How the heck . . .

[moodgiesanta]

This thread may seem to some to be pandering of some sort or gushing, but I really am serious when I say this. How did you people (the folks at Illwinter) pull this game off? I'm stunned by it, now that I'm really getting into it. Each race has their own intricacies, and the game is actually genuinely different depending on which race you choose, rather than each race being some manner of variation off of the same basic theme. A few games have achieved that, but none with the complexity of this one and none even approaching 17 races.

Another thing that baffles me, is how is everything so balanced? Unlike every other strategy game I've played (and admittedly I haven't played the hardcore wargames, mostly just turn-based games ala Master of Magic), every strategy has a counter, and it really is your execution of the strategy rather than the strategy all by itself that wins.

Honestly, I don't want to overstate things or sound like a fanboy. I am giving my honest opinion here. I think the game is the second best I've ever played, next to Zangband which holds a special place in my heart. Anyhow, I'd thought I'd see if anyone else has the same reaction to this game that I have had.

[Sammual]

Originally posted by moodgiesanta:
Anyhow, I'd thought I'd see if anyone else has the same reaction to this game that I have had. <font size="2" face="sans-serif, arial, verdana">Yes. Many of us had/have the same reaction.

The only thing I am not a big fan of is the end game.

Sammual

[Gandalf Parker]

In the strategy newsGroups I often make comparisons with Stars which is a space-conquest PBEM. Its popularity was much the same thing but with not nearly as many races/upgrades/options. But the people who loved Stars I feel will love Dominions for the same reasons.

Stars unfortunately is old now. Not really a problem with things like graphics or solo play for awhile but when you get into the multiplayer it feels like nothing you try hasnt already been analyzed to death. They never did find a publisher to put out their #2 Version.

I had Dom1 for 3 years and never felt it had gotten to the "no new answers" place that Stars did. I think the devs will be able to stay ahead of it with Dom2 also.

[ February 06, 2004, 13:27: Message edited by: Gandalf Parker ]

[Targa]

It's the Moloch Effect. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon12.gif
http://www.shrapnelgames.com/cgi-bin/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic;f=74;t=000459

Muhahahaha!

[Kristoffer O]

Originally posted by moodgiesanta:

Honestly, I don't want to overstate things or sound like a fanboy. I am giving my honest opinion here. I think the game is the second best I've ever played, next to Zangband which holds a special place in my heart. Anyhow, I'd thought I'd see if anyone else has the same reaction to this game that I have had. <font size="2" face="sans-serif, arial, verdana">Ever tried nethack (another roguelike)? It has been a source of inspiration.

[fahdiz]

Originally posted by Kristoffer O:
Ever tried nethack (another roguelike)? It has been a source of inspiration. <font size="2" face="sans-serif, arial, verdana">Nethack has been a constant companion of mine for years now. I'm still trying to ascend a strictly-played Monk after all this time...

[Raz 24]

This game is truly amazing!
I could even say that its the best strategy game I have ever played!

[Karacan]

Originally posted by Kristoffer O:

Ever tried nethack (another roguelike)? It has been a source of inspiration. <font size="2" face="sans-serif, arial, verdana">Fun, when I describe Dominions to someone else, I always say it's the Nethack of strategy games. Though I personally prefer ADOM (and was astonished when I found the link on Illwinter's old website).

[Targa]

Want to hear something really freaky? After reading this thread yesterday, I went surfing the 'net checking out NetHack, Adom, etc... Ended up downloading Slash'em. I start the game, create an Elf Ranger of neutral alignment, and I get an "Intro Message" something like this: "After the Creation, the cruel god Moloch rebelled against the authority of Marduk the Creator".

The strength of the Moloch Effect grows stronger...

[Kristoffer O]

Originally posted by Targa:
Want to hear something really freaky? After reading this thread yesterday, I went surfing the 'net checking out NetHack, Adom, etc... Ended up downloading Slash'em. I start the game, create an Elf Ranger of neutral alignment, and I get an "Intro Message" something like this: "After the Creation, the cruel god Moloch rebelled against the authority of Marduk the Creator".

The strength of the Moloch Effect grows stronger... <font size="2" face="sans-serif, arial, verdana">Moloch is the name of a Caananite god. The name MLK - Malek/Moloch/Melek (perhaps Melkor) means lord and is a common in semitic religious traditions.

