Dom II, feedback please

[Gin]

I have finished playing LOL and was pondering buying Dom II.
Or, perhaps, Civ 4. I just read this comment regarding Dom II in the LOL forum.
"Dom 2 is a completely different kind of strategy game. Dom 2 is a large scale, highly detailed strategy game, whereas Land of Legends is a small scale, highly refined strategy game.
The most important thing to know is that Dom 2 has awful single player - no campaign, and poor AI in skirmish. But if you like long multiplayer games, and have a few friends who also do, then it's a good buy."

Is the single player really that bad? If so, I guess I'd better get Civ 4.

Looking for feedback guys
Gin

[NTJedi]

Single Player is not bad from my view... in fact it's better than the average TBS game.
Many people will play 4+ games and continously lose over and over... even a topic on the forum existed. The AI plays great with Ermor(large-armies)... yet does bad with Mictlan(candles weak).
I've had the game for over a year and I still do singleplayer as well as multiplayer. A few adjustments in the .map file and the average AI opponent becomes very deadly.
I recommend getting the game... or at least playing the free demo.

[Gin]

Thanks Cap. What adjustments do you recommend making?
Are they easy to make?
TY
Gin

[Ironhawk]

Yeah playing with a map that distributes forts across it would be helpful. You could also do use some mods that make things easier for the AI to cope with the complexity of dom2 (like a supply mod). Adding in CB 5.2 would also keep you, the human player, from profiting too much from some of the more well-known and vicious strategies. IMO, tho MP is where dom2 really shines.

[Gin]

Ironhawk,

Could you be more speciific about the mods to add and where to find them please?

Thanks
Gin

[NTJedi]

Have you played the DOM_2 demo ? This will help you get a feel for the game... and it convinced me to buy the game.

Once I bought the game I played several maps until I felt knowledgeable about spells, units and nations. Depending on your tastes you'll find some nations more fun and effective. There's a good chance you'll lose the first half-dozen games. Eventually you'll discover AI weaknesses allowing you to win the majority of games.
At this stage you'll want to make the game more challenging by editing the .map file. The first and easiest change is by making them allies, but since you don't have the game yet this step is many months away.

The full game installs a Dominions\Docs directory which has a guide for editing the map file... the mapedit.pdf. Only make these changes once you feel comfortable winning and you're looking for a greater challenge against the AI.

[Gin]

Thanks NT. Your advice 'feels right'.
Gin

[Gandalf Parker]

There are also some maps which can increase the solo-play experience. Ones which scatter extra surprises around, monsters, equipment. Also some which have the computer players as allies against you.

When you first start out I recommend setting the indepents strength to 5 or 6. The default of 3 will have the AI rushing you quickly

[Turin]

I´d wait for dom3. Since dom 2 is still being sold for fullprice, it doesn´t really make sense now to buy dom2 when dom 3 should be out in a couple of months.

The single player experience is probably better in civ 4, but you need a pretty good PC to enjoy it.

[shovah]

and dominions has the best repley value of any games ive played (and i used to hate turn based games before this)