Demo is UP!

[Annette]

News Release For Immediate Release

PLEASE NOTE: If you would like us to list your site as a mirror download site, please contact
tbrooks@shrapnelgames.com


Dominions 3 Demo Unleashed!
An Early Treat For All The Good Ghouls and Boys In October!


Hampstead, NC, 05 October 2006

There are over six billion humans inhabiting this planet we call Earth, and unfortunately
there are still a handful who have not already ordered Dominions 3: The Awakening.
Yes, shocking. Maybe you just haven't gotten around to it. Perhaps you're in prison. Or
a coma. Of course, if you're in a coma the game is called "The Awakening", so perhaps
it will bring you out of your coma. So you should order it. Oh. Yeah, you're in a coma.
Guess you can't order it.

And then there are of course the folks who want to wait for a demo. They've heard about
the amazing pedigree Dominions 3 possesses. They've seen the excited chatter on the
forums. They're almost convinced, but still, they need that demo. Wait no more.

Shrapnel Games and Illwinter Game Design are pleased to release to the general public
the official demo for Dominions 3: The Awakening! Yes, now you too can experience
what the rest of the world already knows, but be warned! While the demo is but a mere
glimpse into the heavenly pleasures offered in the full game, its nectar is sweet enough to
ensnare your free time until that time exists no more!

The Dominions 3 demo, available for Windows, Mac, and Linux, is available for
immediate download at: www.shrapnelgames.com/Illwinter/Dom3/6.htm (http://www.shrapnelgames.com/Illwinter/Dom3/6.htm)

Dominions 3: The Awakening, the sequel to the award-winning Dominions II: The
Ascension Wars, is the newly released fantasy-strategy game of domination, in this world
and the next. Up to twenty-one players, either human or AI, wage war to establish the
one true god in an epic turn-based 4X struggle. Featuring over fifty nations to play, three
different ages (with each age having a different effect on gameplay), and literally
hundreds upon hundreds of creatures, spells, and items to command, Dominions 3 is a
massive entertainment buffet of never-ending portions.

The included tutorial, and the nearly 300 page manual, will help both new and old players
alike ease into the latest and greatest version of Dominions. A streamlined interface,
along with transparent rule mechanics, also makes this Dominions the best of the bunch.
Of course Dominions 3 is just as easy to mod as the previous versions, and when
combined with the new random map generator, means that on a long enough timeline,
Dominions 3 will still never get stale.

Visit www.shrapnelgames.com/Illwinter/Dom3/1.htm (http://www.shrapnelgames.com/Illwinter/Dom3/1.htm) for a thorough overview and
feature list of this astonishing title, and once ready to surrender yourself to the endless
rapture that is Dominions 3: The Awakening, visit the Shrapnel Games e-store, the
Gamers Front at www.gamersfront.com/xcard/home.php. (http://www.gamersfront.com/xcard/home.php.) At only $54.95 it's practically
a steal (Consider that if you even just put 40 hours into it you're only paying $1.37 an
hour, but when you realize that you'll easily end up putting in 400+ hours into it you're
paying about .13 an hour!).

For our complete listing of games please visit www.shrapnelgames.com (http://www.shrapnelgames.com), where you'll
find a large selection of award-winning and fan favorite independent strategy games from
some of the most brilliant designers the indie world has to offer.

[Turms]

Great news! Thank you!

Too bad I am at work.

And I posted first!

Turms

[Endoperez]

And I posted second! Huzzah! http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/tongue.gif

[Agrajag]

Thanks for the heads-up Annette!
I'm downloading the demo now to keep me busy 'till my copy arrives http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/happy.gif (which, even if things work out right, and even if it will be shipped soon, will still take a lot of time to ship all the way over here in Israel :\)

Also, you have awesome servers, I'm currently downloading at 196KB/s, and my internet connection is only 1.5Mb (so technically I shouldn't be able to download faster than 192KB/s http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/happy.gif )

[Meglobob]

I ordered but it still has not arrived http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/Sick.gif

Now at least I can get a partial Dom3 fix.

