Noob questions!

[ywl]

Originally posted by DominionsFAN:
I am very new to Dominions, so I have some strategic questions:

1. What is the best combination of magic schools to make a decent pretender? Take lot of astral levels? I read something about those magic duels but I don't understand it at all.

I won't call myself a vet but here is my two-cents.

I'm not trying to put you down . But if you even need to ask this question, the best pretenders will be a Wyrm with nothing, a Moloch with only Fire 3 (for generating devils) . Put all other nation points into the beneficial scales.

Recruit all heavy infantries (some minor variations for some of the nations). Rely on brute physical force and economical wealth. You can beat the computer easily with this approach. It'll be more tricky while playing human, but you'll at least survive to the mid-game to see what can go wrong . You'll eventually figure other combos to give your opponents some nasty surprises but such simple, direct approach can carry you far enough.

Dom II might be a totally different beast. We'll have to wait and see.

[Pocus]

just an added note, if you liked in your youth those surprise boxes which had half a dozen unknown toys, then choose luck +3 (and some disorder scale).
You wil get interesting random events, like mines which will boost permanently gold and resource productions (well mostly gold) in the province targeted by the event.

[Nerfix]

Before this turns into The Eternal Duel Between House Order and House Disorder and Luck, i'll just say this:

Taking Order, Growth and Productivity is like making investments.

Taking Luck and Disorder is like gambling.

I'm not saying which one is better...
It also depends on the nation.

[Kristoffer O]

Originally posted by Pocus:
just an added note, if you liked in your youth those surprise boxes which had half a dozen unknown toys, then choose luck +3 (and some disorder scale).
You wil get interesting random events, like mines which will boost permanently gold and resource productions (well mostly gold) in the province targeted by the event.

Even more fun: take disorder 3 and misfortune 3. You will now be able to see your empire crumble without the intervention of nasty enemies. You can do it all by yourself. There are more bad events than good ones so if you like diversity I recommend this approach.

[Mortifer]

Dominions is very unique and lot more complicated than the usual strategy games, so you can choose lot of different tactics to win.

[QuarianRex]

I have a question about the deathmatches that occur every now and then. I sent a dusk elder into th first one which he subsequently won. Ever since, he has been automaticaly sent back whenever a new deathmatch occurs. Thus far he has won every time. My question is, am I supposed to be getting a reward for remaining champion?

I haven't recieved a prize since the first event (and even then it was a cursed trident). Do you only get the prize if you defeat the champion? Is the only prize that crumby cursed trident that gets passed on to each new champ?

[Nerfix]

Originally posted by QuarianRex:
I have a question about the deathmatches that occur every now and then. I sent a dusk elder into th first one which he subsequently won. Ever since, he has been automaticaly sent back whenever a new deathmatch occurs. Thus far he has won every time. My question is, am I supposed to be getting a reward for remaining champion?

I haven't recieved a prize since the first event (and even then it was a cursed trident). Do you only get the prize if you defeat the champion? Is the only prize that crumby cursed trident that gets passed on to each new champ?

Yup, that crumby cursed trident and a exp boost if i remember correctly.