Opinions Wanted
 

Hello,

I am thinking about buying this game. I downloaded and played the demo but it is limited to 40 turns, so I cannot get a serious feel for the game yet. The multitude of units/spells etc seems cool, but is it the kind of game that once you play through an entire game (many days I'm guessing), all subsequent games would be pretty much just a rehash, with only slight variations on units and magic used?

Also, from browsing through the forums, it seems like there are still a load of bugs in the game. Are they mostly just minor balance issues or game breakers?

Thanks for all responses in advance!
JaegerIX

P.S. Can you buy this game in a retail outlet or must it be ordered Online?

Re: Opinions Wanted
 

if you play sp, 1 day tops to finish a game if you dont make any large mistakes.

unless your playing a huge map then it might take more days.

Re: Opinions Wanted
 

this is once you've mastered it that is.

Re: Opinions Wanted
 

<font size="2" face="sans-serif, arial, verdana">Well all games fall into this pattern, but I think this is not what you are looking at in Dominions 2. In a RTS type of game, you learn what a unit does, build alot and use them in a certain way. In Dominions 2, you learn what a unit does, build alot of them use them in a certain way, and still get them killed because of the other 1079 units there are so many different ways to beat them, you can't pick any one standard strategy with any unit, only things that work well vs certain units/opponents/situations. That's where the primary difference is. It is superior to MoM in that instance (where you learned the units, then abused them with virtually no change in your usage, only #)

<font size="2" face="sans-serif, arial, verdana">I'd say 90% of the 'bugs' listed are minor balance, preference, UI rants, differing perspective and inconsistancies. The other 10% at this time are "patch bugged this", "platform/computer issue" or "battle replay" issue.

The game runs like a champ for me, with only very few instances of doing something I would consider buggish. There are however, alot of things I'd personally like to see with the game.

There are alot of typos though http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon12.gif


<font size="2" face="sans-serif, arial, verdana">You must purchase it Online, I believe Gogamer has it cheaper but more expensive shipping, whereas if you live in a certain area (like the US) shipping is free if you order it directly from Shrapnel. Also I rate the Customer Service top notch at Shrapnel.

[ February 28, 2004, 23:30: Message edited by: Zen ]

Re: Opinions Wanted
 

The game is hugely deep and many of the "bugs" tend to be more opinion than problems. None of them are game breakers. The worst Ive seen might make a particular nation hard to play (such as having one of its major advantages broken for abit) but there are 16 other nations.

Im afraid only Online purchasing is available. More than one place but ShrapnelGames.com is kindof a manatory recommendation since this is their board (if you arent in the US then we can recommend some closer)

Re: Opinions Wanted
 

If you like fantasy strategy games, buy Dominions 2.

Dominions 2 is the best fantasy strategy game of ALL TIME.

I got my copy at gogamer for 39 bucks and it came to my door fedex 2 days later.

http://www.gogamer.com

>>>THE HORNED KING<<<

Re: Opinions Wanted
 

Absolutely one of the deepest strategy games I've played. You think you've mastered it, then you learn something that brings a whole new angle to the game...and I've only played as Man so far. Definitely worth the money. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon12.gif

Re: Opinions Wanted
 

Thanks everyone for their replies!

Pretty high regards saying THE best fantasy strategy game ever. Someone even compared to MoM which I thought was a fantastic game for it's time. I'll definitely pick it up. I checked out gogamer but with shipping it's only 4$ cheaper, might as well go directly through the developer.

Once again thanks for the input,
JaegerIX

Re: Opinions Wanted
 

Hi,

You may drive yourself crazy trying to figure out how to play, but it's worth the effort. Another good point is that, if you play on large maps the game is still interesting even after you've climbed out and know your nation will survive.

I'm playing on the World map (as C'tis vs normal AI) and have all of Africa and have been having this huge war with Atlantis that's been going back and forth for several tens of turns. A two steps forward, one step back sort of war that I believe I MAY be gradually winning now. I haven't had this experience in any other strategy game I've ever played.


Ciao,
V'ger gone

Re: Opinions Wanted
 

I usually feel safer telling people to get the demo and try it. IF they can get past the learning curve then I feel safe in gauranteeing that it will Last for years on their computer

Re: Opinions Wanted
 

<font size="2" face="sans-serif, arial, verdana">I've got something quite similar going - I'm Ulm (Master Alchemist, heavy on the forging and gem generators), and I've been at war with Ermor for maybe 30 turns (it's about turn 70). I hold all of Southern America, and am slowly pushing Abysia out of Northern America - and the undead hordes are emerging from the waters of the Atlantic, a few hundreds of them each 2-3 months; I've got maybe 40 regular Priests garrisoned along the coast, with an Archangel Quick Intervention Force somewhere... but 21 Province Defense and Mechanical Militia do a lot toward letting one or two level 2 Priests stop the undead...

