Bet the CGW review helped.

#1 January 9th, 2004, 04:08 AM

Depends on the individual and how set you are in your ways and how open you are to new/old ways

Hard to say; but once you get past the base information and it's application (like shields = don't get hit from arrows, morale is determined by an average of the units in the squad and size, etc) then you get into the fun aspects of playing as opposed to just sort of trundling along.

The first hump is usually learning the interface and using it easily (via hotkeys).

The second hump is learning what is 'good' vs what is 'bad' and what is effective vs you losing (units, battles, games) without knowing why.

The third hump is finding your playstyle and how to balance the many many ways to play with how you enjoy playing effectively.

Gandalf Parker · #2 January 9th, 2004, 04:47 AM

For me Id say the learning curve was mostly licked in the first real game I played. It took me a couple of tries to decide which race sounded like fun for my type of playing. Then a couple to create a god that I felt was playable. Finally I made a game with just a couple of nations turned on as computer opponents. I didnt win but by the time I was beaten I was convinced that I was going to keep trying, alot! The next game I was pretty comfortable.

Lord Hammer · #3 January 9th, 2004, 05:18 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Gandalf Parker:
For me Id say the learning curve was mostly licked in the first real game I played. It took me a couple of tries to decide which race sounded like fun for my type of playing. Then a couple to create a god that I felt was playable. Finally I made a game with just a couple of nations turned on as computer opponents. I didnt win but by the time I was beaten I was convinced that I was going to keep trying, alot! The next game I was pretty comfortable.

That about sums it up for me too and this forum can be your most powerful "item"

.For me there are no "if's", only "when's"

.

[ January 09, 2004, 03:19: Message edited by: Lord Hammer ]

licker · #4 January 9th, 2004, 06:06 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Gandalf Parker:
For me Id say the learning curve was mostly LICKED (ED) in the first real game I played. It took me a couple of tries to decide which race sounded like fun for my type of playing. Then a couple to create a god that I felt was playable. Finally I made a game with just a couple of nations turned on as computer opponents. I didnt win but by the time I was beaten I was convinced that I was going to keep trying, alot! The next game I was pretty comfortable.

Heh, sorry...

But I don't know what I have to do with learing curves...

Wauthan · #5 January 9th, 2004, 06:30 PM

I guess Illwinter will add a step by step tutorial for Dominions 3: Fall of the Gods that explains its detailed and streamlined userinterface?

If it had not been for this forum, and particularly the works of Saber Cherry, I would simply have given up on the game and saved my money for Warlords Battlecry 3. Now I'm glad I didn't. This game is very addictive, and I eagerly await the patch. Learning the game is pretty fast actually. Mastering it enough to beat the computer on easy is a whole other matter.

PhilD · #6 January 9th, 2004, 07:42 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by tylertoo:

quote:
Originally posted by Gandalf Parker:
...IF you can get past the learning curve...

I don't know if this can be answered, but how long does it take to get past the learning curve? (I'm playing the demo with Bruce G's walkthrough right now).

Not sure. I downloaded the demo the day it was available, had the game preordered before that, play for at least one hour almost every day... and still consider myself a babbling newbie. OK, I've won games against Weak AIs at least, but still...

Of course, not everybody needs to be as lame as I am.

Gandalf Parker · #7 January 9th, 2004, 07:49 PM

When I say learning curve I dont mean beating the game. I mean just getting to the point of PLAYING the game rather than spending all your time trying to figure out how what keys to push.

I think one of the wonderful things about Dominions is that there is so MUCH distance between those two things. Ive paid just as much money for games where learning HOW to play it was about equal to deleting it for the next pretty box from the software store. Dom1 stayed active on my machines for 3 years. I see nothing that says Dom2 wont also.

[ January 09, 2004, 17:50: Message edited by: Gandalf Parker ]