Introduce yourself!! :-)

[DominionsFan]

I just thought that it would be good to hear some more personal things about the people here. Dont be silly! http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/cool.gif

Ok let me start.
I am 17 years old living in Budapest, Hungary, Europe. I am living with my parents. I have 2 brothers and 1 sister. [My sister is 15 years old, my brothers are 19 and 21. -> My brothers are also playing Doms 2.]
My height is 196 cm at the moment. [That is around 6'5]
Hopefully I will reach 2 meters. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/smile.gif
I am a student in Budapest. This is my last year in school, I will start to work in my father's nightclub after the school is over.
My hobbies are sports [fighting sports like aikido, kickboxing and kempo. I am learning those for more then 4 years now]
I am very lucky, because I can train with excellent fighters, like world champion kickboxer Jozsef Tumbasz. Here is a little picture about him: Jozsef Tumbasz (http://img172.imageshack.us/img172/4707/tumbaszty6.jpg)


I also like to play computer games [FPS, RTS, TBS and MMORPGs], however I have much less time now to play then before.
I am a Dominions fan since Doms: PPP. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/cool.gif


Here is a picture about me:

http://img220.imageshack.us/my.php?image=2700661vm.jpg

*Edit*

Corrected some typos and added some new informations.

[Nerfix]

17 yo old Finn
still living in Finland
A student in Hyvinkää, I go to a bussiness college
Many interests, history, recent happenings, mythology, sciences, art, computer games, programming and the list goes on... http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/tongue.gif
I play most strategy games , RPGs and old SNES games http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/happy.gif
I guess that walking in the nearby forest counts as a hobby

All my pictures are horribly outdated at the moment.

[Endoperez]

I haven't seen one of these threads here before... I wonder if it will be moved to Shrapnel General or something.

Any way, I'm a male Finn, currently 18 years old. I live in the Eastern Finland, in an area that is mostly forest. I live 50 km from Kitee, and few hundred kilometers from the city of Joensuu that is named after me. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/tongue.gif I had my final exams this spring. I have known Illwinter for a long time, from since the whole company was Bogus. Bogus Game Design, that is. I never bought Conquest of Elysium 2, and couldn't order Dom:PPP, so I waited for a long time. I used to read awfully lot of fantasy literature, but haven't read any actual classic literature. For the last 3-4 years, I have started spending more and more time on my computer, and started a form of martial arts to keep fit. I would like to do or learn multitude of things, including pen&paper roleplaying, LARP, classical (sport) fencing, historical fencing, actually hit things with my sling, fight with a quarterstaff, draw, play an instrument (something simple like a recorder would do), do something serious with my computer, speak Latin etc. I know some Java, I can take a computer apart and can usually put it together, I don't listen to much music, drink, smoke or go out more than few times a week, and I've started dabbling in 3d-graphics via free Blender3d. I have completed ADOM once. Other keywords: Mount&Blade, Dominions, Planescape: Torment, Betrayal at Krondor, (Linley's) Dungeon Crawl, old games (X-COM, Ur-Quan Masters, original PoP, MoM, UltIV), (Disney's) The Gargoyles,


Finally, too many words about my final exams. Even if this will at least double the length of this message, I've been wanting to write this stuff for a long time, and it will probably fit this thread the best. The grades are I, A, C, M, E, L from latin words (improbatur, approbatur, cum laude... laudatur). I means failure, and L a near-perfect score that is usually calculated to be 5% of all the gymnasium-graduating Finns of the year. I got C from Finnish and Mathematics , M in Philosophy and Swedish, and an L from English. About these:

Finnish, C: I wrote two essays; one too short, the second so long I didn't properly finish it. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/frown.gif Why do we have to re-write everything with pens and not pencils, again? I have done much better earlier, and especially my last essay before the final two was very good.
Mathematics, C: The maths I wrote was the kind of maths which has derivation, integral calculations, vectors in three-dimensional space etc. It is hard, so I'm happy with my C.
Philosophy, M: I belonged to the first group that could write philosophy on its own, and I didn't take it very seriously. I didn't get the points from the 'Define philosophy in few words and examine your definition' answer that was along the lines of 'Philosophy is maths - in closer examination, it isn't.' On the other hand, my longer definition and examination brought full points, and I got 7 points from the extra-hard 9-point question.
Swedish, M: I had hard time in Swedish for a long time, but I got much better in it during the last year. I was 4 points short of E, and that makes me very proud. Jag kan inte tala mycket svenska, men jag kan skriva de här orden och säga, att Illwinter är det bästa!
English, L: As far as the English goes... I wrote an English essay, re-read it, realized it was too far removed from the original title, and re-wrote it in a bit of a hurry. I got 97 points from the re-write. I'm that good, I'm very proud of it, and you are one of the reasons I am so good at English. Fun fact: I can't speak or pronounce English. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/wink.gif

[DominionsFan]

Nice and long post Endoperez! http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/cool.gif
Oh and btw I dont think that this thread should be moved to an other forum, because I've made it for Doms 3. players.

[ioticus]

37 year old pharmacist in Virginia. Been gaming since I was 11 years old. Started with Basic D&D blue book. Then progressed to Avalon Hill board wargames. Been selling my hundreds of games on eBay as I do all of my gaming on the computer now. Dominions 2 is my favorite computer game.

[PDF]

I'm 41, French, IS consultant in a large investment bank, 3 kids (3,5,8).

Rest of my story is mostly same than Ioticus except I started with AH games then went to AD&D ! http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/happy.gif
Since then I quit boardgaming but have a boatload of computer games accumulated over last 15 years
I'm also an author for Cyberstratege french PC strategy games mag.
My all-time best game is Dom2 (with Combat Mission close second) http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/happy.gif

[PrinzMegaherz]

I'm 24, completed an apprenticeship as a computer system developer and now I'm studying biology. I want to focus on bioinformatics, but there's some time left until I have to make that decission.

I actually like boardgames and tabletop games (Game of thrones and Confrontation are my favourites), love to read fantasy (A song of ice and fire series). My favourite RPG is the Fading Sun universe, it's amazing how they managed to create such a realistic vision of life in the year 4000.

I don't play Dominions anymore, but I think that will change with Dom 3

[daesthai]

I'm 35 and have worked the last 7 years with several game dev houses.

I'm a long-time gamer dating back to Pong, the Atari 2600 and original Basic D&D. I love all types of games - cardgames, boardgames, RPG, videogames - you name it.

I'm an avid reader - especially intrigue, mystery, and adventure. I also read a lot of fantasy, though that's tapered off the last 5 years or so. Though I am a huge Tolkien fan - not just the Trilogy, but his lesser known works as well, and biographies about him.

I've been married 11 years - no kids yet - but we have a cat and a dog that are very spoiled. =)

[Gandalf Parker]

Reminds me of A/S/L posts (age, sex, location) in AOL.
The were some posts like this in the Dom2 forum. OK I'm 50, male, retired military living in California, USA.
I get to play games all day. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/happy.gif

Ive been on the net since before it was Internet. Ive worked at most jobs for Internet providors (customer service, sales, system admin, netcop). Now I run my own servers out of my house.

Most of my day is centered around my handicapped son. Other than that I get to work from home on internet jobs. Since I have a retirement check and full medical I dont HAVE to work so I can take jobs that interest me. Sysadmin work on servers, computer forensics (examining computers after a break-in), working with charities and organizations. And of course games.

I host various games things thru my servers. A MUD, an Ultima Online shard, and of course games like Dominions. Ive got a dozen web sites and about a 100 users. I provide the web hosting, email, ftp, etc. I hope I never have to go back to using the internet with limits.

Gandalf Parker
--
I used them, they used me
now I am an ISP.
With a knick-knack paddy-whack
debian linux clone
I am now my /root at /home

[Varjostin]

I'm 17 years old, male and live in Finland and more accurately in a puny city/town called Lahti. I go to the second grade of senior high school or gymnasium as it goes somewhat unaccurately translated

I read fantasy books, but since the school is the priority now I have left it for the summer vacation. (2 days more school left) I play tradiotional RPG's with and without a spesific rule system. Now I've found the "realistic" systems to be very cumbersome and use light or no system. Systems that I have used: GURPS, WOD, Praedor and some nicer freeware systems.

As for computer games I mostly play strategy games since I haven't found as much fullfilment in the computer RPG's than in the traditional ones. Some games: Dom: PPP, ADOM, Rome and Medieval Total War, SPWAW, Europa Universalis II, Fallout and Sid's Alpha Centauri.

I've LARPed (don't know the correct verb http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/happy.gif) and been interested and have done things that closely relate to it for several years (archery, costume making, fencing etc.) But mostly I just participate games. It may seem as a very silly hobby but it's actually entertaining even on deeper levels.

I'm interested in history of all ages and especially in the era from the Renaissance to the Imperialism. But the most interesting matters to me are philosophy and social studies. I have very strong political opinions, which I don't want to go them through here to avoid quarrels. And I listen to classical/historical music.

I tried to avoid the picture of being self-centered, but I guess I botched. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/biggrin.gif

[Edi]

30 years old, A Finn living in Helsinki. I'm currently workingat an internship in a computer repair shop and will get a degree in IT support in January. Only the final project is incomplete, and I'll finish it during June, but the school bureaucracy will hold actual graduation up. The reason it's taken me so long is I failed computer engineering and several years went to that. Next challenge is finding a permanent job.

My hobbies are reading and gaming, and I dabble at writing. I live with my girlfriend and we have two cats.

My favorite games are turn based strategy and I also enjoy FPS games and certain types of computer RPGs, as well as tabletop RPGs.

Edi

[DominionsFan]

Edi you ever played with the game Call of Duty or Call of duty 2.? Those are decent FPS games for multiplayer. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/cool.gif

PS. Guys why arent you posting your pictures? I always like to see, that who am I talking to.

[Edi]

No pics of me online. And anything I could put up looks like [censored], so not happening.

As for Call of Duty, my PC specs are Celeron (first generation) 500 MHZ with roughly 400 MB of memory, so it (or anything else made after 2001-2002, bar a few exceptions) won't run on my machine. And I'm mostly a single player to boot, don't much like online gaming. Games like Dom2, that's fine, but not FPS games. If it was with friends I know and no strangers, then would be good, but anything with public servers, screw that, too many f-tards on those.

Thanks for the suggestion, though. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/happy.gif

Edi

[Gandalf Parker]

http://www.dom3minions.com/~gandalf/Gandalf_Parker.jpg
http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/happy.gif

[Ighalli]

I'm 23 and I've lived in Pennsylvania my whole life. I just got my degree in physics, minor in mathematics. This fall I'm moving to Ohio to start working on my Ph.D. This Summer I'm a lab assistant. We're researching a way to get cheaper solar power.

Been gaming since before I can remember, and like most everyone else here I started with D&D. Lately I've been running Shadow Run 4th edition. My favorite computer games are mostly roguelikes (Ragnarok) or turn based strategy (MOO2). Lately I've spent all my computer time play testing some stuff at www.bay12games.com. (http://www.bay12games.com.) (Hope no one minds the plug! http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/wink.gif)

[Evil Dave]

Ighalli said:
We're researching a way to get cheaper solar power.



Hail, worthy competitor! I'm working in the same area. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/wink.gif

I'm 37, and live near Wilmington, Delaware.

[Archonsod]

I'm 27 and live in Edinburgh UK.

Currently working for Sun

Been into gaming since the glorious 8 bit home computer era

[Shmonk]

Me, I'm a 37 year old male (single, though 2 cats), in Sacramento, CA. I'm a supervisor at a company that does data conversion/manipulation of real estate data, to standardize it for our broad product line (mortgage apps, MLS websites, etc).

Been gaming my whole life, started with AD&D at age 8 or 9. I remember my grandma and grandpa bought my older brother and I the AD&D starter kit (or whatever it was called) for Christmas. We couldn't understand much of it and asked our dad for help, he looked it over and realized it was a little over our heads, and after a quick trip to the store for a PHB, DMG and MM he became our DM. He even got a few of his friends from work involved (he was a cop), so we'd play Friday nights like every other week or so, for 5 or 6 hours at a time, me and my brother with my 2 cousins and a friend of my dad's, exploring Keep on the Borderlands and other such modules. After that did he'd design his own adventures and it got even better. My main name for a god in Dom2 is "Fortu", it was the name my dad gave to an NPC that he'd have to constantly bring into the game to get us out of trouble. Ah, the memories. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/laugh.gif

Then I progressed to computer games as I got older, mainly RPG or strategy. Now I mostly read, play golf, and play the occasional computer game. Prefer solo games, this is my first long term MP game (besides EQ, tried that for a little over a year off and on). I've tried to get several frields of mine into this game, it's not their cup of tea it seems (not into turn based). Trying to get my dad hooked too, no luck yet.

[JaydedOne]

29 year old lawyer in Atlanta, Georgia, USA. Game-player of all sorts since the Apple II+ and the Dungeons & Dragons Red Boxed Set captured my attention in kindergarten. I still play a little bit of everything -- Live-Action, board and card games of all shapes and sizes, consoles, PC gaming, etc. -- but have a strong fondness in my heart for the home-brewed labor of love that is Dominions.

[Horst F. JENS]

data:
age 36, male, italian girlfriend, no kids yet.
Location: Vienna, Austria, Europe.
loving dominions since dom:PPP.

Pics and info at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/User:Horst_F_JENS

[daesthai]

Horst! Good to hear from ya again!

