i just ordered the game

[Endoperez]

Archonsod said:
It would certainly be thinner.

It's a good point about the background though. Dominions has always had (at least for me) the feeling that it's a distinct world, but without the backstory you only ever see the edges. It's especially true with the new ages letting you 'see' empires rise and fall, it's just a shame the player doesn't get much chance to get a real feel for those empires.

That said, I suppose it does encourage you to use your imagination while playing, just like back in the good old days...

Actually, reading the descriptions of all the units, commanders, possible summons, and eventually heroes (of all the ages the nation exists in) is enough to give quite a good picture of the various nations. About the only things missing are "between the ages" things, like how did the Seal Guards of EA Agartha fail, or exactly what was the Malediction of Ulm about.