Dominions DnD

[Shovah32]

The DM could also just have control of whatever nations the players would be facing allowing him to deal with them as he wished(maybe add a spell that kills the owners units/commander? or simply hope a disband command is added)

[MaxWilson]

Well yes, but then you don't get the benefit of the AI(s) to do the decision-making. You'd have to run all 5 or 50 nations yourself every turn. Ideally, you'd be able to set a nation to AI temporarily and take it back over when necessary for a turn.

-Max

[HoneyBadger]

Here's an idea: maybe the Devs would be interested in taking this concept by both horns and creating a seperate version of Dominions, specifically attached to a role-playing system. Basically, remake Dominions 3 as a user-friendly roleplaying tool, which comes with it's own custom set of roleplaying rules, and maybe a couple of big glossy books.

A product like that might sell well, and at the same time, attract more attention to Dom3. And I'm sure that developing a set of roleplaying rules, and fleshing various things out, would only help improve Dom4 when it comes out, so everyone benefits

[Meglobob]

When I was a GM I would have loved to have my entire world (Greyhawk) as a working computer model.

You end up with A4 binders full of notes as the PC's effect the world. However any kind of AI element would need to be carfully edited by the GM, as the AI would do stuff you did not want or like in your campaign.

The AI would have been useful simulating the breakdown of the shield lands in Greyhawk for example, as various factions fought over the lands. My PC's joined 2 armies fighting pitched battles over the shield lands and managed to turn the tide of war. Dominions would have been useful in such a scenario.

[Gandalf Parker]

Hmmmm PC's joining the army.
You could use the mini-map simulator to build the armies, run the battle, and show the results. You could add commanders that would represent the PCs, followers, equipment.

In fact, you could MOD them into the game with unique graphics.

[Shovah32]

The stats wouldnt translate perfectly but there probably wouldnt be too big of a problem(and modded equipment would help too). It would be fun to do a very large battle with PCs involved and cutting/blasting through the ranks of the enemies. The ai could almost act as a separate GM, preforming random acts and setting up challenges for the players on its own.

[Gandalf Parker]

"Well the battle was going well but SURPRISE the mage has just turned into a dragon"

"You hear news of nearby provinces being ravaged by something called "the Eater of the Dead". Apparently a sorceror summoned it to do battle in a province far away but it got away from him. Now it roams free attacking everything."

"Yes you took the province but the following month there was some sort of attack. One large bird led a flock of many smaller birds. They seem to have taken the province in the name of ...."

"Have you ever heard of an adventurer named Bogus?"

[jutetrea]

This fits in with the scenario model floating around as well.

Along with the big nation map, when you want a specific part of a campaign or scenario you pull a cutout game. The 50 person map would have the big picture, the small game/map would have the scenario. Much easier map mod, but might be a bit difficult to synch up.

For instance, the bit map would show the situation above such as Jot recently taking a caelum province. The small map would have just 10 provinces or so, with the 2 relevent nations and any specific quest rewards/objectives/challenges modded in. Wouldn't affect the big map, and really don't want it to unless your PCs are at the level where they do world changing events. After the scenario the large map still stays relatively the same, still providing flavor and direction.

For the small map you could even mod the players directly into the game.. 4 or 5 commanders, whatever followers starting in one barren corner with relevent EQ...and see what happens

[MaxWilson]

Shovah32 said:
The stats wouldnt translate perfectly but there probably wouldnt be too big of a problem(and modded equipment would help too). It would be fun to do a very large battle with PCs involved and cutting/blasting through the ranks of the enemies. The ai could almost act as a separate GM, preforming random acts and setting up challenges for the players on its own.

If I were running this as GM, I would run the battle in advance and use it--as a color illustration--only if it turned out favorably for the PCs. Or in other words, if the tactical AI didn't mess things up for them. In a tricky battle where the outcome is close, the players are going to want to be making their own decisions.

-Max