[atul]

I'm 24 year old grad student / research assistant from Helsinki, currently finishing my master's thesis on the 4th generation nuclear reactors... hopefully I'll be done before Dom3 ships, otherwise solar power becomes economically feasible before I get my degree. ;p

At the mature age of 10, my first RPG was Cyberpunk 2020. And as you can assume from that, 14 years after I'm well adapted and mostly harmless member of the society. I've participated in LARPs more than is good for your health, practiced kendo, capoeira, boxing and currently fencing (foil, probably upgrading to epee in near future). Old nintendo fanboy (I still remember being frustrated when I found out that the manual for my brand new Mario 3 was written in German), nowadays mostly playing PS2 RPGs - if I find time. The computer is mostly used for work, communication and Dominions series.

...and considering the amount of Finnish larpers in here, possibly all the talk will end when we'll see who can walk the walk in the fighting area of this summer's Ropecon. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/wink.gif

[PashaDawg]

I am a 38 y.o. lawyer in Portland, Maine, where I mostly help my clients either with bankruptcy matters or estate planning. (Fun, fun, fun!)

Gosh! My core recreations have not changed much since I was a geeky, pimple-faced boy: Games, theater, music, and piano. (There are some new things, e.g., I didn't used to like martinis.)

Pictures? Well, you can see me here: http://www.goodtheater.com/shows_californiasuite.html (I am the actor sticking his tongue out and also in the yellow/blue tennis outfit.) Fun fact: The actress in the gown was the cartoon voice for the chick in the original Aeon Flux cartoon.

Pasha

[NakedLunch]

Howdy all, I'm Naked_Lunch from the strategy gaming fansite TCancer. I'm a big ol' fan of Dominions and strategy games (especially those darned Shrapnel games http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/laugh.gif ). Anyways, I'm a pretty laidback cool guy, though I'm known to get into rather passionate discussions when it comes to strategy games and roleplaying games, which are really the only things I play. As far as strategy games go, my favorite(s) are probably the Dominions games; Kohan; X-Com; Europa 1400: The Guild; all the EU engine games (Europa Universalis, Hearts of Iron etc); Combat Mission series and a buncha other stuff that would take several long-winded paragraphs to list. Cheers!

[baby_arm]

I'm Jason, a.k.a. baby arm. I spend most of my time planning Naked Lunch's death.

[Argitoth]

Shmonk said:
Me, I'm a 37 year old male (single, though 2 cats)



YOU'RE SICK, MAN! YOU'RE SICK! IWW!! GROSS http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/eek.gif

17 years old in Gilbert, Arizona. Been with Dominions less than a year before Dom2 was released. I'm a composer/sound designer who has yet to get a real job in the field, but I did make some good $400 selling music CDs and I plan to do it again this year and make even more. Been gaming since the NES.

[Endoperez]

Argitoth said:

Shmonk said:
Me, I'm a 37 year old male (single, though 2 cats)



YOU'RE SICK, MAN! YOU'RE SICK! IWW!! GROSS http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/eek.gif



Actually, I think the comparison was more on the lines of "occassionally I have to spend ridiculous amounts of money for the well-being or enjoyment of these strange creatures". I don't think it is sick. It's interesting what peoples' reactions to various things tell, but then again, this thread was about introducing oneself. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/wink.gif http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/tongue.gif

[DominionsFan]

Yeah please, dont make rude comments like that Argitoth. Anyways I dont see any problems with a person who has 2 cats. What was your point?

[Argitoth]

woah, what? how would you react to "single, though 2 prostitutes"? http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/shock.gif

it's a joke. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/redface.gif

[Nerfix]

Argitoth said:
woah, what? how would you react to "single, though 2 prostitutes"? http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/shock.gif

it's a joke. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/redface.gif

That's some weird slang. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/Injured.gif

[DominionsFan]

Nerfix said:

Argitoth said:
woah, what? how would you react to "single, though 2 prostitutes"? http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/shock.gif

it's a joke. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/redface.gif

That's some weird slang. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/Injured.gif



Agreed. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/stupid.gif

[Shmonk]

What, I do have 2 prostitutes living with me, that's what I said... and at least they don't charge (that often). http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/laugh.gif

Yes, they are of the felidae family, more specifically the felis silvestris catus subspecies. And yes, they tend to suck up my resources, both gold and supplies, I fondly call them "fat cats".

[Caduceus]

31 year old family practicioner. I'm a regular over on Space Empires, played the Dom 2 demo and enjoyed it but never purchased as I heard that 3 was in development and was hopeful that it would fix some of the start-up (set-up) problems I had with the game.

And yes, I pre-ordered. So my money is where my mouth is http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/wink.gif

[PashaDawg]

Nah, Shmonk... admit it... you live in your own private seraglio. I have heard about the lavish lifestyle you Californians demand (compared to what we prefer here in austere New England)! http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/biggrin.gif http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/biggrin.gif http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/biggrin.gif

[Argitoth]

I never knew what smog was till I went to California. It's freaking DISGUSTING!

[Renegade 13]

I'm 19 years old, male, living in central British Columbia, Canada, near a tiny little town called Fort Fraser. Currently semi-employed, working on a cattle ranch. So everytime you eat a steak...it coulda been me who helped create that steak! http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/wink.gif

I spend a lot more time over at the Space Empires forum, but lurk around here now and then. First got into the world of Dominions a couple years back with Dom2. I found it highly enjoyable, even if the AI always kicked me in the arse with a steel-toed boot. Looking forward to, and have pre-ordered, Dom3.

As far as gaming goes, my favorite genres are Turn Based Stratgy, the occasional FPS, Space Simulations, and games that require more thought than reflexes.

I have an intense interest in astronomy and astrophysics, along with chemistry. However, I am not going to pursue any of those fields in further education. In fact, not sure what I'm going to do. Hopefully I'll figure out in a year or two, until then I'm working when possible.

[PashaDawg]

I hear British Columbia is an amazingly beautiful place!

[Renegade 13]

It absolutely is! BC has essentially all climate types, from temperate rainforests to deserts to mountain ranges to broad valleys, etc. I'm very happy to have grown up here, and I'll probably live here for quite some time. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/biggrin.gif

Of course, be careful where you go in the winter. The winter before last, we hit -49°C once /threads/images/Graemlins/Cold.gif /threads/images/Graemlins/Cold.gif /threads/images/Graemlins/Cold.gif Though that's by far the exception, not the rule.

[Kristoffer O]

It's better to have cold winters. Otherwise you don't have snow and you don't appreciate the summer properly.

Imagine growing up without snowballs http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/frown.gif

[Agrajag]

I don't have to imagine, I have no snowballs :\
Damned tropic climate! (not really tropic, we almost never go under 10 or over 40)
But atleast no one in the country is more than an hour's drive away from the ocean, and the weather allows bathing ~6 months per year (though if you go to the ocean too early, everything might be closed), and I know that in many states in the USA going to see the ocean is something special.

[DominionsFan]

Renegade 13 said:
It absolutely is! BC has essentially all climate types, from temperate rainforests to deserts to mountain ranges to broad valleys, etc. I'm very happy to have grown up here, and I'll probably live here for quite some time. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/biggrin.gif

Of course, be careful where you go in the winter. The winter before last, we hit -49°C once /threads/images/Graemlins/Cold.gif /threads/images/Graemlins/Cold.gif /threads/images/Graemlins/Cold.gif Though that's by far the exception, not the rule.




Hehe, here in Hungary winters are usually very cold. In december and january sometime we got -25 ~ -35 Celsius at nights. The summer is hot however, in july and early august we got like 30-35 Celsius.
Weird climate isnt it? Hardcore continental. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/biggrin.gif

[Oversway]

Imagine growing up without snowballs



Yeah or no sledding http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/frown.gif

[Renegade 13]

Kristoffer O said:
It's better to have cold winters. Otherwise you don't have snow and you don't appreciate the summer properly.

Imagine growing up without snowballs http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/frown.gif

I can't imagine growing up without snow for several months of the year. After all, winter is my favorite season. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/wink.gif Don't think I could live without skiing, snowboarding, sledding, etc.

If you want to know what the weather is like in most of Canada, remember this saying:

"We have four seasons here:
- Almost Winter
- Winter
- Still Winter
- Construction!" http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/biggrin.gif

[DominionsFan]

I hate winter. What do you like in it? Its much better to go to the beach on summer and have fun. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/cool.gif

[NakedLunch]

Yeah, but if it's snowing a blizzard outside you have an excuse to stay inside and play computer games all day

[ioticus]

NakedLunch said:
Yeah, but if it's snowing a blizzard outside you have an excuse to stay inside and play computer games all day



I never need an excuse for that.

[Kristoffer O]

Today we have 25 degrees centigrade here and I'm suffering indoors as well as outdoors. No time better for a cold beer, but it makes you slow of mind and body.

[Gandalf Parker]

I grew up in 4 seasons but I hate winter. Of course that was in the plains so snow isnt much fun with no hills.

Now Im in California. 2 seasons. Brown and Green. And they are oppossite what I thought (green is winter, brown is summer). If I ever miss snow I can drive an hour to the mountains, see snow, drive home. In the same day I can see sunshine, forests, beaches, wilderness, major cities, country towns, whatever Im in the mood for. I like California.

Gandalf Parker

[Agrajag]

*Cough* 30 degrees Celsius, indoors.
24 with airconditioning on.

And that's just today, last monday satan decided to pop up and destroy Israel, only to realize its too damn hot, so he went back to hell so he can cool down a bit.

[Shmonk]

I know what you mean Gandalf. I also grew up in 4 seasons (Illinois), then moved to Arizona (nothing but heat), then settled in California (perfect). I like the fact that if I want snow, I just drive east for an hour, if I want to see the ocean, I drive west for about 2 hours. It's perfect.

[alexti]

Kristoffer O said:
Today we have 25 degrees centigrade here and I'm suffering indoors as well as outdoors. No time better for a cold beer, but it makes you slow of mind and body.


How true... Reminds me why I hate the summer. I'm sure that when the temperature goes above 15 it must be designs of some evil pretender http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/happy.gif

[DominionsFan]

NakedLunch said:
Yeah, but if it's snowing a blizzard outside you have an excuse to stay inside and play computer games all day



http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/biggrin.gif

[Renegade 13]

alexti said:

Kristoffer O said:
Today we have 25 degrees centigrade here and I'm suffering indoors as well as outdoors. No time better for a cold beer, but it makes you slow of mind and body.


How true... Reminds me why I hate the summer. I'm sure that when the temperature goes above 15 it must be designs of some evil pretender http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/happy.gif

I agree completely. I hate anything above about 15 too http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/happy.gif (today is 27 and I'm dying!...no airconditioning! http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/frown.gif ) I think when I was born my internal furnace was set about 5 degrees too high!

[DominionsFan]

Renegade, perhaps you should be teleported to the Jupiter, it must be cold enough for you there. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/biggrin.gif
Lol maybe this was a bad joke, but Ive seen that planet in your avatar. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/wink.gif

[Wick]

Winter is definately the best season here. There hasn't been snow since ~1986 when, on one day, a light dusting of flakes reached the ground. Miracles are miracles because they are rare.

[Renegade 13]

DominionsFAN said:
Renegade, perhaps you should be teleported to the Jupiter, it must be cold enough for you there. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/biggrin.gif
Lol maybe this was a bad joke, but Ive seen that planet in your avatar. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/wink.gif

Yep, Jupiter might just be cold enough for me http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/laugh.gif http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/tongue.gif Then again, astronomy is one of my hobbies/interests, so I'd love to go to Jupiter for more than just the cold! http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/wink.gif

[Morkilus]

I've wanted to go to Jupiter ever since reading this:

http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c218/Morkilus/bst.jpg

[Daynarr]

Renegade 13 said:
... I'd love to go to Jupiter for more than just the cold! http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/wink.gif



To get crushed by it's gravity? http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/tongue.gif http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/wink.gif http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/biggrin.gif

[Cainehill]

Wouldn't he cook first?

[Ighalli]

Suffocate first, I should think.

[Daynarr]

Well, he would probably be in some kind of ship when he arrives so he should be able to breathe. Not sure what would kill him first, but I bet on gravity.

[Cainehill]

Not if he had liquid in his lungs (hemoraghing blood, for instance). No, heat would kill first I think, pressure second.

[PashaDawg]

Pressure second? I did not know that Renegade13 had multiple lives.

[Oversway]

The jupiter tourism board is going to have their work cut out for them.

[DominionsFan]

I think we went a bit off-topic. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/laugh.gif

[Morkilus]

The Space Empires Board Virus strikes again!

[Gandalf Parker]

Also in line with introductions..
Im on the front page! Well just a county seat newspaper. Not small town but not big city. They asked for emails from stay-at-home dads for a fathers day article. I didnt think they would like it enough to send a reporte and photographer, and then put it on the front page!
http://www.thereporter.com/news/ci_3952866

Gandalf Parker

[DominionsFan]

Gandalf Parker said:
Also in line with introductions..
Im on the front page! Well just a county seat newspaper. Not small town but not big city. They asked for emails from stay-at-home dads for a fathers day article. I didnt think they would like it enough to send a reporte and photographer, and then put it on the front page!
http://www.thereporter.com/news/ci_3952866

Gandalf Parker



Ah...sad to see that your son is disabled..[well I dont know what disabled exatly means in this case, I am not a native english talker, but I think I know that what is it all about.]
You are a good dad for sure, I can see that from the picture. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/cool.gif

[Gandalf Parker]

Basically it means that he will be with us forever. But thats not a horrible thing. He is a chearful fun kid and apparently he always will be. Some of the people that go to the day program he is in have become grumpy people I wouldnt want to live with, but he is cool.

