do you use many DIFFERENT gods? Can you do web pages?

Gandalf Parker · #1 April 1st, 2004, 03:21 PM

If it absolutely has to come to this then I might tackle this. But there are others out there that I think could do a better job. Im thinking this is a good project for someone who feels they arent an "expert" yet and still experimenting, but looking for something they can contribute.

Dominions one had a "stuff" page and at the mottom was a very short, all laid out, pretender for each nation along with some very basic starter notes on how to play that nation. I would REALLY like to see someone grab these off of the internet archive machine, and update them for Dom2 while adding the new nations to it.

Although any effort is bound to get alot of discussion here, I dont see it as being that the suggestions have to be the best possible. The idea is for newbies who want an idea for a pretender. If they try it and during the game see things they would change before doing another game then that would be great. Variety is probably good. A combat god, rainbow pretender, etc.

Anyway, here is the original set. Near the bottom of the page.
http://web.archive.org/web/200306031...com/stuff.html

[ April 01, 2004, 14:05: Message edited by: Gandalf Parker ]

Cainehill · #2 April 2nd, 2004, 01:53 AM

Good idea, Gandalf.

I'll be happy to design and write up a sample Pretender for Machaka, as that's one of the nations new to Dom2, and one I've done a fair amount of play and experimentation with.

Heh. It took me a while to find that there wasn't already one of the existing ones, as I was looking after seeing the ones for Dom1.

Can't currently host a web page for it though, especially as any site I put up with likely go 'poof' in less than 2 months.

PDF · #3 April 2nd, 2004, 01:54 PM

What'll be fine would be to have someone host a "Pretender Library" showing different designs, their usage, strengths/weaknesses, the units, spells and combos that work with etc..
Maybe hosting can be assured by IW, as they are doing for mods ?

#4 April 2nd, 2004, 03:27 PM

Excellent idea, I could host the contributions on my website. I will also suggest myself some complete designs in my "guides".
Another suggestion : could IW add a new option in the game setup, something like "let the computer design my god and dominion". The computer does create the other gods already (to be controlled by the AI), is this so hard to make one more god for the human player if he asks it ?

Cheers

Gandalf Parker · #5 April 2nd, 2004, 04:00 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Sunray_be:
Excellent idea, I could host the contributions on my website.

I meant to mention that I could also host it at www.dom2minions.com (YAY it finaly works, check it out). But it would probably fit other sites more than mine. Now if someone wrote a random god generator then THAT would fit my site. (hmmmm, new thought. I will have to consider that.....)

Quote:

I will also suggest myself some complete designs in my "guides".

Good idea.

I had trouble doing one. One of the things I liked about the old "stuff" examples was that it was short. Nice storyline, nice design but not meant to be the ultimate killer example for that nation, and excellent pointers about the pros and cons of that nation as Illwinter would probably do best.

I did try to do some but I couldnt seem to avoid making it 5 pages long and/or too specific into my personal (often strange) tactical twists for that nation. Not at all blending in with the examples I was trying to add to.

Another thought I just had is that there is probably no real reason NOT to have a download link for each one also. Its not a big file. Personally I think it would be better for the new player to make them but an option to snag it might be ok.

In fact, for a starter file that the FAQ's here can link to I would bring up my original suggestion of a single zip containing default gods for every nation and 1 game already started. Maybe the Jotun walkthru one. Or one with the player as Ulm with the first turn actions all done and the turn saved. That way if he brings it up it asks "continue where I left off" and lets him see the choices.

Quote:

Another suggestion : could IW add a new option in the game setup, something like "let the computer design my god and dominion". The computer does create the other gods already (to be controlled by the AI), is this so hard to make one more god for the human player if he asks it ?

Wow, excellent thought. You are right. Since the AI is supposed to "cheat" only based on its difficulty by adding points... a "normal" AI god-building routine should create a perfectly legal god for a player. It would probably have a couple of obvious "why did it put that?" choices in it but thats good to spur the new user to make one of their own which is better.

Hmmmmm I was considering adding that it could have a range of buttons offering all of the different levels including the "impossible AI" boosted one but that could be a problem since it would save a god which would be a cheat in mutliplayer games. It would probably be best to lock it at normal. Maybe even the "easy" AI routine to make it more compelling to do one of your own since easy wouldnt even use as many points building it as the user gets doing it manually.

[ April 02, 2004, 14:05: Message edited by: Gandalf Parker ]

Psitticine · #6 April 2nd, 2004, 04:38 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Gandalf Parker:

quote:
Originally posted by Sunray_be:
Another suggestion : could IW add a new option in the game setup, something like "let the computer design my god and dominion". The computer does create the other gods already (to be controlled by the AI), is this so hard to make one more god for the human player if he asks it ?

Wow, excellent thought. You are right. Since the AI is supposed to "cheat" only based on its difficulty by adding points... a "normal" AI god-building routine should create a perfectly legal god for a player. It would probably have a couple of obvious "why did it put that?" choices in it but thats good to spur the new user to make one of their own which is better.

Hmmmmm I was considering adding that it could have a range of buttons offering all of the different levels including the "impossible AI" boosted one but that could be a problem since it would save a god which would be a cheat in mutliplayer games. It would probably be best to lock it at normal. Maybe even the "easy" AI routine to make it more compelling to do one of your own since easy wouldnt even use as many points building it as the user gets doing it manually.

I also think that sounds like a good idea. I think the allure of designing for one's self (how many people ever use those "pre-generated parties" in an RPG anyway?) would make sure there's a reason to do it yourself.