Feeling a bit ... so so / All of my thoughts

[WraithLord]

I disagree with the so so sentiment.

I think the game offers a lot of new contents (nations, spells and units) and improvements (UI, micromanagement, modding).
What I have learnt from dominions I and II is that the developers care for the game and that they are very attentive to the fans.
I am very content with what dominions III has to offer. I can easily recite a long list of games that gave much less content in new installments or even deteriorated the game (HOMM-IV, MOO-III, AOW-II, Total annihilation kingdoms).
I for one am excited with dominions III.

[Nerfix]

I'm of course excited over it but I do wonder what exactly will it be like in the end. What will the era system be like?`What's up with the "awakening"? Etc.

[MStavros]

Wraithlord, more units/spells etc. is not a big improvement, those could be even added as an expansion, especially because the graphics is almost the same anyways.

The thing is that we wont have any real new content in Dominions 3.

[Truper]

MStavros said:
The thing is that we wont have any real new content in Dominions 3.

[Gandalf Parker]

I think there is alot of new content. It looks like everything that was content in Dom2 has increased.

If you mean new features, I see quite abit of that also. A randommap generator is a biggie for one thing.

If you mean taking the game in new directions.. no I dont think so. But then, thats one of my big complaints about other games new versions. If its a new version then I want the same game but bigger and better. If its going in a whole new direction then give it a new name and start the version counter over at 1.

[Endoperez]

MStavros wrote:MStavros said:
The thing is that we wont have any real new content in Dominions 3.

I tried searching for your old posts, and came up with few things that I presume you'd think of as "real content":

-AI, many times, in many different ways, from more castles to more summons to less light units to better research to better battlefield tactics to diplomacy. We don't know what has been done, so we pretty much have to wait for the demo or for the pre-ordered version, or hope for random tidbits (which you probably wouldn't be satisfied with).
-Supercombatants. They spoil the SP game for you, it seems.
-Useless national units.

We'll have to wait and see. I imagine something will happen, as the developers themselves seem to like national units more than thugs and supercombatants.

However, these would also change the game in some way. It mightn't always be just for good.

[S.R. Krol]

The role of a sequel, be it a game, movie, book, has always been a difficult one. If someone feels not enough has been changed the cry goes out that it's nothing but a glorified expansion pack. If someone feels that *too* much has changed, then it's not the game they fell in love with the first time and it might as well have been called something else.

Of course there is another factor at work with game sequels, and that many times players become invested in a game and when they hear of a sequel they essentially come up with their own design docs for what they hope to see. When some--or perhaps all--of what they hoped for aren't in the sequel, it's disappointing.

To me the key for a sequel then is keeping everything that was enjoyable about the first game, honing it, and then slathering more on top of it. Illwinter has been doing this. Likewise, they're a good team when it comes to listening to the fans. Everything that folks want won't end up in the game, but that's not to say they're not listening and perhaps some of what is wanted would be used at a later point.

-Scott

Oops...wrong reply to...this is meant for the general thread.

[MStavros]

Gandalf Parker said:

If you mean new features, I see quite abit of that also. A randommap generator is a biggie for one thing.

Yeah Gandalh this is what I meant. You are correct the random map generator is the only new "major" feature...but I cant see any other. More units, spells, nations...almost the same graphics..sounds like an expansion.

Anyways, if the AI will be good I will be happy to buy the game of course, I think we all want different things to be done in Doms 3.

[Gandalf Parker]

How about at least saying "the only new major feature WE SEE SO FAR"? The game hasnt been laid out completely yet. And thats even if its far enough along to do such a feature list.

I dont want to sound like a fanboi but it sounds like you are being overly pessimistic when Illwinter doesnt deserve it. Unless you are just trying to goad them into dribbling you more info

[WraithLord]

MStavros said:
Wraithlord, more units/spells etc. is not a big improvement, those could be even added as an expansion, especially because the graphics is almost the same anyways.

The thing is that we wont have any real new content in Dominions 3.

I think this is a matter of taste. It is true that units and spells can be added in an expansion but usually such additions are relatively small. Another thing to consider is that so far Illwinter had been adding content to the game w/o "copy pasting" nations/units/spells. (I mean, take a look at AOW-SM, imo all the nations are clones with different names and images.) So adding quality content takes time and effort, which is why I can appreciate it although it's not a new feature.

Also, I think the unit res. is better and so are the battlefields and some of the spell effects.

It is a matter of taste in that, inevitably, there are always those fans who want more of the same as opposed to those that want a revolution. Its impossible to satisfy both factions