[Targa]

Yes, also commonly referred to as "Molech" or "Molekh", but you weren't supposed to demystify it. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon12.gif

Here's an interesting AD&D read on Moloch:
Moloch: A devil for all campaigns (http://www.gamegrene.com/game_material/moloch_a_devil_for_all_campaigns.shtml)

[Gandalf Parker]

Originally posted by Targa:
Yes, also commonly referred to as "Molech" or "Molekh", but you weren't supposed to demystify it. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon12.gif
<font size="2" face="sans-serif, arial, verdana">How can he avoid his real job kicking in?
"Teacher: religion/social sciences "

[ February 07, 2004, 16:47: Message edited by: Gandalf Parker ]

[moodgiesanta]

I have Nethack on my PDA. It's great, but the Zangband variant of Angband seems the best to me . . . http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon7.gif

[Kristoffer O]

You can't attract house-keeper-succubi by kicking on sinks in Zangband! Or tin a troll, or fight a tooth-marked troll (toothmarks from your attempt to devour him before he regenerates back to life) http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon10.gif

[licker]

Originally posted by Kristoffer O:
You can't attract house-keeper-succubi by kicking on sinks in Zangband! Or tin a troll, or fight a tooth-marked troll (toothmarks from your attempt to devour him before he regenerates back to life) http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon10.gif <font size="2" face="sans-serif, arial, verdana">LOL!!

It begins in this forum now... the debate as to which roguelike is dominant... Don't knock Zangband too much though it has enough wierdness in it to keep most people happy. My personal fav is Eyangband, with OAngband a close second, though for pure insanty (of options that is) TOME has got everything beat by such a huge margin that it isn't even close. TOME is the Dominions of the *bands http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon7.gif

[moodgiesanta]

Originally posted by Kristoffer O:
You can't attract house-keeper-succubi by kicking on sinks in Zangband! Or tin a troll, or fight a tooth-marked troll (toothmarks from your attempt to devour him before he regenerates back to life) http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon10.gif <font size="2" face="sans-serif, arial, verdana">But you can't, in Nethack, be a Yeek. How could you possibly play a Rogue like game after having the option to play a Yeek, or fighting the Disembodied Hand that Strangled People?

Besides, Zangband and even moreso Angband are much more accessible to the average gamer.

And I play and prefer Zangband. That immediately makes it better. You see, I've learned a lot about how to argue from these internet forum things. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon12.gif

[Gandalf Parker]

[conversation slowing down] [time to throw a rock into the pond]
Personally I gave up nethacks for MUDs

[ February 10, 2004, 01:47: Message edited by: Gandalf Parker ]

[moodgiesanta]

MUDs?

[ February 10, 2004, 02:00: Message edited by: moodgiesanta ]

[Gandalf Parker]

Originally posted by moodgiesanta:
MUDs? <font size="2" face="sans-serif, arial, verdana">Multi-User Dungeons. Text based hack-n-slash. Lots of zones you go into, some with puzzles, some just with monsters, lots of people grouping together. Kindof like IRC with with a game attached. Anyone can get the code, anyone can increase it, anyone can run one, thousands are Online. Alot of game developers, especially for the Online worlds that are popular now, started with muds.

[Targa]

Yours didn't seem to have much activity when I created a char there a couple of days ago, Gandalf. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon7.gif Personally, I prefer SMAUG-based MUDs.

Edit: Medievia is also a very interesting variant. Having its roots in MUDs, but being very far advanced and making use of "text graphics".

[ February 10, 2004, 03:10: Message edited by: Targa ]

[Gandalf Parker]

Originally posted by Targa:
Yours didn't seem to have much activity when I created a char there a couple of days ago, Gandalf. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon7.gif <font size="2" face="sans-serif, arial, verdana">That thing hasnt been advertised for like 5 years. It just wont die. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon7.gif
Congrats for finding it.

[ February 10, 2004, 04:00: Message edited by: Gandalf Parker ]

[moodgiesanta]

I used to play those WAY back in the day, before the Internet had all them fancy graphics (well, it was a long time for me . . .). They were pretty cool, but these-a-days, if I want text-based stuff, I write it myself.