Thanks.

[DominionsFan]

YAAAAAAAAAY! FINALLY!!! Thanks for the demo! http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/smile.gif http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/cool.gif
Hopefully my copy will arrive today or tomorrow, but anyways I am off to play with the demo now. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/biggrin.gif

[Jack_Trowell]

YEEESSSS !!

Something to do while waiting for tuxgames to awake ...
(snif, still no news from them http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/frown.gif )

Thanks Annette for the great news ! ^_^

[Cainehill]

Heh, goodness comes from my waking up at 4:30 - the server isn't bogged down with downloads yet. And I was going to get some work done today http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/wink.gif

[Jack_Trowell]

Oh, almost forgot : what about the exact demo limits ?

I remember from previous posts on this forum :

- 5 nations from Early age
- research maxed to rank 4
- 40 turns

I'm still at work and can't test the demo until several hours, can someone confirm those limits and that there aren't any others ?

[DominionsFan]

Hm dowloading speed is 380k/sec only. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/Injured.gif
Ah well the demo is down in 4 mins with this speed anyways. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/biggrin.gif

[Nerfix]

YAAAAAAAY YAYAYAYAY AYAYAYA!

[Nerfix]

I'm hyperventilating srsly

[Nerfix]

And I'm SOOOOO conveniently ill to. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/laugh.gif http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/laugh.gif http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/laugh.gif http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/laugh.gif http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/laugh.gif http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/laugh.gif

[Daynarr]

Just don't forget that your demo games are compatible with full versions. So, when you reach turn limit with some good game, save it and continue playing it later when you get full game.

[okiN]

Great news, glad to hear it.

[Leif_-]

Productivity is DOWN!

[AMF]

Ahem. I think somebody needs to torrent this thing...

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

[DominionsFan]

Hm I am playing with Agartha against 3 difficult AIs. The AI is really much better already compared to the Doms 2. AI. This new nation gonna be fun, especially when I will be able to play with them in LE. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/cool.gif

*edit*

I just alt tabbed out to post, and went back to the game, but everything became semi-transparent in the game meanwhile. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/Injured.gif

[MarcinM]

Daynarr said:
Just don't forget that your demo games are compatible with full versions. So, when you reach turn limit with some good game, save it and continue playing it later when you get full game.



This is great to know. *wakes up from work-induced coma, downloads demo*

[Ighalli]

Woo Thanks!! I'm downloading at 1.07 mb/s. Awesome servers! This weekend my copy will be in my hands! http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/biggrin.gif

[BigJMoney]

Hahaha, he totally stole that one line from Leif. That's awesome. Too bad I have so much work to do today. I might get the demo anyway to take a look at the tut.

=$=

[VanderVecken]

I got lucky, I was getting download at 357kps (download in about 4 minutes, I think). Downloaded it Thursday at approx. 9:30 am CST.

Since my ability to buy game at release went away with an unexpected car expense, this will way more than hold me over till my wife gets me the full version in early Nov.

Thanks to all involved, I do hope to snare some new players with this demo from my Gaming group.

[Daynarr]

DominionsFan said:
*edit*

I just alt tabbed out to post, and went back to the game, but everything became semi-transparent in the game meanwhile. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/Injured.gif



When this happens use ALT+ENTER to go to windowed mode and then ALT+ENTER again to get back to full screen. Everything will be fine now. It's fastest way to fix it. I think JK is very aware of this problem already. I guess it's just hard to fix completely.

[JaydedOne]

Does this fix work with the fashion in which graphics become giant letters when you alt-tab out of fullscreen? I remember that problem in Dom2 and figured it just carried over, but I hate having to save and restart when the graphics get that wonked...

[Daynarr]

Yes, that fixes all graphical oddities when alt+tabbing.

