Why am I so bad with Dom3
 

Well,

Few years of Dominions : lot of SP games, very few MP (2!) and with friends only, and I find myself very bad player ! When I play a nation I don't know (I only know Niefelheim and MA and LA R'yleh) I usually do crap ! Even if I play my beloved giants from cold I don't find myself very efficient, even against AI.

I found that my play is just not very good at early stages, but it is just catastrophic in endgames, I'm not very used with magic and finally I end with playing with large armies with well equipped assassins to kill commanders. Even my SC are probably lot of laugh...

And I still love that game, but I now spends more time reading descriptions and summoning funny critters than actually playing...

What is wrong ?? http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/image...s/confused.gif

Re: Why am I so bad with Dom3
 

Sounds normal...

Re: Why am I so bad with Dom3
 

Well, my advice is to shoot for the killer tactics (and I means spells). While people will wax poetic about all the available tactics, there really are a select number of good ones.

Here are a few:

--Bless Rush. Pick a nation with Holy troops that can be recruited in every castle. Then, choose two off this list: Fire/Water/Earth/Nature. Go crazy.

--Flaming Arrows + missile troops(even slingers will do) + Scouts carrying Fever Fetishes with your army. Cast Flaming arrows every turn with gems

--Supercombatants: Get a big monster commander, then kit him out with equipment. Most SCs can take whole provinces alone.

--Falling Foo: If you have a nation that gets mages with Fire 3 or Water 3, get Evocation 5 as soon as possible send 5-6 mages with an army. They'll smash opposing armies pretty well.

--Race for a Global that kills everyone but you. Utterdark works well for undead-heavy nations, Astral Corruption for blood nations, and any number of globals gives massive bonuses to your nation.

Re: Why am I so bad with Dom3
 

If I had an alter-ego it could have been me posting http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/laugh.gif (except that I don't know any nation really http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/laugh.gif except midgard a bit now http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/laugh.gif)

Re: Why am I so bad with Dom3
 

you can play all the SP in the world, it doesn't measure up one whit to one MP game. The only way to get better is to play MP games. Two MP games is just a very stark beginning. You still have a lot to learn, and a lot of oppurtunity to learn. The only way to get better is to play more MP. There you get to see how other players play, what strategies they use, and how to deal with another living breathing player controlling your foe rather than the AI.

Try using a different nation each MP game you play, get a wide base of understanding of many nations and many strategies. If you specialize in 'your' nation, it only keeps you from knowing about and being able to anticipate and counter other nations strategies. The AI will basically play all nations the same, in haphazard random fashion, with random armies wandering in random directions. In MP each nation has a specific set of strategies it is likely to use. YOu must play much MP and you must play many nations in order to get better, it is the only way.

Re: Why am I so bad with Dom3
 

Well I think I learned a lot in my 2nd midgard game (the worst faults from my first game where out and I survived longer so I could see somewhat of the options for mid and end game play

Re: Why am I so bad with Dom3
 

Actually, you can learn quite a lot in SP games. Not how to win in MP, only by playing MP can you learn to do well in MP.

But in SP games, you can learn the spells and what they do. You can learn how the various blesses work, and how to use them most effectively. You can learn how to build a good SC Pretender (if he gets killed or badly wounded by SP indies, he is not good. If he can take any indy province with hardly a scratch, he is good). You can learn how best to use your scales to maximum efficiency. All kinds of things, really.

Re: Why am I so bad with Dom3
 

Duels are a pretty good way of getting some quick MP experience under your belt to get off the ground, since the host schedule is as quick as the two of you can make it.

Re: Why am I so bad with Dom3
 

Hey. I suck too!

Re: Why am I so bad with Dom3
 

Clearly you have angered the gods of Dominions 3!!!

http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/wink.gif

Heheheh, just joking. You should tell us more about your strategies. Or if you would rather, you could just pull down one of the Nation Guides. Many contain detailed instructions for how to competitively play a nation.

