What is really new?

[Meglobob]

Anyone who has not got Dom2 but really likes fantasy 4xstrategy games (like me) then Dom3 is a no brainer. Get in at the beginning and have maxium fun.

I loved Diablo, especially 2, still play it, wicked game.

Never played Warcraft, just one of those games that passed me by.

[Nerfix]

The two first Warcraft games were really boringly...sÿmmetric. I'd like to love the 3rd game of the series but it's too fast for my tastes. I like the concepts there though.

[BigJMoney]

In your OP, you mention that some of these things might have been added to DomII in a patch, but that's a mistake. One of the reasons they are creating a new version is precisely because some of these things cannot be patched into Dominions 2. They've actually rewritten a lot of stuff and developed new things. For example, I bet if they could have patched in the AI's ability to use build castles, they would have.

=$= Big J Money =$=

[Gandalf Parker]

@EBH:
Im thinking that my solo-player view and linux server focus are what landed me in the beta-group. Dom2 disapoointed me abit in solo-play (just a little) but I understood that it was primarily a multiplayer game. Solo play capability felt like it was a cheap tutorial that you were meant to move out of.

But Dom3 has definetly made large strides to be both MP and SP. Im very happy. By the way, insane Gandalf got test games cranked up to 3000x3000 pixel and 1500 province maps. And 79 players (well the test group wasnt that large, it was padded with AIs). Obviously the game isnt going to do that for most players. They have to select an era and everyone play one of the offered races within that era. But with map and mod commands you can force every nation slot to play MUHAHAHAahahahhaha *evil insane laugh*

[DominionsFan]

I respect Blizzard. They've made a huge company from a very small one. WoW is the most popular MMORPG. Millions are playing it. Also they are upgrading their games very well. I stopped playing with WoW, but just because I wouldn't have enough time for it anymore. Real life and MMORPGs...well I prefer real life.

[jowe01]

Thanks for all the answers. Do not get me wromg, I think DOM2 was a great game, hence DOM3, which I (and most of the respondents here)regard as mainly being "more of the same" will be a great game, too.

OTOH, while I like to get more of what I loved in DOM2, is this really the way to make a new game nearly 3 years after the last installment was published? I still find that more suitable to a service patch or an extension. But that is just my opinion. I am definitely going to give the demo a try.

[danm]

Well, I have gotten more gameplay and enjoyment out of the Dom2 demo than I did out of HOMM5.

So I'll be ordering 3 as soon as there is a smidge of sunlight in the bank account to fit it in.

Really, if you spread the the money you spent for 2 across all the hours you enjoyed it, don't you think you kinda owe an update payment ;-)

if you think of it as buying a few of pitchers of beer for a couple of guys that have managed to completely ruin your life for months at a time, then maybe it won't seem so bad.

[Endoperez]

jowe01 said:
Thanks for all the answers. Do not get me wromg, I think DOM2 was a great game, hence DOM3, which I (and most of the respondents here)regard as mainly being "more of the same" will be a great game, too.

OTOH, while I like to get more of what I loved in DOM2, is this really the way to make a new game nearly 3 years after the last installment was published? I still find that more suitable to a service patch or an extension. But that is just my opinion. I am definitely going to give the demo a try.

That's a very healthy attitude. Just give this thread a bump and your opinion once you've tried the demo, been addicted and bought the game.

[st.patrik]

Dom II was a great step beyond DomPPP, but my take is that Dom 3 is the perfection of the changes that Dom II initiated.

I loaded up Dom II today. I noticed immediately that some of the commands that I have grown used to in Dom 3 weren't there: things like being able to resize the commanders bar, or hide the commands to the right-hand side, etc. I noticed the lack of the information-rich interface that I have grown used to: in Dom 3 I can see gem amounts, magical items, province descriptions, etc. in the main view. I recalled some of the non-particle-ized spell effects (even things like poison) which looked pretty silly in Dom II. Dom II was a great step forward, but a lot of the changes weren't complete - the game creation process for example was in some ways a step back from DomPPP. In Dom 3 the changes are pretty much complete, as well as a whole lot of stuff added (such as the aging system, national spells, the different eras)

In other words, I think it's a better, more complete game than Dom II, even though it is similar in content and style. Much more than a service patch, since most aspects of the game have been re-examined and thoughtfully changed. See below for a short list off the top of my head for new things that I'm particularly grateful are included:

• pretender creation independant of game creation (how bitterly I wished I had this in Dom II!)
• random opponents in game creation
• several different AI tactics, as well as AI strengths
• different eras (each with different emphases)
• total gems available listed in main screen
• commanders' icons are resizeable, and show gems + magical items equipped, as well as troops being commanded
• national summons!
• new spells/items/summons designed to deal with demons (hate those demons!)
• damage done in combat shown
• eradication of most all the old and nasty spell graphics (Slime, Poison)
• new battlefields, depending on terrain
• terrain survival actually makes something of a difference (at least for swamp survival - hopefully we can convince the devs to add more!)
• new independant troops (toad, horse, lion, bear, wolf, deer tribes)
• new fortress types
• new option of awakening, making it more viable to create a great bless strategy.
• bless effects shown when creating a pretender
• ability to get out of windows (such a spell lists) without scrolling to the bottom
• shift-click to recruit multiple units at once
• in SP, clicking 'end turn' automatically takes you to the next turn
• less friendly fire (IMHO)

[alexti]

jowe01 said:
Thanks for all the answers. Do not get me wromg, I think DOM2 was a great game, hence DOM3, which I (and most of the respondents here)regard as mainly being "more of the same" will be a great game, too.

OTOH, while I like to get more of what I loved in DOM2, is this really the way to make a new game nearly 3 years after the last installment was published? I still find that more suitable to a service patch or an extension. But that is just my opinion. I am definitely going to give the demo a try.

I'm not sure what concept of "Game N+1" (sequel) you have. I find that these kind of changes (various improvements, some new stuff, some changes in mechanics while retaining the core gameplay) fit my idea of a sequel. I would imagine if Illwinter made some really new game they would call it somehow differently (not "Dominions").

In any case, what difference would it make whether it is called sequel, service patch or expansion?