[Cainehill]

Hmm - anyone figure out how to toggle researchers? Tab key doesn't do it anymore - it does something, but isn't mentioned in the list of keyboard commands via '?'.

[Arameyan]

Its a noob question but do the Demo allow multiplayer? I'm trying to corrupt 5-6 friends to play and they want to try MP before buying the game.

I JUST RECEIVED MY COPY 2 MINUTES AGO!!! (quebec, Canada)

[DominionsFan]

Daynarr said:

DominionsFan said:
*edit*

I just alt tabbed out to post, and went back to the game, but everything became semi-transparent in the game meanwhile. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/Injured.gif



When this happens use ALT+ENTER to go to windowed mode and then ALT+ENTER again to get back to full screen. Everything will be fine now. It's fastest way to fix it. I think JK is very aware of this problem already. I guess it's just hard to fix completely.



Ah ok, thanks for the help. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/smile.gif

[JaydedOne]

Arameyan said:
Its a noob question but do the Demo allow multiplayer? I'm trying to corrupt 5-6 friends to play and they want to try MP before buying the game.

I JUST RECEIVED MY COPY 2 MINUTES AGO!!! (quebec, Canada)



Yes, the demo allows multiplayer, but the 40 turn limit remains in effect. People with the full version, however, can play any nation they wish with people who only have the demo.

[Gandalf Parker]

Yes the demo allows for multiplayers.

[PhilD]

For some reason, I cannot seem to download the Windows version - I get a "Problem loading page" from Firefox. The Linux version is downloading as I type, but this will force me to reboot...

[DominionsFan]

Gandalf Parker said:
Yes the demo allows for multiplayers.



Yeah, we just had a test game with one of my mates here. I was with Agartha, he was with Arcoscephale. Sadly the turn limit killed the real fun, but we had some nice big battles. I've won 2. Agartha is really interesting so far, hopefully tomorrow my copy will arrive and I can try them out in LE real fast.

[Daynarr]

Cainehill said:

Hmm - anyone figure out how to toggle researchers? Tab key doesn't do it anymore - it does something, but isn't mentioned in the list of keyboard commands via '?'.



There is no more key to toggle researchers on strategic map. TAB now activates all map filters as long as you keep it pressed. TAB does toggle researchers in the army screen though.

[isodea]

demo! Time for a dominions coma http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/laugh.gif

[Cainehill]

Daynarr said:

Cainehill said:

Hmm - anyone figure out how to toggle researchers? Tab key doesn't do it anymore - it does something, but isn't mentioned in the list of keyboard commands via '?'.



There is no more key to toggle researchers on strategic map. TAB now activates all map filters as long as you keep it pressed.



That positively sucks. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/Sick.gif

[WraithLord]

great news http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/happy.gif

Thanks!!!

Got to go, it's demo time http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/wink.gif

[MarcinM]

Well, the combination of the well-written tutorial (both the mission and the text) and the music (I'm a sucker for good game music!) in the demo has done it.

Well, the astonishing amount of competence and polish in the game helped too. I was expecting Europa Universalis with Magic but I got a demo of something far, far more. It's like every click brings something new and cool to my game.

Ordered!

[JaydedOne]

Awesome, MarcinM! Looking forward to more discussion here on the forums with you!

[Frostmourne27]

Can I join with Cainehill and demand the return of the ability to toggle researchers? It was a great time saver, especially for sage farms and the like. (which mercifully seem rarer)

[Fate]

Dang, MarcinM beat me to mentioning the music (seriously, why hasn't that come up?).

I would also like to say that I like the way the arrows grow, it is just so neat (hehe). I like the demo alot, and look forward to receiving my copy. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/happy.gif

A quick question to those who can *actually* play the game (I am a total noob), how do you play Maverni? I have tried Maverni and Agartha so far (on defualt setting + commander renaming). Agartha (at least in the beginning) seems to be advantaged with their 40 health 13 morale spearmen and 40 health high morale Trampling Troglydytes.