And when I finish off Ermor, I'll have to deal with Pangaea. They have about twice as many Provinces as I do, twice the army size... and they're not Carrion Woods, or they wouldn't have 2-3 times my income!

In other words - I strongly suspect I'm going to win this game, but I'm not 100% sure...

Re: Opinions Wanted
 

Dominions II tramples MoM, and all other computer fantasy strategic conquest games, for my money anyway.

The many bug reports are mainly from fan enthusiasm. Getting fascinated with the many details has people noticing and wanting to be helpful when things go wrong. Except for those who expect the AI to act with human intelligence in a game of unmatched complexity for its type. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/image...s/rolleyes.gif

As for completing a game in a day... that depends on the settings. Maybe on a small map versus one AI. I still haven't completed any SP games except the ones where the AI wiped me out. I've been playing Doms I and II for months and still haven't seen half the stuff. I've only played as four of the major races in Doms II (eight in Doms I). I've got years to go before I've seen everything.

Fully recommended to those who can see the potential from the demo. Tip of the iceberg.

PvK

Re: Opinions Wanted
 

I thoroughly enjoyed many hours of play with MoM, Warlords I, II, and III, and AoW I & II. (Nevermind also playing RTS like Age of Mythology, Warcraft 3, Warlords Battlecry, Myth 2, etc.) Dominions II is superior to all of those, hands-down, period.

BTW, I've also played Lords of the Realm 1 & 2, Stronghold, and even the old (great) DOS game Sword of Aragon. And HoMM 1 & 2.

<font size=1>EDIT: typo</font>

[ February 29, 2004, 19:05: Message edited by: Arryn ]

Re: Opinions Wanted
 

Totally agree with Arryn here.

I've played all of em listed above, and this game is the best, bar none.

MoM was also amazing. This has MoM all beat. Poor mom.

Re: Opinions Wanted
 

Dominions II is definitely better than anything that's come out recently: Recent games all seem, well, shallow. While often pretty, their depth of play and general replay value is somewhat....limited. If you had to pick to get Dominions II, or one of the others, get Dominions II.

But remember: In Soviet Russia, the game plays you!

Re: Opinions Wanted
 

<font size="2" face="sans-serif, arial, verdana">Hello!
This game can only be ordered Online as far as I know.
In my opinion, there are quite a few bugs still in the game, but none of them are "game breakers", although many could be quite frustrating to you depending on how you play.
But to answer your main question: it depends on what you mean by "rehash". There will be rehashes in the sense that *all* games without constant complete random re-contenting will be rehashes, and a "rehash" in the sense that -- unlike an adventure-type, role-play or a shooter/role-play hybrid -- there are no new "rooms" with never-before-seen challenges to discover (although that will still take a while). But I think there is enough variety in the game that you will not have to play the same thing twice for at least many many moons, because each situation really is unique: this foe on that map combined with those settings and these AI nations playing that race with this pretender and this strategy.... those are a lot of factors. So I think the rehash danger is fairly low. But this is just my opinion.

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I beg to differ re: "no new rooms". As long as fans continue to create new maps, there will always be "new rooms". And with the mod tools, new creatures, nations, and whatnot. It is quite possible to never exhaust this game's myriad possibilities. You may grow tired of the game, but not for lack of something new to do ...

[ March 01, 2004, 10:25: Message edited by: Arryn ]

Re: Opinions Wanted
 

also in the area of "new rooms" consider map making and the idea of provinces built along a theme. What if the province named "Dragons Defense" was actually that? Maybe a long narrow province running between two mountain lines that create a bottleneck on the map?

Hmmm Maybe a lich leading a bunch of mages. Only when you attack do you discover its an undead dragon leading red, blue. green dragons. What kindof equipment would make sense for that leader to have? What kindof population and recruitable units would make sense? What kindof magic sites?

And thats just one province. What about a province designed around the idea of demons? or stone? or poison? or water? or ethereal? or undead? What about a special island? or a particularly nasty cave? or a floating castle?

If we dont have them its only because no one has made it yet.