What will your first game be and why?

Sorlakind · #1 August 29th, 2006, 11:15 AM

Ulm, middle-age in a mid-sized map with a medium number of nations with normal (i.e. medium) AI.

Why? First, because Ulm was the nation I played the most in DomII - it was easy for newbies like me (for example setting up the scales was a no-brainer). But mainly, because I want to see if in a *magic setting* the "rebalance for supply and incomes" allows for a conventional-type army to have a long-term usefulness and actually defeat, or, in the least, to cause a non-negligible dent in magical armies - in middle-to-late games, magics dominate and conventional and national troops are next to useless.

Another of my gripes was, that if you were fighting against some undead nation (e.g. Ermor), their death scales would lay waste to provinces in such a manner that regrowth was not possible, IOW, a fight between, let us say, Man and Ermor, was highly unbalanced because Life didn't have the means to counter Death. Same comments for Good vs. Evil where there is a whole school of evil magic (Blood with the possible addition of Death) but the few Good summons (Harbingers and Angels) were actually not that good. So a *second* game would probably be a Man vs. some Blood and/or Death nations to see if the new Uber-angels and the Good can finally kick some Evil ***.

st.patrik · #2 August 29th, 2006, 02:56 PM

Quote:

Sorlakind said:
the few Good summons (Harbingers and Angels) were actually not that good.

No sure how much I can say here, but I'm fairly sure you'll be impressed.

Endoperez · #3 August 29th, 2006, 03:37 PM

Just one thing - you might want to play as Marignon instead of Man. It should be easier to test out the angel-themed summons with them.

okiN · #4 August 29th, 2006, 03:50 PM

Quote:

Endoperez said:
Just one thing - you might want to play as Marignon instead of Man. It should be easier to test out the angel-themed summons with them.

Wait, what? You mean there will be summons that use holy power?

Endoperez · #5 August 29th, 2006, 04:01 PM

Quote:

okiN said:

Quote:

Endoperez said:
Just one thing - you might want to play as Marignon instead of Man. It should be easier to test out the angel-themed summons with them.

Wait, what? You mean there will be summons that use holy power?

I never said that.

Marignon is better at summoning angel-themed beings than Man. I wonder how many ways that can be interpreted!

However, even if (some) priests can summon units, it's not this kind of summoning. You might remember that all priestly power is now holy - to the nation using it, at least. It was mentioned back in one of the Dev Diaries almost two years back IIRC. There are still reanimating nations, but their priests are just like all the others. Or at least pretty close.

okiN · #6 August 29th, 2006, 05:33 PM

Quote:

Endoperez said:
I never said that.

Marignon is better at summoning angel-themed beings than Man. I wonder how many ways that can be interpreted!

Heh, my interpretation was, indeed, overly optimistic and not entirely serious. Where does this info come from, though? Was it in the dev logs or are you a beta tester or what? If you're a beta tester, are you forbidden from revealing more or just choosing not to?

Quote:

Endoperez said:
However, even if (some) priests can summon units, it's not this kind of summoning. You might remember that all priestly power is now holy - to the nation using it, at least. It was mentioned back in one of the Dev Diaries almost two years back IIRC. There are still reanimating nations, but their priests are just like all the others. Or at least pretty close.

That's interesting. What's happened to the nation-specific undead spells, then? They simply use normal holy power but are restricted to certain nations?

Daynarr · #7 August 29th, 2006, 06:22 PM

Pythium is another nation that can summon angels. I prefer them when I go for that strategy. Btw. Angels KICK A..!

Endoperez · #8 August 30th, 2006, 03:22 AM

Quote:

okiN said:
Where does this info come from, though? Was it in the dev logs or are you a beta tester or what? If you're a beta tester, are you forbidden from revealing more or just choosing not to?

24th oct
* Version 2.57
23rd oct
* Angels nation restricted.

I am a beta-tester, but to tell the truth, I'm surprised no one analyzed the progress log that well. If angels are nation-restricted, Marignon HAS to be one of the nations that still can summon them. Also, from the dev diaries:

"Another topic is the Angels. I like Angels, more than Devils actually, but I never really liked the Angels in Dominions. They are ugly, they are friendly and they don't
sing. Devils are way cooler, and that is bad. Bad to the bone. Angels rule, or should rule. Impossible to behold they mete out the justice of the Lord or praise Him with their otherworldly hymns. So now the Angels have new sprites that I like. I have the harbinger as my new forum avatar. Seems appropriate. Now they have to be revamped to be on par with Arch Devils. There is also a new angelic being to match the Demon Lords. Feels good."

I'll mention one more thing that I experienced myself. I browsed through the units, and found a huge, unfamiliar creature with many pairs of wings. The face and legs of this figure were covered by its wings. I won't mention its name not to frighten anyone unfamiliar with the etymology of Caelumian names.

I read its description. It mentioned many things, including that seeing its face would (blind/kill/harm) any unworthy being. I don't remember the exact wording any more, but I remember thinking that it was cool. And then I realized that in the battle, I would see its face. And for the slightest moment, I was worried.

The angels in Dom3 will be just fine...