The docs suck! (rant)

[jaytau]

A bit of a rant: I remember hearing that they didnt want to distribute the docs with the demo cuz they wanted to make it more difficult for pirates.

After I got the game, I have to say THE DOCS SUCK!

There is like 10 pages of 'real' information that is actually usefull, the other 120 pages are full of regurgitated spell and item descriptions. Man what a let down.

It would really have put warm fuzzies in my heart and feel that the doc writers actually earned their money if they put descriptions of the units, races, etc.. Anything EXCEPT the stuff that's already in in-game help.

BUT, I know how it is... we already bought the game, so why bother having the doc writers spend an extra 2 weeks of writing and editing? You have our money, so mission accomplished.

Not only that, but I bet the docs were written months before content was actually finished.

AND ONE MORE THING: since the docs basically suck, why not allow people to buy the game Online? The manual is NOT helpfull enough to be nessicary.

[jaytau]

by the way, i know the 'yes-sayers' are going to say "but the nations and units are doced in-game too"....

that's not what I mean... for example, I've never played Dominions 1 before....

so how am I to know that if you pick Carion woods, that your population is going to drop even tho growth is set at 2? or that most of your units are going to be undead, which are going to require ritual spells and re-animations?

I guess that's kinda the frustrating thing... sure you can figure this stuff out on your own eventually, but 20 pages of docs devoted to the intricacies of nation administration and/or strategy would have went a long long long way.

Oh no! I can't read the in game notes on a race!

Document it!

Don't make me figure it out every different theme or read them when I select them, have them all clearly labeled with exact forumulas for everything!

Just "Yes'n" away for IW.

Seems about as appropriate as ranting on the fact that you have a manual and it isn't as thick as the Statutes for New York with that level of detail.

[jaytau]

Originally posted by Zen:
Oh no! I can't read the in game notes on a race!

Document it!

Don't make me figure it out every different theme or read them when I select them, have them all clearly labeled with exact forumulas for everything!

Just "Yes'n" away for IW.

Seems about as appropriate as ranting on the fact that you have a manual and it isn't as thick as the Statutes for New York with that level of detail.

"Yess'n" : I think forgoing 75 pages of spell descriptions (which are very easily accessable in-game) and including a 5-10 page quick-start would have been a marked improvement.

[SurvivalistMerc]

I respect both where Zen and where jaytau are coming from.

I will have to admit that I initially found the documentation somewhat lacking and found myself wishing I could buy a hintbook for the game until I realized how helpful everyone was on this site.

If you are puzzled or stumped, jaytau, just ask your questions on this board. There are many nice folks here, including it seems to me some of the folks who developed the game, who will come to your aid. Especially if you ask nicely rather than ranting.

What I dislike most about the documentation is lack of an alphabetical index, either in-game or at the end of the manual. Someone tells you xxxx is a nice spell...you have to spend a while finding its description because the descriptions are organized by school rather than by spell name. The magic items are similarly organized by power rather than by name or type of magic.

I actually enjoy finding out how powerful things are in-game. But if you are trying to get into MP, I can understand how it might be frustrating for you if the other folks you are playing with have a better idea of game mechanics than you do.

If I find myself with a lot of spare time over the holidays (unlikely), I may make an index as it is something even a complete newb could contribute to the community, mostly for use by other new players.

-SM

I believe a Terms index would probably do the job and make whatever printing cost more availiable.

Thinks I often hear are:

Sorcery: Paths in Nature, Blood, Death, Astral.
Elemental: Paths in Earth, Air, Fire, Water.

Where the Manual really helps is things like provencial defense, fortress towers by race and their weapons, reanimation and calling spirits, and the nation specific spells near the back.

I would hope they would place compiled lists; as the players have shown to do, as an index; but considering the manual isn't 20 pages of a half-asses storyline and actually provides some valuable information. I consider it very decent. For the player who wants to be instantly 'good' however, the manual is not decent, it doesn't show you how to play the game, just gives you the tools to use your mind.

Edit: One thing I don't understand is why they couldn't put in the cost of gems for forged items.

[ December 05, 2003, 18:56: Message edited by: Zen ]