation
 

<font size="2" face="sans-serif, arial, verdana">Well, that is certainly no problem considering that the Templars were being tortured when they talked about the idol and even what they said is about a mysterious as anything could be http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon12.gif

I love mysteries, and Baphomet certainly qualifies. Whatever it is, I'm sure it will be very cool and fun http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon7.gif

[ January 27, 2004, 00:21: Message edited by: diamondspider ]

Re: Shepherds of Creation
 

<font size="2" face="sans-serif, arial, verdana">It sounds great! This is the way scenarios should be run IMHO; what fun is it to see ahead of time all the special things the author has worked in?

Re: Shepherds of Creation
 

nice story, and the spheric thumbnail showing a map seems very attractive!

edit : if the Baphomet is an AI, then buff it badly, and when you feel he is strong enough, double all his assets.

[ January 27, 2004, 11:08: Message edited by: Pocus ]

Re: Shepherds of Creation
 

<font size="2" face="sans-serif, arial, verdana">Don't you worry http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon7.gif

*Edit: Oops, posted as my brother - Kristoffer O*

[ January 27, 2004, 14:50: Message edited by: johan osterman ]

Re: Shepherds of Creation
 

<font size="2" face="sans-serif, arial, verdana">GIMP does nice things like that. Its cool that the Devs use it. You can also create a spinning globe gif (dont remember if GIMP did that but I know if it wasnt then it was some other free program) which would be neat as a web-page icon for a downloadable map. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon7.gif