[st.patrik]

There is a certain amount of this kind of thing already in place in Dom I, you know. Of course it's not to the complexity you're talking about, but for example flails (or is it morning stars) do extra damage to targets with shields. And then there is that whole thing about long weapons and morale checks. So what weapon you're wielding does make a difference.

I do like the sound of the suggestion, in terms of realism. But I'm not sure it would be worth it for a couple of reasons:

1. You have to field a diverse army anyway. Practically speaking the only times you'd use this is late game when you're fighting only one opponent who has only one troop type. Early game you're tussling with independants, which are differently armed in each province - you're not actually going to not attack until you've built up the correct 'counter'. Middle game you're fighting perhaps mainly one human opponent, but you can't afford to give yourself a liability by having 90% of your force armed the same way, just in case some other player figures it out and attacks you with the kind of armour you're not prepared to handle. Finally, in the end-game, when you've got fewer nations so you know who you're attacking and such, it would only work against enemies who have the same kind of armour on all their units, unless you have UNGODLY intel about what troops they are fielding. So maybe Ermor, and Ulm, and perhaps one or two more nations - and that's not counting for them hiring mercenaries, or raising independant troops, etc.

2. In practice, in most realistic situations, it wouldn't make that much difference - I mean, if you have skilled 'maul' troops against less skilled swordsmen, and the armour such that the swordsmen had the advantage, it's still very possible that the 'maul' guys would win out, since they are more skilled in general. I think it would only change the outcome of about 1 in 100 battles.

Having said all that I think it would add great flavour to the game, and as such I'd probably be in favour of it - but I don't think it would have a very profound effect on gameplay - and if it were overdone to the point that it did it might very well mess up a good thing. And I think we all agree Dominions has a good thing going.

[ October 08, 2003, 00:14: Message edited by: st.patrik ]