Maybe I am just the wrong type of player, but I would like to know all the same http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/happy.gif .

[WraithLord]

Frostmourne27 said:
Can I join with Cainehill and demand the return of the ability to toggle researchers? It was a great time saver, especially for sage farms and the like. (which mercifully seem rarer)


I third that. I don't get why it was removed in the first place.

[Endoperez]

Fate said:
Dang, MarcinM beat me to mentioning the music (seriously, why hasn't that come up?).

I would also like to say that I like the way the arrows grow, it is just so neat (hehe). I like the demo alot, and look forward to receiving my copy. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/happy.gif

A quick question to those who can *actually* play the game (I am a total noob), how do you play Maverni? I have tried Maverni and Agartha so far (on defualt setting + commander renaming). Agartha (at least in the beginning) seems to be advantaged with their 40 health 13 morale spearmen and 40 health high morale Trampling Troglydytes.

Maybe I am just the wrong type of player, but I would like to know all the same http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/happy.gif .



I'm not that good with multiplayer strategies, but generally you specialize. I usually expand with my units in the early game. It usually takes few test games to come up with a nice strategy for that.

Marverni has pretty well armored, shielded units; you can use them. Marverni also has good mages. The Druids have good Astral and good Earth. Look for schools that give high-level spells that require Earth, Astral, combination of both, or perhaps the other paths Marverni has access to. Thaumaturgy has lots of Astral spells (Mind Burn, Paralyze even in the demo; the former is good against weak units, the latter against creatures who'll destroy your armies unless stopped and with too many hitpoints to Mind Burn to death). Evocation has some good Earth spells (Blade Wind can annihilate whole armies of lightly armored units), and you also get Gifts from Heavens, and Earth/Astral spell dealing rather nice damage.


I'm not sure of Agartha yet. Going underwater early could be an option. All of their big units are expensive, sacred and have good hp but poor protection, attack, defense and precision. Nature 9 blessing for berserk and regeneration could help. They also don't need to eat and live for a long time, so you can take Death scale.
Their mages are awesome with Earth. Oracles of Subterranean Fires can cast Magma Bolts, and later Magma Eruption. The latter is very good. All Oracles can cast Blade Wind. As Nerfix mentioned, your Earth Readers can do very well casting your Conjuration 3 national spells.

[KissBlade]

Don't forget also that there is an irc channel as well for dom 3 players to get together, swap tips, duels and multiplayer blitz!

[Teraswaerto]

Just downloaded the demo yesterday. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/happy.gif

About Marverni, they have well armored troops, standards, berserkers.

On the side of magic, the druids are not capital-only, are sacred so the upkeep is not high, and they have the Stargazers to act as cheap communion slaves. The Gutuaters make great researchers, being cheap and sacred.

That's my first impressions anyway, haven't had a chance to play much yet.

[okiN]

I played a game against a friend last night where he was Agartha and I was Marverni. I absolutely annihilated him by taking economic scales and churning out druids, woodsmen and those blue-shielded noble warriors (14 defence, crazy!). I didn't even have time to research Blade Wind. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/happy.gif

[Agrajag]

WraithLord said:

Frostmourne27 said:
Can I join with Cainehill and demand the return of the ability to toggle researchers? It was a great time saver, especially for sage farms and the like. (which mercifully seem rarer)


I third that. I don't get why it was removed in the first place.


I fourth that http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/tongue.gif
The tab function was very useful, especially on the map (and less so in the army screen)

[The DarkOne]

Agrajag said:

WraithLord said:

Frostmourne27 said:
Can I join with Cainehill and demand the return of the ability to toggle researchers? It was a great time saver, especially for sage farms and the like. (which mercifully seem rarer)


I third that. I don't get why it was removed in the first place.


I fourth that http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/tongue.gif
The tab function was very useful, especially on the map (and less so in the army screen)



I fifth that http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/biggrin.gif
That is the only thing i miss from dom2 so far.