Can I buy multiple serials? Developers/Shrapnel.

[Zenchess]

Hello. I recently purchased dominions 3 with the goal of playing it multiplayer with 2 of my friends who live in the same city as me. I was under the impression that for a lan game we wouldn't have to buy multiple copies. I realize that this was a mistake, I should have asked on the forums first before assuming this.

If it's at all possible, I'd like to buy 2 more serials so that we can play the game on my lan. I'd expect a reduced price, after all I'm not buying the CD or manual.

I don't expect this to actually happen, I just thought I'd throw the request out there and see if I got lucky. I can prove that I purchased dom3 if you'd like. If not, I'll just have to play it pbem or tcp/ip with other people who've bought it - there's no way I'm spending 150$ just so I can show this game to my friends. Thanks for your time.

[AStott]

The demo version should be able to play in the same multiplayer game as the commercial version. The demo provides 40 turns of play and research up to level 4 (assuming it's the same Dom 2). That is plenty of time for a shorter game. If you are concerned about the price to just show it to your friends, let them run the demo while you host with the full version.

[thejeff]

You could also play hotseat. Not as good, obviously, but for a demonstration might be useful.

[DominionsFan]

Zenchess said:
Hello. I recently purchased dominions 3 with the goal of playing it multiplayer with 2 of my friends who live in the same city as me. I was under the impression that for a lan game we wouldn't have to buy multiple copies. I realize that this was a mistake, I should have asked on the forums first before assuming this.

If it's at all possible, I'd like to buy 2 more serials so that we can play the game on my lan. I'd expect a reduced price, after all I'm not buying the CD or manual.

I don't expect this to actually happen, I just thought I'd throw the request out there and see if I got lucky. I can prove that I purchased dom3 if you'd like. If not, I'll just have to play it pbem or tcp/ip with other people who've bought it - there's no way I'm spending 150$ just so I can show this game to my friends. Thanks for your time.

Eh I don't think that you can "purchase serials only".

[BigJMoney]

I was going to post a message saying that something like this might be worth a try, but then I considered something.

If your friends aren't willing to pay full price for this game, you might have a heck of a time trying to get them to play it with you on a regular basis. It's certainly worth the $55, and if they don't agree with you that it has that value, then they aren't going to be as excited about it anyway. Dominions is a good series, but don't forget it's a niche game. If your friends are really into strategy and they like trying new games, then a demonstration (hotseat or MP demo game) should be enough to prove its value. Anyone who claims to be an avid strategy gamer and then goes out and buys retail game "X" instead of Dominions ought to reconsider their claim. I say as a fan, of course. I have some friends I'd like to play it, and I think they would, but one is in college and the other recently got laid off and money is a problem for them. I'm hoping when things look better maybe one of them will be able to buy it.

=$= Big J Money =$=

[Gandalf Parker]

Im sure that Shrapnel has looked at the concept of serial orders only. The game would support that very well. Unfortunately I dont think that Dominions falls into the right category (yet) to make that worthwhile. The community is too small and tight to make that an advantage for Shrapnel.

Possibly with Dom4. Then it will be large enough to make avoiding the production costs worthwhile, and drawing of new players likely. It might even make it worthwhile to allow BitTorrent distribution of the game itself and just sell serials. We will have to see how well Dom3 does before anyone can make a guess about Dom4.