Are we paying more for less?

[Mltdwn]

I see your point Jayd.. My whole problem is while I like the idea of Dom3... It doesn't really strike me as worth the money when another company is providing essentially the EXACT same game in most respects, with higher production values, more gameplay options, and have made a fortune off of 4x games and proven it is anything but a "niche" market with reasonable prices... Basically what I am saying is with the competition releasing the same game in a month with all of those added abilities and production values for a lower price point what makes Dom3 worth it as it adds nothing different really (other than sprite based ground combat you can't control) to the gameplay.

[Nerfix]

Illwinter would need a lot more crew if it would wish to make a game up to date with graphics, and it would mean they would have to most likely cut down the amount of content.

More crew would need more money etc.

And MTW:2 is hardly equal to Dominions 3 and I doubt a middle earth mod for it will never reach even a quarter of the features that make Dominions series superb and creative fantasy games. MTW:2 will be prettier yes, will have nicer sounds etc. but Dominions series will be the massive fantasy game where your aim is godhood, and this puts it largely into a niche.

[Mltdwn]

OK answer me this, what features and abilities does Dom3 add that M2TW doesn't? I'm trying to compare the two and decide which I should invest my money into because other than the "magic" aspect I really can't see what Dom3 brings to the table that is different or better... From what I understand the diplomatic functioning is much more limited due to being primarily a go to war with everyone game, the politics aspect is largely non-existant due to the nature of the game (as opposed to having to deal with the Church, the various other nobles, Crusades, Jihads, Briberies, assassinations, etc.), and the combat is largely more of simply choose the right groups and outnumber the enemies hoping for good enough "rolls" rather than being able to use actual tactics like flanking, luring, ambushes, etc.

Basically what makes Dom3 "better" in terms of features and gameplay?

[Leif_-]

Mltdwn said:
OK answer me this, what features and abilities does Dom3 add that M2TW doesn't?

Where to start. Actually, I won't even try. I suggest you wait for a few days until they demo version is ready and try it out for yourself. It's quite possible the game won't be to your liking, but I can promise you that it will be an entirely different game than M2TW.

[GamerMan12]

I know he is being really obvious about promoting another game and they are usually subtle, but even so I still think Mltdwn is likely to be a Guerilla Marketer.

GM12

[Mltdwn]

GamerMan12 said:
I know he is being really obvious about promoting another game and they are usually subtle, but even so I still think Mltdwn is likely to be a Guerilla Marketer.

GM12

Yup, that's me, a guerilla marketer... Forgive me for wanting to make an "informed" decision based on people with knowledge of the game before spending my hard earned money. I played Dom2, and while I enjoyed it tremendously at first when I came across the TW line it basically turned me off of Dom as it was the same thing done better for the most part with a greater amount of depth in all aspects. Now Dom3 is out, is the price of a triple A X360 title, and doesn't seem to add anything really over Dom2 or the competition; however, that is going solely off of the limited features posted on the site. So I figured, since the game was out already I would ask those who have played it their input as to how it differs from other games in the same vein from an "objective" point of view. While yes I will admit and apoligize for perhaps going about it the wrong way, the question still stands... What does it bring to the table that isn't already out there for less which is of higher quality in production values, features, and gameplay value.

BTW Ron thank you for posting that viewpoint... And that answers alot of questions for me... While I can see the enjoyability in that then I have to say with that being the primary selling point it perhaps isn't the game for me as I like (personally) to simply have more strategic options. And that is just me, you answered alot with that simple statement and thank you.

[Leif_-]

Dominions 3 is basically Dominions 2 supercharged, so if you prefer the Total War games to Dominions 2, I don't see why you're even asking the question. Skip Dominions 3 and buy the next Total War game instead.

[GamerMan12]

Limited features??!! :

* Turn-based fantasy 4X gaming with up to twenty-one (AI or human) players using simultaneous turns.
* Still an amazing amount of player choices in one turn: recruit, research, empowerment, forge, rituals, magic battles, search, prayers, blood hunt, luck, assassinations, friendly movement, movement, storm castle, enchantments, magic items, sneak, build, special orders, income, starvation, upkeep, dominion, site effects, heal, mercs, and scouting.
* Three different eras: Early Magical Era, Middle Era, and Late Era. The Early Magical Era boasts many new nations, the Middle Era features most of the nations from Dominions 2, and the Late Era features an emphasis on more conventional warfare and less magic.
* Fifty different playable nations. Some of the new nations include Ermor, New Faith, based on the early Republic of Rome. Marverni, inspired by Gallic tribes. Kailasa, Rise of the Ape Kings, inspired from Indian and Hindu mythology. Jomon, Human Daimyos, born from ancient Japan.
* Brand new graphics, with an overhauled and streamlined interface. Transparent mechanics decreases
the learning curve.
* Less micromanagement than previous Dominions titles.
* Random map creation.
* Players can design and save gods for later play.
* Map filters now allow players to easily locate scouts.
* Nation specific spells and summons. More than 600 spells and 300 magic items, all with evocative descriptions, are found in the game.
* Rebalanced rates for income, supply, and resources enable larger conventional armies.
* 1500+ units to wage war with. A deep combat model encompasses everything from battlefield morale to the use of magic.
* An already challenging AI made even more challenging. If you can't handle the unrelenting computer player, you can always try your hand at playing against humans with Dominions 3 robust multiplayer suite.
* Much more powerful modding capabilities.
* Make and remake nations as you see fit!
* Still present, the cool ability to turn any image into a map! Battle across Faerún or Middle Earth!
* Choose if your pretending god is dormant or awake when the game begins.
* New music from Erik Ask Uppmark and Anna Rynefors, the duo behind Dominion 2's lilting musical score.
* Taxes and unrest automatically checked through the autotax function, streamlining play.
* Playable on most major operating systems. Play it on a Windows, Mac, or Linux machine.
* Dominions 3: The Awakening could very easily be the last fantasy 4X game you ever need.

GM12

[Taqwus]

Among the more obvious differences are the heavy multiplayer and the pre-battle formations and scripting (think about it: tactical battles do not make sense in a 21-player game).

There are a *lot* of battlefield tactics which emerged for D2, many of which required significant preparation to be able to use in terms of mage selection, troop selection, magic items, and research, in addition to the obvious pre-battle assignment of orders and unit placement. Hell, there's everything from mass-exploding (Phoenix Pyre'd) reinvigorating Communicants to flying armies and storm/lightning-zapping the battlefield, to mass enslavement and super-combatants.

In terms of strategic depth, there's supply contraints (including a high-level abstraction of supply lines through the fortress contribution traced through friendly provinces), -substantial- research that offers lots of variety...

[Xether]

$55 is like what? £30? Thats average game cost for customers here in the UK. No way is it a rip off. Most these new "games" that devolpers are pumping out are not even worth £5 in my opinion. Abit chuffed theres people whining about the costs of one of the most indepth games ever.