Singleuser game balance

[Miles]

Originally posted by Gandalf Parker:
I was thinking along the same line but Im not sure a mod would be needed. A map might be all thats needed and be easier for a newbie to use.

Brainstorming....
A small map where the user plays Ulm. The map creates a useful god. Gives the player specific provinces with specific features.

This is what I was thinking. However, a mod WILL be required. The problem is, you are forgetting how utterly unforgiving the initial experience is. Take Ulm for example. It is probably the easiest Nation to play. However, it has about 40-eleven different units. What are they for? When would you pick one over the other? Well, after a month of experimentation and thought, you might begin to have a clue.

This first map needs to have 3 or 4 provinces. It needs a very passive opponent. And the players Nation needs to be extremely simple to play. Maybe 2 recruitable units - An archer, and A battle unit. And 4 commanders: A mage, A scout, A priest, and A battlefield commander. That's it.

With these simple pieces, you teach them how to start a game. How to save a game. How to restore a game. How to recruit units. How to assign them to a commander. How to move them. How to review a battle.

You get the picture. Dom2 is FULL of subtle, critical effects. You don't need to present the whole mindshattering bundle of complexity all at once.

The tga can have something like the Dom2 hotsheet thing that another user created as part of its image down the sides and such. And instructions on how to call up the info file for the game..

What an incredibly good idea. Or, the instructions for the tutorial can run alongside the sides.

Miles

[Gandalf Parker]

Well if you delete the special sites for Man he ends up with very vanilla independent style units. I think Bard is the only unique one left.

The more I think about a started game the more I think it would be handy. Easy to install without getting in the way of anything. It could even use one of the demo maps such as aran.tga and might be a very small zip. Maybe both. A started game using aran.map for now, with plans for a more involved tga/mod Version later.

The steps to putting a mod in place and having the game let the player use it seems like it would fall to Illwinter to properly make one work. If they liked it they might include it in the demo and have the "tutorial mod" turned on by default

[Miles]

Well, I have finished the first part of the single player tutorial. It is at:
http://grumpy.usu.edu/~miles/personal/tutor1.zip

It is about 500K. The bulk of it is a pdf file. The file contains description and pictures to help a new player learn the basics of the game.

It includes a mod, map, and tga.

I have finished the first lesson. I am about 1/2 way thru the second lesson.

I would be gratefull for any comments.

Here is the intro text from the beginning of the .pdf:
******************************************
Tutorial1 instructions. ver.6 23Jan2004

This tutorial is intended to aquaint you with the game of Dominions2. This tutorial assumes that you have patched your game to Version 2.06 The tutorial was written using Linux, OpenOffice 1.0.2, nedit, and gimp. I captured the graphic images using the utility xwd.

Dominions2 is a game that has evolved over years to be the best multiplayer turn-based fantasy strategy wargame available.

Dom2 is a rich, complex game that will provide years of gameplay. However, it's complexity and unique design provides a steep learning curve. This tutorial is intended to help new players get started with Dom2.

Installation of map and mod:
To use this tutorial, you must first install the various tutorial files to the right places. The tutorial includes the following pieces:
tutor1.dm (tutor1 mod programming)
tutor1 (directory)
tutor1/tutor1.pdf (this file)
tutor1/tutor1icon.tga (tutor1 mod icon)
turor1/tutflag.tga (tutor1 mod banner)
tutor1/tutor1.tga (tutor1 map graphics)
tutor1/tutor1.map (tutor1 map programming)

The tutor1.dm file and the tutor1 directory go in the Dom2 mods directory. On my linux box, this is: /home/miles/dominions2/mods

Next, the two map components (/tutor1/tutor1.tga and /tutor1/tutor1.map) should be copied to the Dom2 map directory. On my linux box, they end up at: /usr/local/games/dominions2/maps/tutor1.tga
/usr/local/games/dominions2/maps/tutor1.map

Lesson #1: Victory by Conquest.

Subjects in Lesson 1: Beginning the game; Controlling mods; Combat pretenders; Creating a game; Playing a game; Overview of map screen; Saving/Restoring; Giving orders to units; Recruiting new units; Generating the next turn; Reviewing the Messages; Taking an enemy fortress; Victory
by conquest.


Lesson 2: Victory by Dominion.

Subjects: Creating a Prophet; Constructing buildings. Preaching;
Dominion victory.
*******************************************

[Miles]

I have updated my Dom2 tutorial. Changes include:
- Seperation of the .pdf into parts. One for each lesson.
- Completed lesson 2 - Victory by Dominion.
- Cleanup of language thru-out.

I could use some pointers on things I have screwed up. For example: I have no idea where the pieces should go under other OS's.

The tutorial currently consists of 2 lessons:
- Lesson 1 Victory by Conquest
- Lesson 2 Victory by Dominion

I anticipate at least 3 more lessons:
- Lesson 3 Money
- Lesson 4 Magic
- Lesson 5 Modding for pleasure and pain.

Again, it is available at:
http://grumpy.usu.edu/~miles/personal/tutor1.zip

Here is the readme:
**********************************************
Tutorial1 instructions. ver.7 26Jan2004

This tutorial will aquaint you with the game of Dominions2. This
tutorial assumes that you have patched your game to Version 2.06

The tutorial was written using Linux, OpenOffice 1.0.2, nedit, and
gimp. I captured the graphic images using the utility xwd.

Dominions2 is a game that has evolved over years to be the best
multiplayer turn-based fantasy strategy wargame available.

Dom2 is a rich, complex game that will provide years of gameplay.
However, it's complexity and unique design provides a steep learning
curve. This tutorial will help new players get started with Dom2.

Installation of map and mod:
To use this tutorial, you must first copy the various tutorial
files to the right places. The tutorial includes the following pieces:
tutor1.dm (tutor1 mod programming)
tutor1 (directory)
tutor1/readme.1st (this file)
tutor1/lesson1.pdf (the first lesson)
tutor1/lesson2.pdf (the second lesson)
tutor1/tutor1icon.tga (tutor1 mod icon)
turor1/tutflag.tga (tutor1 mod banner)
tutor1/tutor1.tga (tutor1 map graphics)
tutor1/tutor1.map (tutor1 map programming)

The tutor1.dm file and the tutor1 directory (with it's contents) go
in the Dom2 mods directory. On my linux box, this is:
/home/miles/dominions2/mods

Next, the two map components:
/tutor1/tutor1.tga
/tutor1/tutor1.map
should be copied to the Dom2 map directory. On my linux box, they
end up at:
/usr/local/games/dominions2/maps/tutor1.tga
/usr/local/games/dominions2/maps/tutor1.map

Now, follow the instructions in lesson1.pdf

Subjects in Lesson 1: Beginning the game; Controlling mods; Combat
pretenders; Creating a game; Playing a game; Overview of map
screen; Saving/Restoring; Giving orders to units; Recruiting
new units; Generating the next turn; Reviewing the Messages;
Taking an enemy fortress; Victory by conquest.

Subjects in Lesson 2: Positioning units on the battlefield; Assigning
orders to units; Creating a Prophet; Constructing buildings;
Preaching; Dominion victory.