How to successfully utilize your "Dominion Wall"?

[BigJMoney]

Hello,

I've got a new question to open up discussion about a fundamental concept of the game that I have yet to grasp. A big part of this game is the way that dominion affects your combat ability. It gives your troops morale bonuses and it directly affects the strength of your pretender and prophet. I am currently trying to master Ulm with a strategy that gives me dominion 5. I've noticed that in the beginning it's easy to attack indie provinces where I have dominion presence, thus taking advantage of those bonuses. I call this forward spread of dominion my "Dominion Wall". Later in the game, when I'm up against other nations I might be successful in getting this wall up initially, but after I attack into it I find that I cannot get it to jump forward for the next wave of attacks.

Is this normal? If I changed my strategy to use dominion 10, would I see a noticeable difference? Is it better as a dominion 5 nation to ignore the dominion wall entirely and utilize dominion purely for defensive purposes? I tend to play with Order, Productivity, Growth +3 so I have cash to buy temples in every province and still support many Ulmish troops and researchers.

=$= Big J Money =$=

[KissBlade]

Actually this is a pretty common newbie mistake I think since when I first started playing I used to take dominion pretty high as well. Now I just use dominion 3 or 4 instead. The only time dominion really matters is with races like Abysia or Caelum who needs temperature scales and even that's pretty easy to swing with temples and such.

[Endoperez]

KissBlade said:
Actually this is a pretty common newbie mistake I think since when I first started playing I used to take dominion pretty high as well. Now I just use dominion 3 or 4 instead. The only time dominion really matters is with races like Abysia or Caelum who needs temperature scales and even that's pretty easy to swing with temples and such.

I haven't dared to take that low dominion in a long, long time. In small maps, high-dominion opponent would force me to use resources on temples, and in long games, stealth preachers and raiders would mean that I couldn't benefit from my scales. Of course, I usually take positive scales and tend to rely on them, so your mileage may vary...
One of Gandalf's "experimental" (i.e. interesting concept that probably doesn't work) is to take VERY negative scales with a nation that doesn't rely too much on its capital, let your dominion die out almost everywhere, and use the points for something good. Like triple-bless. Of course, one'd have to be Mictlan to be able to increase dominion fast enough when it's needed, and even that's risky.

[BigJMoney]

Well, what about the Dominion Wall, though? Is it something you rely upon? Do you count on being able to attack into your own Dominion rather than attacking someone else's, or is it more of a convenience?

=$=

[Gandalf Parker]

Sometimes I rely on it heavily, and sometimes I purposely try to stay ahead of it (if its a damaging dominion). But keep in mind that it does not follow your armies. It grows with temples and preaching. And some with your prophet and pretender. Sometimes other specialized units and even equipment.

[shovah]

Unless your using your prophet/pretender in combat alot you shouldnt worry about the small dominion change from dominion, if you rely on it get a tough commander (ie black lord) and give them a herald lance and a horror helm. Make them 'stay behind troops', he/they will provide a standard to keep your troops in the fight and fear to scare the enemies making up for enemy dominion.

[Graeme Dice]

KissBlade said:
Actually this is a pretty common newbie mistake I think since when I first started playing I used to take dominion pretty high as well. Now I just use dominion 3 or 4 instead.

It's not a newbie mistake to take a high dominion. I never play with a starting dominion less than 6. With a dominion strength of 3, your temples will only spread dominion 3 out of 10 turns, whereas anybody with 6 will have twice as many dominion spreading events.

[KissBlade]

I've never had trouble with dominion with dominion 3 or 4. I'd much rather spend the extra points on scales/magic. There are rare times I can find dominion spread immediately important (such as VQ, Ermor etc) but those are more exceptions than rules.

[alexti]

Taking Dominion 3 or 4 is really risky. If you start near some high-dominion nation(s) you're pretty much doomed. Not necessarily because of dominion death, but by having to spend too much resources on priests and temples.

I think that the optimal dominion (if your strategy doesn't require high dominion) is 5 or 6.

[KissBlade]

If I start near someone who spend all their points in a high dominion, I'll be sure to take his free provinces with my vastly superior army + pretender.