Dominions is the digital version of Survivor. Diplomacy is in my opinion a crucial part of the game, as it should IMO be in a MP game. I used to play quite a few "gunboat" Diplomacy games by mail in the late 80's because I too thought at the time it provides a better measure of game-skill. I later found out it was most likely because I did suck in the English language. I still don't think I am too silver-tongued (I have the bad tendency to get rash when I really truly want something
), but to me that is how MP games should be.
Then again, I suggest people to try gunboat games. Some do like them very much (talking about Diplomacy here, but most likely true for Dominions too), but most of those who I am aware of regard gunboat games something were you can try out new strategies in a fast game that will be soon over anyway. But as I said, some people seem to love them above all, so each to their own
For me this game and Heracles game are the first experiences with games using no statistics. I don't think no-stat games are my cup of tea, because it does seem diminish the fun of the game for me. There is no way to get a general glance at the map and know who you should go for. The top-dog is always the dangerous one, and it is in my opinion simply bad gameplay to *not* go after the leader (if you want to stay competitive right to the end, that is).