[Ballbarian]

I have always considered myself a pretty good judge of character, and by the tone of your posts and writings on your web site, I figured you for a good person and the article just confirms it. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/wink.gif

[Nerfix]

You know, Gandalf is easily the coolest person on the board. Not only he takes care of his son but he also works from his home, is a retired army person and does...sewing.

And how many guys have Gandalf as their middle name?

Cool beyound words. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/happy.gif

[Caduceus]

Thanks for opening up about yourself, Gandalf. My older brother has cerebral palsy and lives about five miles from my folks in a group home where he goes to work every day.

[Psitticine]

My sister is a nurse in a group home. One of her kids is autistic and another has some other issues going, so the issues there are close to her heart.

[BigJMoney]

I'm 25, American, and I ususally ignore threads like these, but I took a glance at it and felt guilty because everyone I have met in this community is so enjoyable. I have owned Dominions 2 for several months now, and my gaming habits are quirky. It turns out that when I first got it, I grew tired with it quickly for some reason. Then, a few months later, I decided to reinstall it and now I love it. I rather think of Dominions like a very complex strategy board game than a "video game", and that makes me very fond of it. I hope it never loses that charm. The fun for me right now is still discovering this game, and learning to conquer the AI with different nations.

I'm also very pleased to play this and a few other European games with European players. The other one of note is Mount & Blade. If I recall correctly, it was that community which directed me here. I have to say the Europeans currently hold the strategy gaming crown. That is, *if* the UKers want to be included in your lot. ;-) Creative Assembly is pretty darn good, too; even if they have been losing my faith.

Interestigly enough, Shrapnelgames is in my backyard, here in North Carolina.

-- John Mauney

=$= Big J Money =$=

[PashaDawg]

Howdy!

[Tumba]

Ok, to add to the impressive amount of Finns introduced here:

Tumba, 35, a Finn, working as a CRM Project Manager for WM-data. I do have a company of my own, WalnutFactory, but mostly as a hobby.
Wife, 3 children (2 girls & 1 boy), 3 Leonberger dogs (2 girls & 1 boy) and half a horse (dunno which half, it's actually my wife's).

I do a lot of boardgaming, some on-line gaming (IL2-FB mostly, and yes, we have a "clan" page: "TausteluTunarit" (BattleMess-up's or something like that in English) http://www.kolumbus.fi/tom.snall/TT/TT.htm ) and some PBEM.

That's all folks.

[PhilD]

French male, 36, working as a researcher/teacher of computer science and mathematics.

I've been into strategy gaming for, well, about 25 years I think. First a little wargaming. Then I caught the RPG virus, and I still have it somehow (that's "old-style" roleplaying, the kind with people sitting around a table telling stories and rolling weird dice). Then ran into computers, and I've been playing computer games for maybe 20 years.

I bought Dom:PPP after seeing some article about it on usenet - probably by Gandalf. It was nice enough, but I didn't play it much. Good enough that I jumped on Dom2 when it was released, and that was certainly the one commercial PC game that I spent the most time, ever - mostly solo, as I'm a very bad MP player (or so it seems). I admit I haven't played Dom2 in quite a while, but I'll be back in when Dom3 releases.

I don't have a picture of myself, but sometimes I look a little like my avatar on this board (though at the moment the hair is shorter, and the beard will be gone in a few days). Oh, and the hair is grayer, too.

[okiN]

Toodles. 17-year-old Finn/American. Played the PPP demo a lot back in the day but couldn't get around to buying it. Got Dom2 about a year and a half ago and have been playing it ever since. Been browsing the forums for a while but never got around to registering. With the impending release of Dom3, though, I decided I might as well make my presence known. Archonsod and Big J Money (Where'd you go, man? What happened to you?) I'm already familiar with from the Mount&Blade forums.

[baby_arm]

Is that a Ralph Steadman (http://www.ralphsteadman.com/) picture I see?

[okiN]

That it is, my good man. Remarkably perceptive of you given the avatar size.

[DominionsFan]

Hello Okin, and welcome on the forums! http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/smile.gif

[Ubercat]

I'm 38, originally from Michigan, lived in Philadelphia, PA from 1987 up until April '06, now I live near Allentown, PA.

I tried the Dom2 demo a couple years ago, but couldn't figure it out easily enough, and had too many distractions at the time to make the effort. I kept it in the back of my head though. I went to Shrapnel games about a month back with the intent to finally buy Dom2, and was thrilled to discover that Dom3 was in the works, and would be out soon, so I preordered.

-Ubercat

[deccan]

Age 30, male, Malaysian living in Solomon Islands.

Just checked in now that Dom3 has gone gold. Wonder if anyone here remembers me. I see some familiar names, but so many new ones as well.

[PashaDawg]

I remember. Welcome back! http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/happy.gif

[DominionsFan]

deccan said:
Age 30, male, Malaysian living in Solomon Islands.

Just checked in now that Dom3 has gone gold. Wonder if anyone here remembers me. I see some familiar names, but so many new ones as well.



Welcome back. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/smile.gif

[Manuk]

Juan Pedro Linares
Age 32

I live in Buenos Aires, Argentina.

I'm fan of strategy games, soccer and shooter games.

Favorites:
Pirates!, Master of Magic, Master of Orion 2, Age of wonders:SM, Warlords2, Winning 11, Battlefield 2, Blood bowl, Fallout2, Shandalar, Starcon2, Starfraft.
Of course, Dominions. I have a friend that plays Planets and seems to be a tricky game. I might give it a try.

[arab]

Greetings

I'm 31, Polish male from Swidnik

I'm fan turn based strategy games (and similar nature) - chronologically:
Arnhem, Desert Rats, Vulcan, Warlords, Defender of the Crown, Pirates, Empire, Populous, Harpoon, Civilization, Colonization, Western Front, Eastern Front, Lords of the Realms, V for Victory, Solidarnosc, History Line, Laser Squad, Great Naval Battles, Ufo: Enemy Unknown, Master of Orion, Master of Magic, Panzer General, Dune 2, World at War, Heroes of Might and Magic, Close Combat ...etc...
and now Dominions http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/tongue.gif

[Reverend_MrBlack]

I'm 25, a grad student, and living in Baltimore, MD.

I'm very excited about dominions 3. I haven't played any dominions games, but it looked that good. It's the first game I've ever pre-ordered, as well.

I'll probably be playing a lot of single player in the beginning, but as I plan to play some multiplayer at some point, I thought I'd say hello.

[Nerfix]

okiN said:
Toodles. 17-year-old Finn/American.

Finn/American eh? Neat, what's the story?

[okiN]

Both my parents are full-blooded Finns, but they went to New York to study and my dad later started working there. In the meanwhile, both my brother and I were born in NYC, which under American law makes us citizens. We moved back to Finland when I was four or something.

End result: I've got two passports to choose between according to the situation and have two first languages. Not a bad deal, I think. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/biggrin.gif

[Nerfix]

okiN said:
Both my parents are full-blooded Finns, but they went to New York to study and my dad later started working there. In the meanwhile, both my brother and I were born in NYC, which under American law makes us citizens. We moved back to Finland when I was four or something.

End result: I've got two passports to choose between according to the situation and have two first languages. Not a bad deal, I think. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/biggrin.gif

Yes, not bad at all. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/happy.gif

[Caduceus]

Makes me think of the movie "Dave"

"She's American.... She's Polynesian... She's Amnesian."

[okiN]

Caduceus said:
"She's American.... She's Polynesian... She's Amnesian."



So that'd make me...

Amish? http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/confused.gif

[Gandalf Parker]

People with dual citizenship were common in the military. Often military moved around and had their kids overseas. It has its pros and cons (sometimes you could be drafted by two different countries at the same time)

[atul]

I believe a dual citizenship equals a "You get out of the Army for free" -card in Finland, at least that was the case for my stepsister's Finnish/English son... Lucky 'em.

[okiN]

atul said:
I believe a dual citizenship equals a "You get out of the Army for free" -card in Finland, at least that was the case for my stepsister's Finnish/English son... Lucky 'em.



Tell me more, because AFAIK despite my best hopes it equals no such thing. Believe me, I've looked into the matter.

[Agrajag]

I can tell you that you will definitely not get a "get out of army free" card in Israel if you have another citizenship.
Unless your other citizenship is something like "Saudi Arabia", in which case how the hell did you get an Israeli citizenship? http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/tongue.gif

[atul]

okiN said:
Tell me more, because AFAIK despite my best hopes it equals no such thing. Believe me, I've looked into the matter.


Huh? Okay, maybe it only applies to people with a permanent residence abroad. I'm not too much in the know, I just heard my stepnephew wasn't to go to army despite being half Finn. Or then I've misunderstood.

...anyway, you know, contrary what you're told in the conscription lecture, civil service is an option. All fun and games before a lifetime stigma. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/wink.gif Been there, done that.

[okiN]

atul said:Huh? Okay, maybe it only applies to people with a permanent residence abroad. I'm not too much in the know, I just heard my stepnephew wasn't to go to army despite being half Finn. Or then I've misunderstood.



Ah, that'd be it. I live in Finland so I can't escape my "civic duty". http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/rolleyes.gif


atul said:...anyway, you know, contrary what you're told in the conscription lecture, civil service is an option. All fun and games before a lifetime stigma. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/wink.gif Been there, done that.



An option, sure, but not a particularly appealing one. Takes longer and, as far as I've heard (Dunno about the conscription lecture, never bothered to read the brochure they sent me), isn't really that much more enjoyable than the military anyway.

[Nerfix]

okiN said:Ah, that'd be it. I live in Finland so I can't escape my "civic duty". http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/rolleyes.gif

Fake depression. It'll get you out.

Alternatively, shoot someone. I bet the time you spend in jail will be less than for draft dodging. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/tongue.gif

Or then escape with me to Malaysia. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/stupid.gif

*gets arrested by SUPO*

[DominionsFan]

Anyways, why is there a forced military service in Finland still? We used to have that in Hungary as well, but now we only have "professional military", and not forced. I think a forced military servince is absolutely pointless anyways, its a big wasting of time for the specific person, who doesnt want to be a soldier. IF we can call "forced regular soldiers" a real soldier at all, personally I wouldnt call them soldier.


*Edit*
We went a bit off-topic. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/biggrin.gif

[atul]

DominionsFAN said:
Anyways, why is there a forced military service in Finland still?


...sigh... My feelings exactly. History, group-think, and our eastern neighbour as a convenient excuse. And backwards defence policy (not an inch of land given away) which essentially requires the current method of conscription. Can't defend huge empty forests with well-paid professionals, not economical, you know.

Yup, totally off-topic, sorry. But I end my part here, the three week trip to middle Europe starts in three hours. Bratislava - Prague - Wien - Budapest, weeeeeee. Let's see whether they let me back in Finland after posting this...

[okiN]

Nerfix said:Fake depression. It'll get you out.


Thing is, I don't need it on my permanent record that I'm mentally unstable.


DominionsFAN said:Anyways, why is there a forced military service in Finland still?


Because of the reasons stated by atul, along with the fact that RUSSIANS ARE BLOODY SCARY. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/eek.gif


DominionsFAN said:We went a bit off-topic. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/biggrin.gif


Oh, well. Not like anyone else is posting. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/tongue.gif

[DominionsFan]

atul said:

DominionsFAN said:
Anyways, why is there a forced military service in Finland still?


...sigh... My feelings exactly. History, group-think, and our eastern neighbour as a convenient excuse. And backwards defence policy (not an inch of land given away) which essentially requires the current method of conscription. Can't defend huge empty forests with well-paid professionals, not economical, you know.

Yup, totally off-topic, sorry. But I end my part here, the three week trip to middle Europe starts in three hours. Bratislava - Prague - Wien - Budapest, weeeeeee. Let's see whether they let me back in Finland after posting this...



Have a good time. If ou want to visit nightclubs or restaurants in Hungary, just send me a PM, my family runs some nightclubs and restaurants in Budapest.

[Maltrease]

Wow! I can't believe it has been about 2 years since my play with Dominions 2 started winding down.

A few times each year I would check the forums to catch any news of Dom3 and a few months back I was very excited to see it coming soon.

Got my preorder in last week and I'm ready to go. The AARs have been painful exciting and brought back a lot of memories about how great this game is.

I hope I am able to find the time for Dom3 or perhaps a better statement would be I hope I have time for my life after Dom3 comes out.

I've got a 11 week baby girl (our first) so I think that will go a long way in keeping my addictions in check.

Its great seeing some of the familiar names in the forums. I'm sure I have played with a lot of you in the past.

Any ways... I'm excited! http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/happy.gif

Take care and I will talk to you soon,
Adam

[Nerfix]

okiN said:Thing is, I don't need it on my permanent record that I'm mentally unstable.

I thought that such information stays private?

[DominionsFan]

Maltrease said:
Wow! I can't believe it has been about 2 years since my play with Dominions 2 started winding down.

A few times each year I would check the forums to catch any news of Dom3 and a few months back I was very excited to see it coming soon.

Got my preorder in last week and I'm ready to go. The AARs have been painful exciting and brought back a lot of memories about how great this game is.

