Ok So I Downloaded The Demo
 

I downloaded the demo and installed it. Since I have never played the game before and really have no clue as to what kind of game play to expect I was shocked to find that it took me over 10 minutes just to get into the game. I did not expect to find the set up of the game to be so confusing. Again I am new to it so this should not shock any one.

From the look of the game when I was finally able to get it started, it looked very interesting and addictive. However, shortly there after my eyes glazed over and my nose began to bleed. I realized that I had better do some reading before I continue as this game looks to have a heavy and steep learning curve.

So now comes the not so fun part of reading.

[ July 29, 2004, 05:00: Message edited by: Atrocities ]

Re: Ok So I Downloaded The Demo
 

Nah, reading the multitude of item/nation/spell/unit options is one of the most fun parts http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon7.gif .

Re: Ok So I Downloaded The Demo
 

Man there is a crap load of info for this game. Is this game that great? (Duh question given the traffic in this forum.)

What do you like most about the game?

Re: Ok So I Downloaded The Demo
 

<font size="2" face="sans-serif, arial, verdana">Hard to say, probably one of the following:

*The huge multitude of options.

*The unique mythological background (sounds generic, but dominions really has whole different feel).

*The amazing balance considering the number of options.

*The battle system- simply the most fun, complex and realistic I've found.

[ July 29, 2004, 07:08: Message edited by: quantum_mechani ]

Re: Ok So I Downloaded The Demo
 

The walkthru by Bruce Geryk is a very good start. It is fun to read and it guides you through a couple of turns.

http://www.maladjustite.com/dom2_walkthru.html

Re: Ok So I Downloaded The Demo
 

Uh Oh, we hooked Atrocities. The SEIV forum is gonna hate me. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon7.gif

One of the things I like most is that I dont feel like Im being forced to learn someone elses (the programmers) strategys. Each nation has a definate feel but its not like the strategies are completely built in. There is so much variation that you can play your own style. Berserker, researcher, defensive, expansionist, stealth, just about any style that fits you. You can find the best nation, best pretender, best scales, to pull off the moves you come up with. After years of playing Im still able to come up with some surprise tactics.

Early demo hints: play Ulm (low learning curve), play against ctis, man, pangaea (or at LEAST leave out Ermor and water nations), turn independent strength up to about 5 (slows the AI more than it hurts you)

[ July 29, 2004, 14:04: Message edited by: Gandalf Parker ]

Re: Ok So I Downloaded The Demo
 

Thanks guys. I am looking forward to playing. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon7.gif

Re: Ok So I Downloaded The Demo
 

Atrocities, the things I like best are:
-Lack of MM. Most of my turn time goes into strategic thinking only
-Extreme Depth. Constantly surprised at all the new combinations of abilities.
-Solid balance. You'd think given the depth there would be a clear best path, but no.
-Sustained Fighting. Unlike some empire-building games, losing a big battle does not mean you will lose the war.

And as for getting into the game - reading has never been my thing (at least before I play with something). If you are like this too, I suggest you play your first SP game with Ulm. They have pratically no magic, so you can basically ignore that entire part of the game. That will give you an opportunity to understand recruiting, movement, and combat mechanics. Once you've done that, move on to a more magical race.

Lastly, the only word of warning I would give is: resist the temptation to build units in every province you take! I did this because I thought I was tyring to "maximize production" originally. But in truth, your national troops (from your Forts) are way better so only build there unless you need a particular indy unit.

Re: Ok So I Downloaded The Demo
 

Ironhawk,

You're Last statement is interesting about not recruiting from indy provinces. Keeping in mind I'm a newbie myslef, I find myself recruiting from indy's to replenish my losses, mainly because I can't get capital forces to the frontline soon enough. This is mainly archers and stuff, etc.

Which brings me to a question. Assuming a non-watchtower castling strategy, how often/when do you build a new fortress generally? To move your frontline? As a defensive anchor? High resource provinces?

Thanks,
Krool

Re: Ok So I Downloaded The Demo
 

Fortresses come in handy for a variety of reasons, such as keeping a short supply line -- supplies available get a bonus based on the shortest available path (not through hostile provines) to a friendly fort and it's admin rating, for instance. Handy unless you've got so much nature magic that you're rolling in wineskins, summer swords and cauldrons, or are using need-not-eat troops.

They're also useful for protecting a temple, obviously, but with a rapid-response team you can use a watchtower for that.
More importantly, if there's a unit type you like in that province -- be it from the independent type or a magic site -- a fortress will help you produce more if it's resource-limited. And it'll let you produce more of your national troops there and worry less about streaming reinforcements up, or it can serve to recruit your cheap researchers while your capital goes for some capital-only commanders. Or so forth.
If you're rolling in money because you can't recruit good troops fast enough, you probably need another castle. *g*

Re: Ok So I Downloaded The Demo
 

Excellent information!

Since they drain resources from neighboring provinces, you wouldn't want to put one in *next* to a resource rich province, but rather in that province, correct?

Krool

Re: Ok So I Downloaded The Demo
 

<font size="2" face="sans-serif, arial, verdana">Im not an expirienced player, but that still goes against logic.
Lets say for this matter that you have two provinces completely seperate from the entire world (not possible) and both are yours, and you are considering a fortification in one of them.
One of those provinces has 100 resources and the other has 10.
Your castle type has 10 Admin value which means you'll get 10% of the resources from nearby provinces. (thats just a random assumption for calculations)
If you build the fortification in the 100 resources province you'll have 101 resources in it and 9 in the other one, so you'll have 101 resources available for recruitment of your valuable fortification-only units.
If you build it in the 10 resources province you'll have 20 resources in it and 90 in the other one, that means only 20 resources for your special units, now how good is that?

Re: Ok So I Downloaded The Demo
 

Sorry, Agrajag, but you overlooked some critical fact:

In a province without castle, available ressources are halved.

So in your example, it would be either 50+20(castle) ressources, or 4+101(castle) ressources.

And remember, shown on the map are the actual usuable ressources, so they virtually double if you build a castle

Re: Ok So I Downloaded The Demo
 

<font size="2" face="sans-serif, arial, verdana">*smacks forehead*
Pfft, how could I forget something like that?
Anyway, this just makes me more right http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon7.gif

[ July 30, 2004, 17:39: Message edited by: Agrajag ]

Re: Ok So I Downloaded The Demo
 

Thanks, that is as I suspected.

Krool