do you use many DIFFERENT gods? Can you do web pages?

[Gandalf Parker]

If it absolutely has to come to this then I might tackle this. But there are others out there that I think could do a better job. Im thinking this is a good project for someone who feels they arent an "expert" yet and still experimenting, but looking for something they can contribute.

Dominions one had a "stuff" page and at the mottom was a very short, all laid out, pretender for each nation along with some very basic starter notes on how to play that nation. I would REALLY like to see someone grab these off of the internet archive machine, and update them for Dom2 while adding the new nations to it.

Although any effort is bound to get alot of discussion here, I dont see it as being that the suggestions have to be the best possible. The idea is for newbies who want an idea for a pretender. If they try it and during the game see things they would change before doing another game then that would be great. Variety is probably good. A combat god, rainbow pretender, etc.

Anyway, here is the original set. Near the bottom of the page.
http://web.archive.org/web/200306031...com/stuff.html

[ April 01, 2004, 14:05: Message edited by: Gandalf Parker ]

[Cainehill]

Good idea, Gandalf.

I'll be happy to design and write up a sample Pretender for Machaka, as that's one of the nations new to Dom2, and one I've done a fair amount of play and experimentation with.

Heh. It took me a while to find that there wasn't already one of the existing ones, as I was looking after seeing the ones for Dom1.

Can't currently host a web page for it though, especially as any site I put up with likely go 'poof' in less than 2 months.

[PDF]

What'll be fine would be to have someone host a "Pretender Library" showing different designs, their usage, strengths/weaknesses, the units, spells and combos that work with etc..
Maybe hosting can be assured by IW, as they are doing for mods ?

Excellent idea, I could host the contributions on my website. I will also suggest myself some complete designs in my "guides".
Another suggestion : could IW add a new option in the game setup, something like "let the computer design my god and dominion". The computer does create the other gods already (to be controlled by the AI), is this so hard to make one more god for the human player if he asks it ?

Cheers

[Gandalf Parker]

Originally posted by Sunray_be:
Excellent idea, I could host the contributions on my website.

I meant to mention that I could also host it at www.dom2minions.com (YAY it finaly works, check it out). But it would probably fit other sites more than mine. Now if someone wrote a random god generator then THAT would fit my site. (hmmmm, new thought. I will have to consider that.....)

I will also suggest myself some complete designs in my "guides".

Good idea.

I had trouble doing one. One of the things I liked about the old "stuff" examples was that it was short. Nice storyline, nice design but not meant to be the ultimate killer example for that nation, and excellent pointers about the pros and cons of that nation as Illwinter would probably do best.

I did try to do some but I couldnt seem to avoid making it 5 pages long and/or too specific into my personal (often strange) tactical twists for that nation. Not at all blending in with the examples I was trying to add to.

Another thought I just had is that there is probably no real reason NOT to have a download link for each one also. Its not a big file. Personally I think it would be better for the new player to make them but an option to snag it might be ok.

In fact, for a starter file that the FAQ's here can link to I would bring up my original suggestion of a single zip containing default gods for every nation and 1 game already started. Maybe the Jotun walkthru one. Or one with the player as Ulm with the first turn actions all done and the turn saved. That way if he brings it up it asks "continue where I left off" and lets him see the choices.

Another suggestion : could IW add a new option in the game setup, something like "let the computer design my god and dominion". The computer does create the other gods already (to be controlled by the AI), is this so hard to make one more god for the human player if he asks it ?

Wow, excellent thought. You are right. Since the AI is supposed to "cheat" only based on its difficulty by adding points... a "normal" AI god-building routine should create a perfectly legal god for a player. It would probably have a couple of obvious "why did it put that?" choices in it but thats good to spur the new user to make one of their own which is better.

Hmmmmm I was considering adding that it could have a range of buttons offering all of the different levels including the "impossible AI" boosted one but that could be a problem since it would save a god which would be a cheat in mutliplayer games. It would probably be best to lock it at normal. Maybe even the "easy" AI routine to make it more compelling to do one of your own since easy wouldnt even use as many points building it as the user gets doing it manually.

[ April 02, 2004, 14:05: Message edited by: Gandalf Parker ]

[Psitticine]

Originally posted by Gandalf Parker:

quote:

---

Originally posted by Sunray_be:
Another suggestion : could IW add a new option in the game setup, something like "let the computer design my god and dominion". The computer does create the other gods already (to be controlled by the AI), is this so hard to make one more god for the human player if he asks it ?

Wow, excellent thought. You are right. Since the AI is supposed to "cheat" only based on its difficulty by adding points... a "normal" AI god-building routine should create a perfectly legal god for a player. It would probably have a couple of obvious "why did it put that?" choices in it but thats good to spur the new user to make one of their own which is better.

Hmmmmm I was considering adding that it could have a range of buttons offering all of the different levels including the "impossible AI" boosted one but that could be a problem since it would save a god which would be a cheat in mutliplayer games. It would probably be best to lock it at normal. Maybe even the "easy" AI routine to make it more compelling to do one of your own since easy wouldnt even use as many points building it as the user gets doing it manually.

---

I also think that sounds like a good idea. I think the allure of designing for one's self (how many people ever use those "pre-generated parties" in an RPG anyway?) would make sure there's a reason to do it yourself.

Okay, what about the following pretenders for base Man : Oracle (Astral 4, Earth 3), Wyrm (no magic), Virtue (Air 9) or RB Great Enchantress ?
I try to stay 'classical' here and avoid tricky setup like Unluck+3 (a gamble to gain 120 points in an orderly land, with few events) or Ceremonial Faith (to push a strong dominion into enemy territory)...

ORACLE :
Astral 4, Earth 3, Dominion 5, Castle 40%
Order +3, Production +3, Heat 0, Growth +2, Luck 0, Magic 0
Positive : cheap pretender, lets you invest in a very strong economy. Gives you access to astral and earth magic, perfect complement to your national mages.
Negative : immobile (but still able to Teleport), has only 2 misc. items slots, weak bless bonus (MR+1)

WYRM
No magic, Dominion 5, Fortified City
Order +3, Production +3, Heat 0, Growth +2, Luck 0, Magic 0
Positive : cheap pretender, lets you invest in a very strong economy. No magic to loose if it dies and comes back. Very strong, regenerates, amphibian.
Negative : no magic at all (no research, no sites, no spells), has only 2 heads + 2 misc. items slots, no bless effect.


VIRTUE
Air 9, Dominion 6, Fortified City
Order +1, Production +2, Heat 0, Growth 0, Luck 0, Magic 0
Positive : good support mage (able to cast alone any high level Air spell), can fly, strong bless bonus, good starting dominion.
Negative : Crones have Air 2 (some have even Air 3).


GREAT ENCHANTRESS
Fire 2, Air 2, Water 2, Earth 2, Astral 2, Death 2, Nature 2, Blood 2, Dominion 4, Castle 40%
Order +1, Production +2, Heat 0, Growth 0, Luck 0, Magic 0
Positive : excellent researcher, site finder and summoner/artificer, plus she gets 1 free astral pearl/t.
Negative : physically weak, vulnerable to Magic Duel, no bless effect, weak dominion.

Any thought ?

[Gandalf Parker]

Those look pretty good. I would offer to put them up at www.dom2minions.com but it doesnt really fit the site. No randoms.

Hmmmmm maybe I should write a random god generator? I can do that. In fact I could offer it as part of a newbie tutorial map file. That would fit my site.

[Norfleet]

The fortified cities are far too expensive and impractical to build: Better to go with the Castle, of the same cost. Switch out the fortified cities for castles, and you might have something there.