I hope I am able to find the time for Dom3 or perhaps a better statement would be I hope I have time for my life after Dom3 comes out.

I've got a 11 week baby girl (our first) so I think that will go a long way in keeping my addictions in check.

Its great seeing some of the familiar names in the forums. I'm sure I have played with a lot of you in the past.

Any ways... I'm excited! http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/happy.gif

Take care and I will talk to you soon,
Adam



Oh 11 weeks old baby. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/smile.gif Hopefully the little one will be a Dominions 6. addict! http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/wink.gif

[Kristoffer O]

> I've got a 11 week baby girl (our first) so I think that will go a long way in keeping my addictions in check.

Beautiful! Take good care of her (and your partner). Dominions can wait.

[Maltrease]

Thanks Kristoffer!

Trust me... there is little doubt about her receiving first priority. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/happy.gif

Here are some pics and vidoes if someone is looking for a few smiles. http://www.evilfree.com/andrea/blog/

The videos of her first dunking are particurarly precious! (in my unbiased opinion)

[DominionsFan]

Maltrease said:
Thanks Kristoffer!

Trust me... there is little doubt about her receiving first priority. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/happy.gif

Here are some pics and vidoes if someone is looking for a few smiles. http://www.evilfree.com/andrea/blog/

The videos of her first dunking are particurarly precious! (in my unbiased opinion)



Nice pictures. Is it common in the US to make blogs about the family/kids? It is very rare here.

[Maltrease]

Thank you! I'm not sure it is rare.. I doubt many people take the time to install a custom blog rather then use myspace or similar service.

I started it to try to get my wife a little more into computers and it worked fabulously for that process! http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/happy.gif

Plus it is great to have a journal of everything, easy to share tge latest pics with family.

I work with the web all day so I felt guilty it took me this long to have a blog.

Any ways. Good luck with your Dwarf Fortress. I'm hoping I can avoid downloading it for a while.

Dominoins.... I'm so anxious to play GOD!

http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/happy.gif
Adam

[DominionsFan]

Oh I see. Very good blog btw!
You must try Dwarf Fortress when you gonna have a little freetime. It is a masterpiece, just like Dominions.
It is also extremely addictive. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/cool.gif

[Caduceus]

We have a four month-old and and a 2 year-old. It gets more fun every day http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/happy.gif

DominionsFAN, we keep a site of family pics too. Our parents live 3+ hours away and we have family on both US coasts, so it is easier.

[Kristoffer O]

> Here are some pics and vidoes if someone is looking for a few smiles.

Cute! Thanks http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/happy.gif

[VanderVecken]

45 y/o Male Married 2 Kids (12 & 6, late start due to gaming a lot and dating too little)

Born and Raised in Minnesnowta - F.Y.I. Minnesota is coldest State outside of Alaska, Some mountain peaks in Maine and along Nortern Rockys sometimes are colder, but the cold spots in my State are where Towns and Cities are located.

Bought first Wargame - 3rd Reich (AH)at age of 15
Played D&D at age of 16, too many Games of all types followed, and Computer just made list even bigger.
Loved my Amiga (Dungeonmaster and Mechforce) Spent more time playing Civ2, Civ3, Moo, Moo2, SEIV, and EQ than I wish to think about (I coulda been a contenda ...)

Went to college after 3 years being an Airborne Medic in US Army (mostly 82nd Division with time on Smokebomb Hill USAJFKIMA) and then spent 4.67 years getting 1.5 years worth of credits at the local University. (I really learned a lot but not how to get a passing grade) Spent too much time Running a 9 year Rolemaster RPG campaign, driving my drunk friends home, and reading SciFic Books.

Was Advisor for one of local High Scholl's Games Club, I have friend I met when they were freshman who have larger families and better jobs than me now. You really get to know the people you Roleplay with over the years. Seeing them grow up (while I did my Peter Pan thing) was one of coolest things so far in my life; helping and watching my own kids grow up (so far) is first. Some day when I grow up I want to write MY great Novel(s) but that not gonna happen unless I put more time away not doing games <maybe I'll continue tomorrow>
My son has promise to not to become a geek like his dad, but my 6 y/o daughter and I play WoW and Magic CCG when her work is done and she's actually asked to try to play SE:IV once already. (She's doomed too).
Now that I think I should be writting MY book(s) I find yet another Game that has my pavlovian bell a'ringing. So Here I await the Comming of Dom3. Whats unfair is that Dom3 and SE5 are coming out soooo close to each other, that is a bummer. I've never played DomII but it looks similar to a stack of notes I have on one of the games I thought I'd develop (HA!) some years ago. Gonna make those games right after I write my Novels, eh ??

Non-gaming interests: Astronomy, Astronomy, Bugging my wonderful Wife, Astronomy, Vikings Football (American NFL Football), History, Sneak in Game stuff, Reading Sci Fic and Fantasy, Astronomy, Family, and Astronomy (without quite so much Spam in it).

[Agrajag]

VanderVecken said:

My son has promise to not to become a geek like his dad, but my 6 y/o daughter and I play WoW and Magic CCG when her work is done and she's actually asked to try to play SE:IV once already. (She's doomed too).


Hey, we could always use some more geekets. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/tongue.gif
That is (obviously) the biggest shortcoming in our legions right now http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/tongue.gif

[Caduceus]

We have two girls. I have passed the geek gene on, even if it is dormant with a second X chromosome.

[DominionsFan]

VanderVecken said:
My son has promise to not to become a geek like his dad, but my 6 y/o daughter and I play WoW and Magic CCG when her work is done and she's actually asked to try to play



6 years old and shes playing WoW already? Holy jeebus! http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/biggrin.gif
Btw welcome on the forums VanderVecken. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/smile.gif

[Manuk]

WoW = Wizards of Wor?
http://www.geocities.com/jlinares007/testwow.gif

[JaydedOne]

World of Warcraft, more likely. ;-)

[DominionsFan]

Eh yes, it must be World of Warcraft. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/wink.gif

[Daynarr]

Manuk said:
WoW = Wizards of Wor?
http://www.geocities.com/jlinares007/testwow.gif



LOL, i played that game long time on my C64. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/happy.gif

[Maltrease]

Daynarr said:

Manuk said:
WoW = Wizards of Wor?
http://www.geocities.com/jlinares007/testwow.gif



LOL, i played that game long time on my C64. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/happy.gif



Yes me to. Was so fun playing 2 player.
Hated the arena levels.

C64 was such a great little computer. Got me started with whole programming "thing".

good times!
http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/happy.gif

[DominionsFan]

Sadly I never had a chance to play on a C64, I guess I was like 5 years old, when those computers were so popular. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/happy.gif

[JaydedOne]

I was all about the Apple II+ myself. No C64 for me!

[VanderVecken]

Aye, World of Warcraft. She loves her Hunter now that she has her pets to help fight for her. She just started Kindergarten but has enhanced vocabulary and word recognition due to her gaming. If she makes a mistake in WoW she just hits the shift key and types random numbers - to her that is a swear word. Ahh, to see the world thru a child's eyes.
Wizards of Wor ... kinda looks like a Pac-man clone, how does it play ?? Ack, must not learn another game ... must spend SOME of my waking moments in the Real World ... must ...

[VanderVecken]

Apple IIc was first computer for me, although I put a down payment on a TRS-80 while in Army. Imperium Galacticum and Reach for the Stars (The much older but more fun version)were first space empire games to 'Hook' me.

[Kristoffer O]

Manuk said:
WoW = Wizards of Wor?
http://www.geocities.com/jlinares007/testwow.gif



Whooah! Thats wizards of wor! Remember the WORLORD?

My first ones were 'Fort Apocalypse' and 'Shamus'.

[Agrajag]

I started on a 286, how noobish of me http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/tongue.gif

In my defence, besides my youth, most systems that aren't the PC didn't really make it well over here. Even now, the console market is pretty wierd.
In the rest of the world, consoles are sold at a loss, so that the console games will repay the lose, over here it is automatically assumed that you will install a chip into your console so you can play burned games, and so consoles are really expensive.

Then again, I can't blame the console-game-crackers, console games cost almost twice as much as PC games (which in turn cost much more compared to the average salary then pretty much anywhere else), though I don't own any console myself.

And while I'm on it, I'd just say the I don't like consoles, they just aren't as useful or comfortable as a PC http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/tongue.gif

[tibbs]

Hello,

My name is Chris. I'm 30 years of age and live in Iowa, U.S.A. Married to a nice lady from Japan so I am usually travelling over there once a year to visit her family.

My hobbies - games of course, tinkering with computers, photography, kendo, my reef aquarium, and SCUBA diving.

I think the first computer game I played was possibly, Oregon Trail on the green screen Apple II(?). I later bought a commodore and loved the gold box D&D games on it. I used to play consoles but the last console I bought was the playstation. I bought a PC shortly after that and have since found consoles boring.

Really looking forward to playing some dominions 3 with some of you guys when it comes out.

[Caduceus]

*sigh* I hate myself for asking this, but I can't help myself...

Do they call you MISTER tibbs?

Apologies to all Sidney Poitier (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0061811/) fans.

[tibbs]

hahaha, Actually, thats where I did get the name from.... http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/laugh.gif

And to answer your question, yes they DO!

[Caduceus]

Heh. Good on you, then.

[DominionsFan]

Welcome aboard tibbs! http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/cool.gif

[Gandalf Parker]

Iowa?
I grew up in West Branch, Iowa.
(and when I got to California some lady told me "we pronounce that ohio out here". I swear to God that she did.)

Gandalf Parker

[VanderVecken]

Sister lives in Iowa, east side of state (Iowa city). Lot of Iowa jokes told up here in Minnesnowta, only cheese-head Wisconsin jokes are more popular. When I was a kid the jokes were about other countries and such but with ethnic awareness they have turned to less hot-point topics such as States and Pop Culture figures. But no matter what the joke is about, Funny is Funny and demeaning is wrong ! (Where did that come from, my inner monologue states).
P.S. How steep was Dominions II's learning curve or was it a case of skimpy rules documentation that some had issues about ???

[JaydedOne]

I felt that Dom II didn't have too steep a curve, but the interface was not what one would call initially intuitive. I was lucky enough to find Bruce's walkthrough while trying out the demo so I never had to go an extended period of time without knowing what was going on, but I definitely had to help my friends out with some very basic army commands in the game -- part of that was definitely the manual, as it was mostly text and didn't give you diagrammed game screens or a tutorial to get you started.

As for learning the strategy of the game itself, that can be pretty steep. The game is incredibly deep with a wealth of options -- it takes time to learn how one nation matches up against another, to say nothing of all 18. But half the fun is trying, failing, and learning. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/happy.gif

[Gandalf Parker]

I recommend trying the demo first. Some people really cant get into it. But if you can get into it then it will live for years on your machine.

[DominionsFan]

JaydedOne said:
I felt that Dom II didn't have too steep a curve, but the interface was not what one would call initially intuitive. I was lucky enough to find Bruce's walkthrough while trying out the demo so I never had to go an extended period of time without knowing what was going on, but I definitely had to help my friends out with some very basic army commands in the game -- part of that was definitely the manual, as it was mostly text and didn't give you diagrammed game screens or a tutorial to get you started.

As for learning the strategy of the game itself, that can be pretty steep. The game is incredibly deep with a wealth of options -- it takes time to learn how one nation matches up against another, to say nothing of all 18. But half the fun is trying, failing, and learning. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/happy.gif




Yes well, many people had that problem with Doms 2. It was too confusing at first look. I introduced Doms 2. to my friends [they are all strategy gamers], and they were all whining that the game is confusing. After that I loaned my manual to them, so that they could learn the basics.. 2 days later they all bought the game. That was a long time ago. Since then we still play many TCP/IP games. The complexity and diversity of the game is awesome, this is why we are never bored.

Btw, imho the demo will need some .pdf help file ..the people [potential new players] will need informations about the basics of Doms 3.

*Edit*
typo

[Fremen]

Hi Everyone,

It's nice to see such an active international forum; that bodes well for the game! I'm very new to Dominions. Although I love the genre, somehow I've been missing out and just discovered Dominions having been sent here from a Galactic Civilations 2 forum.

I love strategy games, though I never seem to have enough time to put in to get good at any of them. My favorites are X-com, Fallout Tactics:BOS, the Age of Wonders series, MOO3, Dune II, Dune 2000, Emperor: Battle for Dune, and currently Galactic Civ 2. I also enjoy playing miniature wargames.

As soon as I found the site, I read an AAR and was hooked by the apparent depth and subtleness of the game. I then downloaded Dominions 2 demo and couldn’t stop playing. I can’t wait to get Dominions 3!

My only concern is that I have two very young children, and it might be bad for their health should I be consumed by this…

I'm currently living in Arizona, but have previously lived extensively in Asia and a long while in California.

I look forward to learning more about Dominions from all of you.

[Manuk]

Go dune!
I also like FOT and dune.
You actually play MOO3? I couldn`t realise what was going on during combat, since every weapon sounded the same an I couldn't peek ship`s gear. But I still play MOO2 once in a while.
You won't regret playing dominions.

[Gandalf Parker]

I also recommend Space Empires (which is about to put out a version 5).

But you are right about the addictivness..

WARNING: this game is NOT suitable for students, interns, apprentices,
or anyone else who is expected to pass tests on a regular basis. Do not
think about Dominions strategys while operating heavy machinery. The
demo has built-in protections which should not be bypassed. They are for
your health as much as for monetary reasons. Do not begin on the full
version without first making arrangments for someone to check on you
daily. If you find that your game has continued for more than 36 hours
straight then you should consult a physician immeadiately (Do NOT show
him the game!)

