Bought Dominions 3
 

Greetings, everyone.

I simply wish to congratulate the developers of this rare gem, on a job well done. You've managed to do quite well, what most major development studies fail at miserably. Create a game that is immensely complex and rich in content, while still being -relatively- easy to understand and is not boring. Well done.

I must also congratulate the service I received while ordering the game as well. I've ordered it from the official store (Gamersfront.com), and it arrived 7 days later in tip top shape, without any problems. Although it might seem obvious to some, this should not be taken for granted.

Again, good work. Thank you for creating such an interesting game, and for continuing to support it.

Re: Bought Dominions 3
 

Welcome to the forum. We hope to see you regularly around here. :)
And in case there is any confusion, I'm not a member of Illwinter even though I maintain the bug list and do a lot of other stuff on the forums.

Re: Bought Dominions 3
 

As long as new multi-player games, alongside interesting discussions of the game are held, I'm not going anywhere. :)

Re: Bought Dominions 3
 

Then the MP & AARs subforum is right up your alley. There's usually several worthwhile discussions on various topic going on and the Strategy Index list of links should keep you occupied for a good while. :)

Don't forget to check out the FAQ either. :)

Re: Bought Dominions 3
 

don't think that will ever stop , anyway have fun and hopefully we'll see ya around.

Re: Bought Dominions 3
 

Welcome and I hope you have alot of spare time.:)

Re: Bought Dominions 3
 

"being -relatively- easy to understand" is something different in my opinion ;-) ... but i agree in all the other points ...
Welcome to the forums !

Re: Bought Dominions 3
 

When I show the game to people, its not that they find it hard to understand. They just tend to be surprised that its not quick to understand. They are used to games where a 1 minute explanation would seem excessive and it would cover everything about the game.
Not our Dom3. :)

A strategy Guide for Dominions would not be a book.
It would be encyclopedias.

Gandalf Parker

Re: Bought Dominions 3
 

Ah yes, the idiot screening test: "Prove that you are able to make it past the UI. Then we may talk."

Re: Bought Dominions 3
 

It does seem to save us from some of the users I see common in other game forums. :troll:

Re: Bought Dominions 3
 

Yep, a game that is difficult to get to grips with is a great way to keep a good, if small, community :)

It may not be ideal from a sales point of view, but it suits me just fine as a player.

I've played two other online strategy games in the past where the same applies. What separates this from some other games I've played in the past is that the community seems to grow rather than stagnating. I started a few months ago, a couple of years after release, and have seen many new players arrive in that time. I'm really not sure why that is to be honest, its certainly not a massive marketing push or anything.

Well, in one of those other games, though the concept was great the developer was not what I'd call existing customer oriented, which was the downfall, and he also seemed to lack some fundamental understanding about the priority of good game mechanics and balance over fluffy content. So established players left in droves, and the game was only fun if around good players.

The second was really, really good with an excellent developer. It did lack the scope of Dom though, the vast fantasy setting seems to be a big drawing point here, so that may be it. He has been planning a fantasy version of his game for a while (Roman based at present), maybe that will be what it needs to take off.

Finally the business model is different. The other games were web-based and had subscription fees, while Dom 3 is an upfront cost and that's it. Perhaps that appeals more to people - certainly it works out cheaper after only a few months. That we keep getting new content is a massive bonus - hopefully a Dom 4 does appear in the future, Illwinter are building and supporting a growing customer base, sales are guaranteed if they release a major addition/expansion :)

Re: Bought Dominions 3
 

I think I just failed the test. What is the UI?:confused:

Re: Bought Dominions 3
 

User Interface. :)

Re: Bought Dominions 3
 

Thanks Balbarian. Never would have gotten that one with a thousand guesses.

Re: Bought Dominions 3
 

Let me guess, but you would have known what a GUI is, right? ;)

Reminds me of math classes. Write an equation in the parameter t, people can't solve it. Write it with the variable x, suddenly they know how to. :p

Re: Bought Dominions 3
 

Right on the money Ich.

And I can solve the equation for "t".:)

Re: Bought Dominions 3
 

t = truth
truth is constant
thus t != x

Re: Bought Dominions 3
 

t is an abstraction of time and space. Think R'lyeh.
x marks the spot, so it is the here and now of t.

In other words, what KO said. :)

Re: Bought Dominions 3
 

lol

Reminds me some of my pupils, some aeons ago, when I had to teach basic maths and "general culture" to "difficult" people.

The teacher :
- You know that whatever "a" is, a/a = 1.

The classroom :
- Yes Master !

The performant pupil near the front rank :
- That's awful, Master. Then, we can also say that whatever "b" and "a" are, b/a = 2 !

The teacher :
- sob

PS : and believe me, it's not fictionnal :rolleyes:

Re: Bought Dominions 3
 

'C' is for cookie-that's good enough for me!

Re: Bought Dominions 3
 

D,
Welcome to the fold!

I apply my EVA (Entertainment Value Analysis) scale to all game purchases. Take the hours you play the game times the current minimum wage (say $5.85 )and compare this extended cost to the purchase price. Many many games on my shelf do not make the cut. The clerks at Gamespot don't understand this proration and won't refund any difference ("I only got $16 of fun out of this $50 game and want to return it for the difference") ;)

The EVA for Dom3, (hrs x mw)/cost is ... very high

-SSJ

PS Only two hits for quoted "Entertainment Value Analysis" on google. Copyright pending... ;)

Re: Bought Dominions 3
 

Nice analysis SSJ - i will tread lightly on your intellectual property. Here goes...

I offer a similar equation but simpler: Cost/Divided by Hours of Entertainment (that is diplomatic - my wife might call it Hours Wasted, but that is another discussion). This gives you an indication of how much you paid for your enjoyment.

By that ratio, Dom 3 is the cheapest form of entertainment known to humanity!

By comparison, a movie in the States - about $5 per hour, most PC games about $3 - $50 per hour, trying to woo a woman $10 -100s...

Re: Bought Dominions 3
 

DC,

ha!

The word "trying" is well chosen for many of us ;) I'm unsure how well my wife would react to learning of her "Entertainment Value". Made me think of something witty I can't write here...

-SSJ

Re: Bought Dominions 3
 

Her Entertainment Value is lower than Dom3? Egads! :shock:

Re: Bought Dominions 3
 

Ive had many games there were prettier and had better sound and nicer gui etc etc. They cost me as much or more, and lasted maybe a month on my computer. Actually I think that games like that are average for me.

I own multiple copies of each dominions game. I consider it the best money spent on games. (oh yeah, and one copy of Conquest of Ellysium)

Gandalf Parker

Re: Bought Dominions 3
 

I'm going to back slooowly away from this thread....

ss....j

Re: Bought Dominions 3
 

Don't look back sansanjuan. This can only end badly when your better half looks over your shoulder. :)

Re: Bought Dominions 3
 

When I played the demo for the first time I found it hard to understand but reading the strategy Guide for Dominions REALLY helped :)