Terrible Player.

Gandalf Parker · #1 December 11th, 2009, 05:22 PM

With PD, particularly in the early learning-the-nations days, its best to keep in mind that not all Province Defense is the same. Recruiting the locals to help out is a good idea. Especially if its not just guard duty but actually a spot that is likely to get attacked by a strong force. Key chokepoints and such.

I find that "lots and lots" of PD isnt as good as just one "lots" with one unit of added support. Some PD just needs a couple of extra commanders. Some do fine but really lack some heavy hitters such as a few mounted knights. And many of them can really do two or three times as effective if they only had more archery support. If that province, or one nearby, can provide just one full-time force with instructions added to the PD it can make all the difference. And of course casters but that tends to be a whole different subject.

Also keep in mind that the PD seems to fight like an unpracticed local militia. They all just seem to start in the middle and charge forward. So its the other formations I concentrate on. A strong front line. Or flanking fire set to concentrate on a certain group such as archers. A large fast group set to attack rear. Or a heavy mounted flanking group set to hold-&-attack rear.

K · #2 December 11th, 2009, 06:00 PM

Dominions takes a long time to learn. I'm not talking about "40 hours", which is most games. Its more like "several months", or even a year.

The reason is that each spell has a niche. Some are rather broad, and some are vanishingly small, but troops are only the first step in winning battles.

My suggestion is the read some of the strategy guides which have been posted. Also, try scripting specific spells and watching the battles to see how each interacts with the combat.

Also, some nations are easier to play than others. Try a bless nation like Neiflehiem and choose strong magic on your pretender. Several excellent guides can tell you the details.

Knai · #3 December 11th, 2009, 07:00 PM

Plus a few small multiplayers, high speed, with other people couldn't hurt. Or a slower one, though quick, pseudo-hotseat style play would probably be best. Any local friends into the game?

Gandalf Parker · #4 December 11th, 2009, 07:11 PM

Yes, the Manual does a real good job of being a Manual.
But a Strategy Guide would have to be a set of encyclopedias.

Even one for each nation wouldnt quite cover everything. My own favorite EA Pangaea has two very different flavors (vine and maenad), and multiple full-blown strategies within those (stealth, or horde, or turtle).