Gandalf Parker

[Daynarr]

Gandalf Parker said:
I also recommend Space Empires (which is about to put out a version 5).

But you are right about the addictivness..

WARNING: this game is NOT suitable for students, interns, apprentices,
or anyone else who is expected to pass tests on a regular basis. Do not
think about Dominions strategys while operating heavy machinery. The
demo has built-in protections which should not be bypassed. They are for
your health as much as for monetary reasons. Do not begin on the full
version without first making arrangments for someone to check on you
daily. If you find that your game has continued for more than 36 hours
straight then you should consult a physician immeadiately (Do NOT show
him the game!)

Gandalf Parker



You know, they really should put this on the cover. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/cool.gif

[JaydedOne]

Fremen said:
Hi Everyone,

It's nice to see such an active international forum; that bodes well for the game! I'm very new to Dominions. Although I love the genre, somehow I've been missing out and just discovered Dominions having been sent here from a Galactic Civilations 2 forum.



Welcome! The nice thing about Dom forums is that they've always been very supportive of new players. When I jumped in two years ago, everyone was fantastic about answering questions and offering advice and finding a game was never a problem. Be looking forward to seeing you around!

[Fremen]

Thanks for the great reception! And Gandalf, thanks for the warning.... I saw the light of dawn just with the Dom 2 demo, so I'm afraid of what the full version of Dom 3 may do. But I don't think I can resist either http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/redface.gif

@Manuk: I actually did play MOO3 heavily patched, and it wasn't too bad at that point, but I did mean to put MOO2 there.

Space Empires looks REALLY cool, and I can't wait for that to be released either!

[Meglobob]

Hello everyone.

Friendly looking community u have here.

I have come to the party late, Dominions 2 http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/frown.gifor just on time with Dominions 3. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/happy.gif

Got the link via Galactic Civilizations 2, Brad/Frogboy, is a big Dominions 2 fan so he plugged Dominions 3 going gold.

Been hooked on the Dominions 2 demo for a week now and have just pre-ordered Dominions 3, can't wait, just the joy of playing past turn 40 http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/laugh.gif

I am going to play all the demo playable nations up till turn 40, hopefully I will have Dominions 3 by then, now back to that bad boy priest with smite http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/eek.gif

Look forward to playing with some of u, in a multiplayer game, when I am clued up...

[Caduceus]

Welcome, welcome. I'm a transplant from the Space Empires group, myself.

[DominionsFan]

Welcome on the forum Meglobob. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/cool.gif

[Ballbarian]

I loved Wizards of Wor! http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/happy.gif

(oops, didn't realize that I was so far behind in reading this thread before I posted...) http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/redface.gif

[cthulhu]

This is my first post in this forum. Hello.

I was a big fan of Master of Magic. A few months ago googling MoM I happened across some post by a GalCiv developer mentioning Dominions II as a sort of successor to MoM, so I downloaded the demo and started become a big fan of Dom2. Ordered Dom2 and preordered Dom3 after playing the demo for a week or so.

current self-imposed rules:
no gem-producing items (aka clam-hording)
no wising for Doom Horrors

favorite nations so far:
Jotun, Van, Pangaea, Abyssia (not R'lyeh despite my name)

favorite pretenders so far:
Ghost King, Great Enchantress, Vampire Queen, Wyrm, Great Mother

favorite spells so far:
Curse Of The Blood, Awaken Vine Ogre, Juggernaut Construction
(an infinite stream of immortal units w/ 0 upkeep for 55 blood, quite good units for only 1 nature, and a temple on wheels so that you can re-enact the tiananmen square massacre while increasing your dominion)

favorite items:
dwarven hammer, rainbow armor, chainmail of displacement, lucky coin, starshine skullcap, shield of the accursed

favorite national heroes so far: Angerboda

biggest complaints so far:
1 no way to easily access information from previous turns that is still useful
2 combat seems fairly buggy. also the relationship of combat to strategic things also seems somewhat buggy
3 combat summary reports omit important information, and are too... static. should have a simple report (that includes more info than the current report, like seperate numbers for #s of units that survived but ran away or respawned at your capital) with the option of requesting more complete information (like number of units that acquired afflictions, or a breakdown of deaths by unit types, etc)
4 strategic AI seems incapable of playing late-games
5 combat AI seems suicidal for many important units. seems like it ought to be easy to fix
6 routeing mechanics seem quite arbitrary

[Endoperez]

Hi, and welcome! 4 and 6 have been improved - routing mechanics were re-done, and AI now builds castles. It still won't fare against strategies that an average player with Dom2 experience doesn't stand a chance against, but it is more challenging, and builds castles (which alone improves late game a lot).
If by 5 you mean fliers and light cavalry, there still isn't a "harass enemy and stay out of reach" command.
1 and 3 aren't changed, but you can see damage numbers in combat with few different colors for very basic damage sources. As in Dom2, you can also right-click on any unit if you've paused the battle.
I don't know what you mean by 2. There are few battle inconsistencies, but they should be rare. Battle inconsistencies mean that the battle is replayed differently on different machines or differently during the hosting and the replay in-game. Have you patched Dom2 yet? Quite a many battle incosistency bugs were fixed with the various patches.

[Nerfix]

Did you patch the gane? There were some combat inconsistencies in the early versions.

More detailed combat reports could be a good idea indeed.

The strategic AI has been improved in Dominions 3. It now builds castles and labs.

Oh, and welcome!

[cthulhu]

Hi, and welcome! 4 and 6 have been improved - routing mechanics were re-done, and AI now builds castles. It still won't fare against strategies that an average player with Dom2 experience doesn't stand a chance against, but it is more challenging, and builds castles (which alone improves late game a lot).


Good to hear about 4 & 6.

If by 5 you mean fliers and light cavalry, there still isn't a "harass enemy and stay out of reach" command.


By 5 I mainly meant spellcasters and multipurpose spellcasters/warriors, though I suppose it applies even better to high mobility units since it's harder (more like impossible) to "script" decent behavior out of those than casters or fighter/casters.

1 and 3 aren't changed, but you can see damage numbers in combat with few different colors for very basic damage sources. As in Dom2, you can also right-click on any unit if you've paused the battle.


I suppose that's probably an improvement to battle playbacks, though I was actually complaining about the battle summary in the messages rather than the full playback.

I don't know what you mean by 2. There are few battle inconsistencies, but they should be rare. Battle inconsistencies mean that the battle is replayed differently on different machines or differently during the hosting and the replay in-game. Have you patched Dom2 yet? Quite a many battle incosistency bugs were fixed with the various patches.


For 2, I include a wide variety of... strange happenings... which I think are bugs, but I'm not entirely sure. Yeah, I patched to 2.16 as soon as I switched to the full game from the demo (ie before any of the observations that my current complaints are based upon). Here's the strangeness lumped under #2 that I saw happen in my most recent game, where I was Neifelheim on the Orania map against 16 "Difficult" AI players, playing on dom2 2.16 on win32.
2A. Around turn 50 or so, I couldn't find my prophet. My last recollection of him placed him underwater in Atlantis' capital (he was a Jotun Scout w/ a sea kings goblet). My temple conversion info screen said I had no prophet, but I didn't notice him die. I was never allowed to declare another prophet for the rest of the game (which ended on turn 162). Actually, I guess there's not necessarily any combat involved, so maybe this isn't properly under #2, but it's still under "bugs", most of which are vaguely combat related.
2B. A while later, I had a force of one Neifel Jarl SC and 400 Vine Ogres attacking a castle... I think it was a Man castle... after a while all of the VOs routed (actually dissolved) for a reason unknown to me. My impression is that mindless units are not supposed to route unless their commander dies. The SC continued attacking, but was killed. He appeared to have been killed by either a human militia man or a sea troll - they were the only units within range of him at the time of his death, but a fraction of a second before dieing he was at 70+ health, and by my understanding of the mechanics they should have had less than a 1 in a million chance of killing him (19 protection, 70+ hit points, 26 defense... vs the sea troll of 23 strength, -2 damage and 12 attack... the militia is even worse). I watched the battle several times watching the scrolling text for a spell that could be responsible for either the route or the SC death, but couldn't find anything. Save available.
2C. A while later, I attacked a province with 102 vampires and a few commanders. They were led by a VL w/ sea kings goblet & barrel of air. They attacked from the ocean. The vampires routed but the commanders won the battle anyway. It was within friendly dominion, and the battle summary said that they lived (well, that most lived, but I've found that the battle summary seems to often make up a few spurious deaths for no reason). The only adjacent friendly territory was the ocean province that I attacked from. So where did the routing vampires end up? Answer: nowhere, so far as I can tell. There were no vampires left in the province that I took, and none in adjacent territories. Some vampires were in my capital, but only 68, too few to account for my 100-odd missing vampires. Save available.
2D. A while later, I decided that I had enough spare resources to try to make an ultimate unbeatable combat squad. I figured that I'd build it around the principle of making SCs be communion slaves, and sharing powerful self-buffing spells with them via the communion-slaves-share-self-buffs principle. Unfortunately, I found that communion slaves behave somewhat oddly in battle. I had 4 pure slaves, 3 master/slaves, and 2 pure masters. That is, a pure slave had a slave matrix, a pure master had a crystal matrix, and a hybrid had both. All were mages. All were set to cast spells for the first round, and the 4 pure-slaves were set to attack for the rest of the battle while the pure-masters and hybrids cast self-buffs. However in combat, the 2 hybrids and 3 of the 4 pure-slaves did nothing. The 4 pure slaves each had identical orders, identical equipment, identical unit type etc, and yet one of them cast while the other 3 just stood there. Even the one that cast stopped following his script after the first round, even when it told him to attack at the same time he was bezerked. I end up with the impression that the combat AI has communion slaves stand still and disregard normal orders, but every once in a while a bug causes one to do what it's told for a turn instead. Save available.
2E. One of my Ivy Kings found a lychantropos amulet and stupidly put it on. Since the item description says something about turning the wearer into a "beast" eventually, I figured it wouldn't be too terribly suprising if he became a wolf for some portion of a battle. I didn't pay much attention to him for a while, and he went through a few battles. I was fairly suprised when I noticed him next and found that on the strategic me map he'd been transformed not into a wolf, but into a human! Okay, maybe it's not a bug, he was changed into a skinshifter, one of those vanheim national werewolves that are humans blessed w/ the ability to be wolves. Except he wasn't supposed to be human! Save available.

Other ones I've seen include immortals sometimes respawning but sometimes not respawning after dieing in a battle where the dominion was friendly when the attack order was issued but hostile after it completed, or mindless units dissolving when the last enemy killed was a mage who respawns with that pheonix respawning spell.

Did you patch the gane? There were some combat inconsistencies in the early versions.

More detailed combat reports could be a good idea indeed.

The strategic AI has been improved in Dominions 3. It now builds castles and labs.

Oh, and welcome!



Hello.
Yep, patched long before starting that game, didn't fix any problems that I had noticed except the bizarre jotun fire theme that didn't match its description at all.
Will look forward to having more meaningul games against the AI.
Didn't see your post until after most of this one was written.

[DominionsFan]

Welcome on the forum cthulhu. The AI will be upgraded in Dominions 3. Large maps with 10+ AIs on the hardest setting will give you some challenge, trust me. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/cool.gif
Also with modding its possible to make the AI uber strong in a total conversion mod. [Example: give them stronger units for the same resource cost, cheaper national spells etc.] Anyways maybe it won't be needed at all, since the AI will be much better.

[Nerfix]

2E is actually working as designed...

[Endoperez]

I answered your post in Dominions 2 bug thread (http://www.shrapnelcommunity.com/threads/showthreaded.php?Number=444807).

Some of those were bugs, mostly known ones. This must be one of the most informative posts a new player has posted in these forums. Quite an introduction! http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/wink.gif

[cthulhu]

Welcome on the forum cthulhu. The AI will be upgraded in Dominions 3. Large maps with 10+ AIs on the hardest setting will give you some challenge, trust me.
Also with modding its possible to make the AI uber strong in a total conversion mod. [Example: give them stronger units for the same resource cost, cheaper national spells etc.] Anyways maybe it won't be needed at all, since the AI will be much better.


Hm.... my problem isn't that AIs are too weak - in 16 AI Orania games vs "Difficult" my win rate is less than 50% so far - my problem is *when* the difficulty is. If I survive until late game, the AIs become a joke. They don't horde clams, vampire lords, or juggernoughts. They rarely do globals. They don't concentrate forces enough in late-game. Once I have 10 vampire lords or so, it doesn't matter if I have only one province left and a handful of AIs control everything else in the world, my victory is still inevitable. It would be even worse if I horded clams.
I suppose it might be fixable in that manner if I could give them things that were only useful when they reached late-game. Perhaps spells that need to be researched or units that are uberpowerful only in combination with spells that require lots of research.

2E is actually working as designed...


I was afraid of that. Silly. I am not a human, I am a free Ivy King!

I answered your post in Dominions 2 bug thread.

Some of those were bugs, mostly known ones. This must be one of the most informative posts a new player has posted in these forums. Quite an introduction!


Glad I can be informative. I'll respond in that thread.