Re: Why am I so bad with Dom3
 

To get better at early game, start games and try to get a second conquest force up as soon as possible, and to start building a second fortress or a place to recruit independent researchers as soon as possible. You might need to re-evaluate your early strategy, but it's very possible. As an example, I've played MA Ulm since Dominions: PPP, and have trusted in the Arbalests as my main expansion force. Just recently, thanks to a comment on these forums, I tried expanding with just their infantry and could suddenly expand at much higher rate.

Read the strategy guides from the stickied post. Magic booster guide is very important, and I also suggest reading Baalz's guide for EA Marverni. I loved how that guide explained in detail why good mages are so deadly, and why supercombatants are so deadly, and it all seems to work out just perfectly. That's what you have to be ready for, whatever your nation.

Re: Why am I so bad with Dom3
 

for expension training, what's force of indep do you take ?

I usually play in solo with indep 8

Re: Why am I so bad with Dom3
 

I've been playing with basic settings, but I wouldn't put more than 1 extra point to indeps. If you are too careful, it hurts your expansion. Of course, if I knew I was going to play with high indep strength, I'd adjust accordingly.

Re: Why am I so bad with Dom3
 

First thanks for all your replies and advises. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/happy.gif
Yes, that exactly what I try, but something is not well good enough, with my Niefel giants I usually go for a heavy bless strategy, but I one game I just get splashed in parts by EA Abysia. Too few giants, too few castles, to few provinces...

As for SC I still have to learn how to equip them properly, even with Const 8 Find they are always beaten one day or other, even by AI. I think i will check ARENA SC replays one day to look how you equip them. I think I don't make them enough cast the good spells, I'm more in multiple attacks melee SC.
Well, I certainly don't pretend (!) to know well Niefels or R'yleh, that just that I like them so much that every time I start a party I ask myself... ' Hmmm what nation will I choose ... Man ? No, never liked longbowmen since Azincourt... Hmmm why not to stomp over those small humans with some powerful giants... you got it ' http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/image...es/biggrin.gif

I know that no SP game will make me ready for MP, but in fact i clearly lack time for now to play MP, even one turn every 24 hours is a lot for me, hope that it will change in future but now... So I have to keep with SP and to improve it. Maybe I have to diversify my gameplay and my nations and pretenders to see simply what happens.

About the guides, yes I should really read them, they are done for that, but I love too to try bymeself, I found it very rewarding. I think the guide about magic is one that I need the more.

Will tell you if I made some progress http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/cool.gif

Re: Why am I so bad with Dom3
 

There are occasionally games that run slower. PashaDawg runs games that are 1 turn/day for 15 turns (which is usually manageable), then 3 turns/week after. The one game I ran had the same schedule, and if I run another, it will be the same. You have to keep your eyes open, but now and then there are slower games.

Re: Why am I so bad with Dom3
 

If you aren't good at SCs, then try building thugs. As Jotunheim, have one or two castles dedicated to building Jotun Jarls or Herses, give them cheap equipment and experiment.

Things that kill thugs:
Spells they don't resist: e.g. Black Lords of Ulm against an AI Prophet get Smited and die.
Fatigue (pg 76 of manual): 40 fatigue gives -4 defense, -2 attack and there's a chance of protection being halved.



We really need a fatigue -> critical hit table somewhere.

Re: Why am I so bad with Dom3
 

And what do you do underwater?

Again, doesn't work underwater.

Re: Why am I so bad with Dom3
 

Endoperez : Should Thugs be used in mass by themselves or rather assist armies ? If I have one or two castle to build them I will have more them than armies, and I don't thing they are able took out by themselves an army or event indies. I'll try to use a 'squad' of thugs and see what happens.

Loren : Shark attack ?

Re: Why am I so bad with Dom3
 

I'm not good with thugs, myself, but it depends. If you're facing huge armies of chaff, several commanders equipped with Charcoal Shields even the odds greatly. If you're facing armies of Soul Slaying mages, several high-hp commanders with outstanding magic resistance (through Starshine Skullcap, Amulet of Antimagic and/or Lead Shield) will protect your other units.