[quantum_mechani]

cthulhu said:

Hm.... my problem isn't that AIs are too weak - in 16 AI Orania games vs "Difficult" my win rate is less than 50% so far - my problem is *when* the difficulty is. If I survive until late game, the AIs become a joke. They don't horde clams, vampire lords, or juggernoughts. They rarely do globals. They don't concentrate forces enough in late-game. Once I have 10 vampire lords or so, it doesn't matter if I have only one province left and a handful of AIs control everything else in the world, my victory is still inevitable.


It's true, there comes a point eventually, where no matter how much advantage the AI has, the human players has enough options they can out perform it. It can be improved of course (and I think dom3 has) but I don't see it going away.

Anyway, I hope you're planning to try some mp... your grasp of powerful strategies seems very good for someone who has only done sp.

[DominionsFan]

cthulhu said:
[Hm.... my problem isn't that AIs are too weak - in 16 AI Orania games vs "Difficult" my win rate is less than 50% so far - my problem is *when* the difficulty is. If I survive until late game, the AIs become a joke. They don't horde clams, vampire lords, or juggernoughts. They rarely do globals. They don't concentrate forces enough in late-game. Once I have 10 vampire lords or so, it doesn't matter if I have only one province left and a handful of AIs control everything else in the world, my victory is still inevitable. It would be even worse if I horded clams.
I suppose it might be fixable in that manner if I could give them things that were only useful when they reached late-game. Perhaps spells that need to be researched or units that are uberpowerful only in combination with spells that require lots of research.




Yes, the late game AI had many problems. Hopefully in Doms 3. the late game AI will be better. Maybe the AI will summon and equip SCs also. Also keep in mind, the IW devs are always reading this forum, and we can make suggestions that what should the devs try to fix or upgrade in the AI.

[Unwise]

Hullo again folks!

37, male, live in Northern Virginia with a wife and two daughters ages 4 and 8.

I was active around here a few years back, but now only pop in from time to time to read up on strategy. I have a group of eight buddies in the Eastern US that I got hooked onto Dom2, so I have never really gotten into the multiplayer scene here.

The nostalgia computer game thread is both amusing and deeply, deeply depressing as I can remember the days of playing games on a computer that used a cassette tape drive for ROM storage....

[DominionsFan]

Unwise said:


I have a group of eight buddies in the Eastern US that I got hooked onto Dom2, so I have never really gotten into the multiplayer scene here.






Ah, I thought that I am the only one who never got into the MP scene here becuase of the TCP/IP games with my friends. We have a nice little Doms 2. "fanclub" with 21 active players at the moment. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/smile.gif
lol eh..I just realized that I am the only active member on the forum from our little fanclub. Well my 2 brothers were active on this forum a long time ago...
Anyways welcome back Unwise! http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/cool.gif

[VanderVecken]

Well, I'm an official Dom II newbie, downloaded the demo and just got my shorts handed to me (3 times). 4th game went better till I found out just how far back magically I had become, etc ...
I see where a lot of people could really get into this, after I purchase the game, I plan on showing Dom 3 to my friends and in a few months maybe one of them will be introducing himself here.
All I needed was another addictive game (I was sooo close to solving that world peace problem) and The Dominions line looks to fill that need for quite some time.
P.S. My daughter wants to know if there are any Lions or Tigers in the Demo I'm playing (Or in Dom 3 for that matter). She thought I was very funny when I made an "UUerkk' noise the time my capital provence got attacked when nobody was near and only then did I realize that one of the Water races was active and .... (I guess they call it a learning experience). She laughed and laughed.
I'll also try to find how to build another temple in the PDFs I've downloaded. Onward to game 5 !!!

[Endoperez]

VanderVecken said:All I needed was another addictive game (I was sooo close to solving that world peace problem) and The Dominions line looks to fill that need for quite some time.
P.S. My daughter wants to know if there are any Lions or Tigers in the Demo I'm playing (Or in Dom 3 for that matter).



There are national summon spells, and one of the most common ones calls forth big animals of some kind. All of the three eras of monkeys have Ambush of Tigers IIRC, and MA sacred units ride tigers. There are also lions here and there. I'm not 100% sure if there's a spesific summon for lions, but I'm quite positive.

[quantum_mechani]

Endoperez said:
I'm not 100% sure if there's a spesific summon for lions, but I'm quite positive.

There are normal lions, magical summer lions, magical kithaironic lions, and sea lions (and three lion headed gods). http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/happy.gif

[Endoperez]

quantum_mechani said:

Endoperez said:
I'm not 100% sure if there's a spesific summon for lions, but I'm quite positive.

There are normal lions, magical summer lions, magical kithaironic lions, and sea lions (and three lion headed gods). http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/happy.gif



I was thinking of the spell 'Pride of Lions', which was already present in Dom2 it seems... It seems I forgot "some" of the other spells.
Aren't there Great Lions too? Bigger ones one of the lion-headed gods gets? Or are those the only ones? Nah, I should just test it.

[Meglobob]

VanderVecken said:
Well, I'm an official Dom II newbie.
P.S. My daughter wants to know if there are any Lions or Tigers in the Demo I'm playing (Or in Dom 3 for that matter).



Hello and welcome, I am a newbie as well exploring the demo just like yr self. However I know how to get basic ordinary lions.

Play as Arcosephale, research conjuration to lvl 2, make sure u have a lvl 2 nature mage, then cast summon animals (need 20 nature gems), u get loads of animals for yr army bats, wolves, bears and lions. U can do this very easily by turn 5 - 10. The creatures r not that powerful but u get alot of them.

Enjoy the game.

[Nerfix]

It's not only Arco, I think Summon Animals cast on certain terrain types yields lions.

[desertdawgs]

I'm a 36 year old, male living in Corpus Christi, Texas (on the coast). I work for the government as an occupational safety and health officer. I spent 5 years in the Army where I lived in Germany for 2.5 years and loved Europe. I've been playing video games since Pong. Played the demo for Dominions 2, but it seemed really hard so I didn't buy it. I wished I had and I've preordered Dom 3 and am really looking forward to it. I'm really looking forward to getting the hang of the game and then playing in multiplayer.

[JaydedOne]

Hey! My family is in Corpus Christi, TX. Little brother and both parents. Grew up there from 3 to 18 and still go back for the holidays. Love the beach there. Small world. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/happy.gif

Welcome to the board!

[desertdawgs]

Yep, it is a small world. I constantly meet people either from here in CC or close by like Houston, while gaming. It currently is, and has been for the past 4 days, raining. I'm really hoping you guys can school me in MP as I really don't have a clue to playing past the 40th turn in the game.

[DominionsFan]

desertdawgs said:
I'm a 36 year old, male living in Corpus Christi, Texas (on the coast). I work for the government as an occupational safety and health officer. I spent 5 years in the Army where I lived in Germany for 2.5 years and loved Europe. I've been playing video games since Pong. Played the demo for Dominions 2, but it seemed really hard so I didn't buy it. I wished I had and I've preordered Dom 3 and am really looking forward to it. I'm really looking forward to getting the hang of the game and then playing in multiplayer.



Welcome on the forum. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/smile.gif

[VanderVecken]

Hey desertdawgs and JaydedOne, the white sands of Port Aransas(doesn't look right?) and Corpus Christi is where I went every other weekend while doing Medical and 300F1(SF) training. We brought a Pick-up truck load of sand and dumped it by a creek running by barracks in Ft. Sam and stold (er .. temperarily appropriated) two of the Life guard 'Ladder' chairs from the Pentathalon pool and we had a beach party that was beyond belief - remember that Ft. Sam is only 1 of a few Posts where there are over 33% females, hehehe. I hope the Texas coast (or any of the seacoast states doesn't get a big hit during this hurricane season. We all need a break from that kind of misery.

[Taqwus]

Hm. Don't think I've replied to this thread yet.

I'm a 30-yr-old software engineer currently based in the San Francisco Bay Area after spending a non-trivial amount of time in graduate school studying feature selection, nonlinear scaling and function fitting. *shrug* Got a fairly weird sense of humor, a somewhat retro game-playing habit (recently joined a still-running Hack-n-Slash game... which is normally run on *Amiga* CNET BBSes), and an odd relationship with tentacles (read some Lovecraft, played CoC RPG and 'Cults across America', and generally avoid eating tentacled things -- not fond of ultra-chewy food).

As my 'Reged' date shows, I've been on this forum for a while -- having started with Space Empires IV and Dominions:PPP, after seeing both games discussed quite favorably on USENET (csipgs, specifically).

[Agrajag]

Taqwus said:
As my 'Reged' date shows, I've been on this forum for a while


You joined only slightly after Jesus was born :O


desertdawgs said:
I work for the government


A secret agent then? Working under cover?
We have no national secrets here, try someplace else http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/tongue.gif

[Endoperez]

Agrajag said:

Taqwus said:
As my 'Reged' date shows, I've been on this forum for a while


You joined only slightly after Jesus was born :O



Actually, it reads 0002. The forum writes numbers from left to right for some reason, and lacks the setting to change it to the norm. I've been confused a few times myself. Just barbaric. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/tongue.gif

[desertdawgs]

Hey Vander, so thats why the Port Aransas beaches are so low on sand and that poor little girl drowned at the pool because there wasn't anywhere for the lifeguard to sit. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/wink.gif
No, but really, that sounds like a true soldier roughing it by making a field expedient beach by a creek. And Agrajag, the government feels that this game is possibly a terrorist program to train new recruits on how to take over the, uh, world and I've been assigned to infiltrate this organization.

[danm]

hihi

i finally registered after ogod i have no idea how long of lurking...

I downloaded the dom2 demo forever ago, and played it for a bit then got distracted by something... recently i picked it up again and have become obsessed -- i've gotten more gameplay out of that demo than MOST full games i've purchased.

With Dom3 just a few weeks away, I figure its about time to make an account to blab at folk instead of just thinking about what i would post if i could be bothered to register.

[DominionsFan]

danm said:
hihi

i finally registered after ogod i have no idea how long of lurking...

I downloaded the dom2 demo forever ago, and played it for a bit then got distracted by something... recently i picked it up again and have become obsessed -- i've gotten more gameplay out of that demo than MOST full games i've purchased.

With Dom3 just a few weeks away, I figure its about time to make an account to blab at folk instead of just thinking about what i would post if i could be bothered to register.



Welcome aboard. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/wink.gif

[mac5732]

I'm 59 young, a gamer since I was in 7th grade, short time ago http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/biggrin.gif, have extensive wargame collection including board and compters, I'm retired, tho still work part time, usually am found in the SEIV forum or in the SEIV chat Room, Been playing Dom2 for the last 3 months, love the game, look foreward to 3 coming out, play hotseat with friends usually every sunday, they also play Dom2, currently playing several pbem games of war in the pacific and several pbw games of SEIV specifically the carrier mod. some hobbies are, reading sci-fi, military history, tactics and strategy, sports and other things. 2 sons, both are gamers tho not always the same games as I am, 1 daughter, 1 granddaughter age 6.

just thought i'd finally say hello

[Gandalf Parker]

Glad to see you Mac. I was an SEIV crossover from the Dom side. I think its kindof interesting that the largest crossover we have (back and forth) is from Space Empires. I think it has something to do with the wealth of creation options at the beginning of the game (and the pbem turn system probably).

[Daynarr]

.. and they are both great strategy games. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/wink.gif

Welcome mac5732 to these forums. I saw you in SE4 forums. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/happy.gif

[desertdawgs]

Well, bad news for me today. Seems I'm going to New Orleans for a month. Starting Oct. 2nd! I hope my preorder comes through the US mail service and I don't have to sign for the package. If it goes well they'll deliver the game through my mail slot and I'll get when I come home. If it goes badly then they'll return the game to the sender as "undeliverable". Any body ordered a Shrapnel Game and know how it will be delivered. If the package is small enough they'll slip through the mail slot and into my house.

[Meglobob]

desertdawgs said:
Well, bad news for me today. Seems I'm going to New Orleans for a month. Starting Oct. 2nd! I hope my preorder comes through the US mail service and I don't have to sign for the package. If it goes well they'll deliver the game through my mail slot and I'll get when I come home. If it goes badly then they'll return the game to the sender as "undeliverable". Any body ordered a Shrapnel Game and know how it will be delivered. If the package is small enough they'll slip through the mail slot and into my house.



Bad luck.

I believe it will be the size of the manual (Cd's r inside), unfortunately the manual is 300 pages. So it sounds pretty big.

Don't know if u have this in the US but in the Uk we have a postal service called, keepsafe. It is very cheap, if u go away or on holiday the postal service store all yr mail at the sorting office. They then deliver it all on a pre-arranged date, I always say the day after I get back, just to be safe.

Worth checking out perhaps?

[VanderVecken]

Ah, yes SE:IV, I'm sure that MOO2, or even Civ2 and Civ3 combined have less logged time than SE:IV on my computers over the years. Looks like Dom3 has chance to usurp the champ, although only time will tell. That SE:V and Dom3 are so closely released will keep me very busy during my upcomming free-time and keep my wife mad at me for some time into 2007 I believe. (because her and my definitions of free-time a kind of different, hehehe.)
P.S. Daughter now likes Lions and Tigers and Hydra (guess which Nation I've been playing in the Dom2 Demo ?

[PashaDawg]

Maybe you can request shrapnel to send your copy to you in New Orleans!!

[mac5732]

Hi there Daynar, was wondering where you wandered off to, havn't seen you in the forum for quite awhile, now I know your out gathering Behemoths, pale riders, and searching for gems for world domination http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/happy.gif Good to see your still around,

Gandolf, hows it going? I see you still drop in over at the seiv forum now and then, nice to see you again to.

PS. are there any brewskis in this here forum http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/biggrin.gif

[Gandalf Parker]

I read the seiv forum every day but I dont post much. The reactions just dont feel the same there as in other forums.

[mac5732]

its quieted down somewhat over time... i would guess it'll pick up again after V comes out. BUt there are still a lot of us there, even some of the old timers still post and hang out there and we still see new members and players showing up, that says a lot and its very generous of Shrapnel to leave the forum up and running, says a lot about their company and the type of people they are (terrific, even if Tim likes Chain Mail Ladies http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/wink.gif ) You can't ask for a better game company, that not only supports its games but encourages its players. Its more of a family type atmosphere there and here... You don't find that in most companies these days. They are just beautiful people....

[DominionsFan]

mac5732 said:
its quieted down somewhat over time... i would guess it'll pick up again after V comes out. BUt there are still a lot of us there, even some of the old timers still post and hang out there and we still see new members and players showing up, that says a lot and its very generous of Shrapnel to leave the forum up and running, says a lot about their company and the type of people they are (terrific, even if Tim likes Chain Mail Ladies http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/wink.gif ) You can't ask for a better game company, that not only supports its games but encourages its players. Its more of a family type atmosphere there and here... You don't find that in most companies these days. They are just beautiful people....




Actually it is not only Shrapnel, but the community. I haven't seen such a mature gaming board like this ever in my life. All gaming related forums are full with childish posts, but not this forum...well at least not the Dominions forums. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/smile.gif
This is why I like the people on these forums, they are helpful and mature.

[Caduceus]

Kind of reminds me of how the Internet used to be.

[Gandalf Parker]

Heehee... (taking on his old geezer voice)
It used to be that you had to learn DOS to get to and learn UNIX to get
to and learn Internet. We had some rude people but no stupid ones. Then
Windows created "user friendly" connections and we got "users" who could
only use a computer but knew nothing about it. Then AOL created
foolproof connections for those who couldnt figure out Windows and we
got fools. Then WebTV created idiot-proof connections and it seems to be
doing a great job of it. Now we have Xbox on the net
but Ive run out of words.

Gandalf Parker

[Agrajag]

Oh, don't hate me for using Windows, all the cool games work only on it http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/fear.gif

[JaydedOne]

It's bizarre to me to think that a little over ten years ago, I was dialing into BBSes to play Drug Wars and read bulletin board posts at a blazing 2400 bps.

How the world has changed so radically in such a short span of time, I'm not sure. Those days feel like a dream.

[Nerfix]

Hey, atl east you got all cool stuff like BNS connectors, yellow cables and transceivers. We modern people just get boring CAT-5 cables and hybrid active devices. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/frown.gif

[alexti]

Agrajag said:
Oh, don't hate me for using Windows, all the cool games work only on it http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/fear.gif


And what about ... Dominions?! http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/happy.gif

[Agrajag]

alexti said:

Agrajag said:
Oh, don't hate me for using Windows, all the cool games work only on it http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/fear.gif


And what about ... Dominions?! http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/happy.gif


Dominions is obviously several levels beyond cool http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/happy.gif

[Nerfix]

In levels of coolnes Dominions is the epicenter of a Niefel Flame.

[Sorlakind]

Jumping on the bandwagon:

Hi, I'm 34, portuguese living in Lisboa, Portugal, Europe, World, Universe. Although I have done the odd programming job (Python/C++) I am a research mathematician - working on several stuff, but, in case anyone cares to know, currently working mainly on "Banach 2-modules" and "direct integrals of functors". Due to health reasons, I am stuck at home, which has the nice advantage of giving me more time to play dominions.

Have several other interests, but mainly I am a music listener and an avid omnivorous reader, chewing everything from poetry to theology (I am also a long-time christian, thus the theology thingy).

Been familiar with computers from the time of the infamous ZX Spectrum - ahh fond memories I have. And the games: Elite, Heavy on the magick, Lords of midnight, ... My prefered genres are RPG and Strategy, turn-based mostly. Among my all-time favourites I would list Baldur's Gate II, Final Fantasy VII, Battle Isles III, Warcraft II and Heroes of Might and Magic IV (am I the only one who actually prefered the IV to the III?).

I can't remember exactly how I arrived at dominions. Initially, I was put off by the low-fi graphics, and, especially, the lack of control over tactical battles. It slowly dawned on me that controling battles with armies that can have hundreds of units of tens of different types with a fine-grain control is simply a no-no and, really, a disaster waiting to happen - although I still wished that we had *some* more control, a few more script options and more ways to combine them.

I am regular reader of the this forum - the community is very friendly - but not much of a poster/writer (though the length of this particular post betrays me). I have only played SP and I am definitely a dominions newbie. I am continuously amazed by the depth of the game and the availability of different strategies, as evidenced by the several helpful posts here by the Pointy Hats.

Btw, a somewhat OT question: for a long time I have been nurturing the idea of writing an AAR. Anyone knows how to take screenshots? I am on win2k (and/or linux/ubuntu).

Best regards,
G. Rodrigues

[Nerfix]

Welcome!

As for screenshots, the common way to do it is pressing Print Screen, opening up paint and then using "Paste".

[Agrajag]

Sorlakind said:
Heroes of Might and Magic IV (am I the only one who actually prefered the IV to the III?).


Pretty much...
Although the real hard core HoMMers know that II is the best (and not III. And definitely not IV)

BTW, V is quite a lot of fun. A lot of people are unhappy with it, but personaly I think V is a good and fun game.

[DominionsFan]

Sorlakind said:
(am I the only one who actually prefered the IV to the III?).






HoMM III. was much better imho. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/smile.gif
OH and welcome on the forum.

[PhilD]

Sorlakind said:
Jumping on the bandwagon:

Hi, I'm 34, portuguese living in Lisboa, Portugal, Europe, World, Universe. Although I have done the odd programming job (Python/C++) I am a research mathematician

Been familiar with computers from the time of the infamous ZX Spectrum - ahh fond memories I have. And the games: Elite, Heavy on the magick, Lords of midnight,




Hey Sorlakind, we're strangely close - I'm 36, French, not exactly a mathematician but close enough (technically my research is computer science, but it's combinatorics and probability most of the time, so heh), and I do have very fond memories of my trusty ZX Spectrum, including Elite and Lords of Midnight (don't know what Heavy on the magic was, though).

So, welcome aboard brother http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/happy.gif

[Nerfix]

I made a presentation about ZX Spectrum in my Computing English class.

[mac5732]

I liked MMIV more then III.... havn't tried V yet, my current computer not up to it...

[Agrajag]

mac5732 said:
I liked MMIV more then III.... havn't tried V yet, my current computer not up to it...


TIP: Don't use MM as an acronym for Heroes of Might and Magic. There's the Might and Magic RPG games to be confused with.

[coobe]

Hi !
Although im following this Forum since my addiction for Dom2 started (about 6 months ago?) i havent been posting yet.

My name is Torsten (i guess it means the hammer of the god thor), i am 22 and i live near Kaiserslautern, in the beautiful Palatine Forest in southwest-Germany.

Im visiting University currently, studying Economic Informatics Merchant (dont know the correct term in english).
I live in a basement appartment of my parents house with my dog Elvis (6 years old) and my blind cat Felix (about 15years old). I got an older brother (26) who is now a teacher for History and German in Highschool and a younger sister(12).
I like to play chess (elo ~1600), poker with friends and of course computer games. My alltime favourites in no specific order:

-Master of Orion2
-Anstoß3 (a german soccer manager)
-Heroes of Might and Magic 1&3
-Pirates! Gold (for my Commodore 64)
-Diablo2 &AddOn
-Transport Tycoon
-Jagged Alliance
and of course Dominions2 which i first heard about on the Shrapnelgames site. I downloaded the demo and liked it from the beginning very much. But if i hadnt found this forum and especially the IRC chat on gamessurge i wouldnt be playing anymore. Many thanks to all chatters there wo are always very kind and patient with my questions.
Another great passion of me is definately music. Unfortunately i never been able to learn an instrument, but my older brother got some rather successfull history behind with his band. Im much into Metal/Industrial like FearFactory, Nine Inch Nails (my fav), Rammstein, Black Label society etc....

so enough from me, i hope to participate the forum a little more in the future. You can meet any time in the irc chat, so challenge me for a blitz http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/wink.gif (im an easy prey)

Thanks for reading, see you around

PS: sorry for my english i was kinda lazy to think about right grammar http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/tongue.gif oh and i already pre-ordered dom3 of course http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/happy.gif

[Nerfix]

Wellcome aboard coobe!

[DominionsFan]

Yeah, welcome on the forum coobe. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/cool.gif

[GamerMan12]

Hi,

I am 49, Australian, currently living in the UK but next month will be moving back to Australia after 10 years away.

I am a keen roleplayer, mainly D&D from when it first came out in the 70's.

Lately I have been playing computer games again, mainly HOMM V and GalCiv 2. I much prefer fantasy and am really hooked on what I have seen so far of Dom 3.

I have pre-ordered and am hoping that Uk customs doesn't delay it too much.

I have really liked what I have read on the forums so far especially the AARs

GM12

[coobe]

Welcome Gamerman!

Since the Soccer World Cup in my Hometown (Kaiserslautern) im a huge fan of australia!
Never seen such peaceful, friendly, entertaining and alcohol consuming party Machines http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/happy.gif Was a great time having you Aussies here, even though i had some headache after a long drinking challenge with some http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/happy.gif

[GamerMan12]

Thanks, hopefully the Aussies will now make most soccer World Cups, as they are now in the Asia group and should be in the top 4 of that group (large as it is).
And yes we like to have a good time, my favourite is the Aussie BBQ - very hard to beat - only the Maori Hungi or the South African equivalent come close.

GM12

[coobe]

I hope so too. You played great soccer also, especially vs Italy.

And the after match party with aussies and japanese people was just the best time i had in my life http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/happy.gif. so funny the japs couldnt drink at all

[Warhammer]

I'm a 31 year old from Memphis, TN. I have been an avid computer and board gamer since I was 5 or 6 (when I won my first game of Risk). My favorite computer games are: RRT2, Gal Civ2, FM, StarCon2, and Front Office Football 2004. My favorite board games are El Grande, Die Macher, Primordial Soup, and Advanced Squad Leader.

I have a wife and two boys, a 4 year old who loves SC2, and a 1-1/2 year old.

[JaydedOne]

Welcome aboard. A fellow boardgame enthusiast, eh? If you like ASL, you may very well like Duel of Ages, which is like a time-travelling ASL. I've never played ASL before, but I'm a huge DoA fan and many fellow fans have made the comparison. I play a pretty huge assortment of boardgames myself, largely Eurogames and the fantasy/sci-fi/horror fun of Fantasy Flight Games.

Looking forward to talking Dominions with you!

[Warhammer]

I play all types of boardgames. I've got a game group here in town where we play every Wednesday night, and two Saturdays a month with the entire group. We also have side meetings as well.

We mainly play Euros because they are so quick to play, but I prefer some meatier games as well. But from FFG, we play Wings of War and A Game of Thrones. Some in the group like TI3, but I can't stand what they have done to that game. Citadels and Through the Desert are solid games too by FFG.

[coobe]

Welcome Warhammer !

Nice to see someone liking those Eurogames too.
My Favourites are The settlers and El Grande

[bottleneck]

hey all.
had to register to express my exitement about dom3 shipping, so i may as well introduce myself.

30 yr old norwegian gamer, supposedly going to finish my phd within 3 months of getting Dom3... (ouch). Addicted to games - like most of you i suppose: RPGs, boardgames, computer games, wargames, even an unhealthy WoW addiction, but Dom3 may cure that.

my <3 : old Darklands, Fallout series, JaggedAlliance2, Civ series, anything from Paradox games (!), and Dom2 (!!)

[Nerfix]

Welcome aboard bottleneck!

I must confess...My name is Nerfix....and I am not addicted to games. I rarely play games for more than 2 hours in a day.

[DominionsFan]

bottleneck said:
hey all.
had to register to express my exitement about dom3 shipping, so i may as well introduce myself.

30 yr old norwegian gamer, supposedly going to finish my phd within 3 months of getting Dom3... (ouch). Addicted to games - like most of you i suppose: RPGs, boardgames, computer games, wargames, even an unhealthy WoW addiction, but Dom3 may cure that.

my <3 : old Darklands, Fallout series, JaggedAlliance2, Civ series, anything from Paradox games (!), and Dom2 (!!)



Welcome on the forum. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/smile.gif
I was a WoW addict as well, but somehow the game became boring after a period. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/Injured.gif I can't say the same about Doms 2. Me and my mates here play with it a lot still. Dominions 3. will suck us in probably. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/biggrin.gif

[Daynarr]

Nerfix said:
Welcome aboard bottleneck!

I must confess...My name is Nerfix....and I am not addicted to games. I rarely play games for more than 2 hours in a day.



They all say that. You think you can quit whenever you want, right? http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/tongue.gif

Well, think again. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/wink.gif http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/biggrin.gif

[Nerfix]

I actually once went three months withouth practicaly playing anything. Seriously. =|

[Caduceus]

Being imprisoned doesn't count. We've seen your screenshots at wargamer.com. We know the truth.