Couple of strong thugs equipped with cheap items (for luck and ability to kill several troops/turn without getting too much fatigue) rampaging through your enemies' weakly defended provinces can be quite annoying as well, especially if they can fly, sail, are stealthy or otherwise able to move in ways your enemy can't easily anticipate.

Re: Why am I so bad with Dom3
 

I've also seen thugs used as "Just another unit". 2-3 banelords with boots of quickness, charcoal shields, firebrands, and amulets of luck can be quite nice.

Jazzepi

Re: Why am I so bad with Dom3
 

I thought this one was rather useless. Are you saying they are numerous enough and sensible enough to be of real help?

Re: Why am I so bad with Dom3
 

Every time I've used shark attack it's been absolutely ridiculous. I was playing EA R'yleh against EA Atlantis and one battle where he had it and I didn't, I lost over 400 troops for his 30 or so.

Now, I did have psi-blasting units. I think that might have something to do with it. The paralyzing damage might trigger the shark spawning.

Jazzepi

Re: Why am I so bad with Dom3
 

Well, Nielfel Giants are stronger in Cold and weaker in Heat , so it's no wonder you got eaten by Abysia (they favor strong heat scales).

My advice is this. Go with a Son of Fenris with W9/N9 and Order3, Sloth3/Cold3/Growth3/Mistfortune2/Drain2. Focus on strong early expansion, buying archers from indie provinces and Neifel giants from home. Avoid Heat 3 nations until you can cast Wolven Winter to cool down their provinces.

Try that, and get back to us.

Re: Why am I so bad with Dom3
 

Even then these can be defeated by the AI.

Just today vs. the AI i lost my bane w/ flying shoes, regen ring, charcoal shield, swift sword, and horned helmet after about 5 rounds of combat against a couple dozen vanilla Ulm troops and PD. Why? He routed into enemy territory.

Re: Why am I so bad with Dom3
 

If you're losing, check what your opponent is doing to make you lose, and next game either repeat roughly what he did, or have a plan ready to deal with someone trying that tactic on you.

Another important point is think about what your opponent can do to you. A spell that crushed one opponent may be utterly useless against another. Perhaps the units which worked wonders on one enemy are little use against another.

One of the trickiest things to judge in a game is balancing resources. For instance mages are needed to win battles and research. You conquered a large empire with mages, but run into an opponent who can summon SCs and cast big battlefield spells like Fog Warriors, and you've no suitable answer because your mages were fighting not researching. Or maybe you used your gold to buy lots of fortifications and PD, and find your opponent has spent his gold on a huge army and you can't raise enough troops quickly enough.

Re: Why am I so bad with Dom3
 

I wouldn't really consider that optimal equipment.

You're much better off with frostbrand, and a different helmet that doesn't lower your stats.

Jazzepi

Re: Why am I so bad with Dom3
 

Hmm, thanks again for your advices guys.

I return from a game as Niefel giants against my nemesis : Abysia... And this time it was an easier way. Strong bless : W9 N6 E6. I decided for E6 rather than N9 cause last time I played with them against some solid troops (and I find Abysia footmen particularly solid in EA era) Niefels get exhausted, so I wanted some reinvigoration. It worked very well despite a terrible lack of money (even with Order 3) these Giants are awesome. Due to money problem I have to wait with research a bit to build castles, but this time I planned my research carefully for spells like Rain etc.. so I didn't wasted research points like in the past.
My biggest fear was the use by Abysia of them Fire salamanders. They are not so powerful and die easily but once in contact the' re so dangerous, even for a blessed Niefel tree... I must find something better to counter them if one day I play against a human Abysian player.

Finally I dom killed them, pretty happy http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/happy.gif

I begin my next 'apprentice' game as Marverni against 2 or 3 AI - of course Ermor will be one of them... after all I live in the country of Asterix [img]/threads/images/Graemlins/Barrel.gif[/img] will tell if I do full crap or not completely http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/cool.gif