[Nerfix]

Caduceus said:
Being imprisoned doesn't count. We've seen your screenshots at wargamer.com. We know the truth.

http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/fear.gif

I'm busted. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/redface.gif

[Agrajag]

Well, just now Yom Kippur ended, so that was 25 hours without a computer.
I think I was deep in withdrawl.
Luckily, I got my fix in time.

[bottleneck]

well, i dont play WoW for the game anymore, just for chatting with my guild...

After reading through the rest of this thread, i'm starting to get the feeling that i really fit in. Just don't expect me to flood the forums - i'll be way to busy playing :-P

oh, and nerfix - 2hrs a day only? i thought you were in beta...

[Nerfix]

Hahaha, no, I'm not in the beta. I've just followed the updates very keenly. =)

[JaydedOne]

I will say that I love the multicultural and diverse nature of these forums. It's a pretty big contrast to, say, the NBA 2k7 forums that I visit. ;-)

The wide range in ages, education, home countries, gaming backgrounds... I really, really enjoy the discussion here, considerably more than any other game forum I've frequented.

So, thanks all.

[Humer]

I'm 30, male, married, 2 children aged 1 and 3 and embracing my gaming addiction. And forcing my wife to embrace me embracing (much to her chagrin). And I'm never gonna stop gaming, I'm having too much fun. My family has a habit of getting in the way of me and my gaming, although in a good way http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/happy.gif - at least I haven't jumped in on the WoW -bandwagon.

Other hobbies include boardgaming, reading and music (I play bass, yes, I've heard them all.)

Naturally a game as excellent as Dominions 3 isn't going to slip me by. You wouldn't be reading this if it did.

Favourites throughout the ages:
Dominions 1-3, Fallouts 1 and 2, Gold box series, Masters of Magic and Orion (NO, not 3), Civilizations 1 and 4 (enhanced by Fall From Heaven 2), Half-Life -series, Might & Magic 3-8, Age of Wonders -series, Space Empires IV, Wing Commander series, Knights of the Old Republic 1 and 2, Archons 1 and 2 (c64-versions) and more more more...

- humer

[MarcinM]

Hello!

I was brought here via the excellent Silent Seas AAR posted by St. Patrik. I'm not sure what specific aspect did it, but it was a very compelling piece that has me considering purchase of a game that was only remotely on my radar.

Remotely, because I originally deemed the game too hardcore - but the AAR made it seem like taking time to learn it would be quite worthwhile http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/happy.gif

Anyway, 30 year old married male, general IT grunt, Polish (what's up with all the Polish place names in the game anyway? http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/laugh.gif), currently residing in Minneapolis USA, been gaming since Pong, currently enjoying Deus Ex (again), Dead Rising, Okami when I can steal the TV, and Under the Knife DS. Gaming is pretty much the "thing" I do in my downtime and it's not likely to change http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/wink.gif

Eagerly awaiting the demo to make my decision! Now I'm off to the screenshot thread...

[DominionsFan]

MarcinM said:
Hello!

I was brought here via the excellent Silent Seas AAR posted by St. Patrik. I'm not sure what specific aspect did it, but it was a very compelling piece that has me considering purchase of a game that was only remotely on my radar.

Remotely, because I originally deemed the game too hardcore - but the AAR made it seem like taking time to learn it would be quite worthwhile http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/happy.gif

Anyway, 30 year old married male, general IT grunt, Polish (what's up with all the Polish place names in the game anyway? http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/laugh.gif), currently residing in Minneapolis USA, been gaming since Pong, currently enjoying Deus Ex (again), Dead Rising, Okami when I can steal the TV, and Under the Knife DS. Gaming is pretty much the "thing" I do in my downtime and it's not likely to change http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/wink.gif

Eagerly awaiting the demo to make my decision! Now I'm off to the screenshot thread...



Welcome on the forum. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/smile.gif

[Gandalf Parker]

MarcinM said:
Anyway, 30 year old married male, general IT grunt, Polish (what's up with all the Polish place names in the game anyway? http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/laugh.gif),



Not sure if its the answer but it might be worth pointing out that the two developers are Swedish (I believe) and most of the alpha testers were Finnish? Thats the impression I got anyway.

Gandalf Parker

[MarcinM]

Sure, but then I'd expect a lot of Swedish and Finnish names, not Polish ones - especially like Szczebrzeszyn, which is a kind of an inside joke http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/laugh.gif I suspect a Pole on either the dev or the testing team http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/wink.gif

Anyway, thanks for the welcome and congratulations to Illwinter on shipping!

[Kristoffer O]

The map was made by Jason Lutes. I have no clue as to where he got the names from http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/happy.gif

Does Szczebrzeszyn have anything to do with bumble bees?

Illwinter and alpha are mainly swedish AFAIK. A few of unknown nationalities (likely european and american) as well.

[Nerfix]

I suspect IW got their hands on a polish map. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/tongue.gif

[MarcinM]

Kristoffer O said:

Does Szczebrzeszyn have anything to do with bumble bees?



Well an insect anyway, yes ... it's used in a phrase along with the town name as a tongue twister for kids and foreigners. The kids usually do better http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/wink.gif

Does Jason Lutes collect tongue twisters? Or insects? Or both? o_O

[atul]

Nerfix said:
I suspect IW got their hands on a polish map. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/tongue.gif


...or then they just got tired of hearing complains that the game wasn't polished enough..? "Now here's a map with maximum Polish!"

[JaydedOne]

HA!

[st.patrik]

MarcinM said:
Hello!

I was brought here via the excellent Silent Seas AAR posted by St. Patrik. I'm not sure what specific aspect did it, but it was a very compelling piece that has me considering purchase of a game that was only remotely on my radar.

Remotely, because I originally deemed the game too hardcore - but the AAR made it seem like taking time to learn it would be quite worthwhile http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/happy.gif



Wow http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/eek.gif

I'm really flattered! Thanks for the compliment http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/smile.gif

[bottleneck]

MarcinM said:
been gaming since Pong



http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/happy.gif we are obviously the same age...

btw du you tell your wife that Dom3 is a game you can leave at any instant, or du you keep telling her "sure, but i just have to finish the turn first so i can save the game" ?

[Kristoffer O]

> Well an insect anyway, yes ... it's used in a phrase along with the town name as a tongue twister for kids and foreigners. The kids usually do better

I have a suedo-polish friend that has tried to make me utter an unspeakable sentence about a bumble bee (perhaps another insect) flying in reeds or something.

[MarcinM]

Yep, that's the one, Kristoffer.

"Chrzaszcz brzmi w trzcinie w Szczebrzeszynie."

This is the point where most English speakers ask for more vowels http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/happy.gif

Mystery solved! Jason Lutes handed over the almost-completed map to Bruce Geryk in order to fill in the location names (he was pressed for time). Turns out Mr. Geryk was born in Poland http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/happy.gif

Now to see if I can sneak a peek at the demo at work...

[DominionsFan]

MarcinM said:
Yep, that's the one, Kristoffer.

"Chrzaszcz brzmi w trzcinie w Szczebrzeszynie."

This is the point where most English speakers ask for more vowels http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/happy.gif

Mystery solved! Jason Lutes handed over the almost-completed map to Bruce Geryk in order to fill in the location names (he was pressed for time). Turns out Mr. Geryk was born in Poland http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/happy.gif

Now to see if I can sneak a peek at the demo at work...



Foreign languages are always sounds weird. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/biggrin.gif
You don't want me to start to write in Hungarian trust me. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/biggrin.gif http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/biggrin.gif
Or Nerfix/Endo in Finnish... http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/biggrin.gif

[HoneyBadger]

I'm Jonathan. 29 years old, married, living somewhere out in Utah (it's dry and crisp, like a fine white wine). I'm from the East Coast originally-born in Pennsylvania-I just got my copy of Dom 3. I lost a big chunk of my Fritz Lieber, R.E.Howard, and Thieves World books in a bankruptsy (I hope someone at the bank likes to read).

But, it wasn't my bankruptsy, and I collect the better sword-and-sorcery books as well as movies and games. I did roleplaying games for a longer period of time than could be construed as "healthy living". I would still be roleplaying, but I'm kind of burnt out on pen-and-paper games.

One of the many, many things I particularly like about Dom 3 is that you can play Pretenders who aren't humanoid, never were humanoid, never gonna be humanoid. I've been a human my whole life (although I've heard you're briefly a frog and a lizard in the womb) and I like it just fine, but to me that's roleplaying copout. It's worse when they're humans with pointy ears or wrinkly foreheads.

Immobile polyp mothers with alien supergenius intellects and telekinetic mind-control powers rule.
So do unliving monoliths who hate and desire. Has anyone read William Hope Hodgson or the Night Lands anthology based on his works? The Monolith immobile pretender reminds me of the Watchers in his books, thus giving that particular pretender chassis the "double-creepy" factor.

[Endoperez]

Welcome to the group! I hope you'll find the non-human nations of Dominions more than just scaly humans with tails or big humans who live in the cold.

[HoneyBadger]

Thank you Endoperez, for the warm welcome.

I grew up with mythology, and to me there's a lot more power and depth to a myth than can be expressed by way of pop culture. Culture turns into myth over generations and through faith. It's an accumulation, a weight of time that really adds substance, as the metaphor suggests. To me, a Jotun out of Norse myth is an elemental force, a child of Ymmr, a glacier taking on human form/aspects with godlike proportions, and godlike character. "Big Human" doesn't do such a being justice. It doesn't qualify as it isn't and wouldn't ever be a human, even if one lived next door. The idea of Jotun comes from the human subconscious, but it also comes from our collective idea of "Them, the Outsiders, That Which Lives and is Of the Unknown". Jotuns aren't easy in the way that putting on make-up and pretending is easy. Not because of the similarities between us and Jotuns, or the differences in size or preferred climate, but because of the differences which make them alien, and how those differences affect how we view the world and our place as an individual within it.

It's my opinion that that difference is what the creators of Dom3 are striving to capture. Rather than saying "here is a dwarf" and handing a short person with a beard an axe and sending him off to rough up a skinny person with a bow and arrow and fake pointy ears, they're saying "here is what people really believed, and here is what we ourselves imagine. Only one perspective is correct and only you can decide which one that is". They manage to get right down into the heart and the question of belief. To me, that makes all the difference in the world.

[Endoperez]

HoneyBadger said:
Thank you Endoperez, for the warm welcome.

I grew up with mythology, and to me there's a lot more power and depth to a myth than can be expressed by way of pop culture. Culture turns into myth over generations and through faith. It's an accumulation, a weight of time that really adds substance, as the metaphor suggests. To me, a Jotun out of Norse myth is an elemental force, a child of Ymmr, a glacier taking on human form/aspects with godlike proportions, and godlike character. "Big Human" doesn't do such a being justice. It doesn't qualify as it isn't and wouldn't ever be a human, even if one lived next door. The idea of Jotun comes from the human subconscious, but it also comes from our collective idea of "Them, the Outsiders, That Which Lives and is Of the Unknown". Jotuns aren't easy in the way that putting on make-up and pretending is easy. Not because of the similarities between us and Jotuns, or the differences in size or preferred climate, but because of the differences which make them alien, and how those differences affect how we view the world and our place as an individual within it.

It's my opinion that that difference is what the creators of Dom3 are striving to capture. Rather than saying "here is a dwarf" and handing a short person with a beard an axe and sending him off to rough up a skinny person with a bow and arrow and fake pointy ears, they're saying "here is what people really believed, and here is what we ourselves imagine. Only one perspective is correct and only you can decide which one that is". They manage to get right down into the heart and the question of belief. To me, that makes all the difference in the world.




Big words. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/laugh.gif For me the fact that everything seems to be based one mythology or another, or some myth, or story the developers heard once, or a book or an idea like the indian caste-system with the castes actually being physically different, make it feel more real. I feel like I could open an encyclopedia and learn things, and come back to the game and find out that they're already included. They go back to the roots from which the generic elves and dwarves and giants come fromm and do that very well. Their Jotun might not be the exact same giants as in the myth, but they are close enough to fit all the stories. Perhaps even up to the fear of the ringing of the church bells and the spread of Christian dominion.

[bottleneck]

'Jotun' in old norse just means 'huge'. And the mythological ones were generally much larger than the Æsir (gods), although they came in many sizes and shapes.

If the url works, it has a nice pic of a norwegian troll - as you can see its very much an 'elemental force' and nothing like a 'mainstream fantasy troll'
http://www2.norwayshop.com/cgi-bin/oss/shop/sh.pl?500642

[Nerfix]

"Summon Trollemental of Fire"

[Arameyan]

I'm a 24 years old student in mechanical engineering. I'm a fan of strategy games (like Age of wonders 1, Space empire) and Dominions (2, now 3).

English isn't my primary langage so I'll do many typos errors. I'm the kind of gamer who spent more time thinking about the different strategies (and reading your posts guys) than actually playing them. I have a complete folder of (about 30? more?) different complete strategies for Pangaea, Serpent cult, Pangaea, Vanheim and Pangaea. I played about 8 Dom2 multiplayer games and countless SP games (to develop theses strategies for MP).

My Dom3 groupe here in Sherbrooke (Qc) is growing! I hope I'll convince them to buy the game (like me) instead of just playing with the Demo or trying to find a cd-key...

[Juzza]

Hey guys, I'm Juzza, I'm 14, down in australia and love dominions oh and I made a mod for dom 2! play it! please!

Owaiting some money to purchase dom 3, and then I'll need someone with a credit card to buy it for me.. oh well it's worth the effort!!