Dominions DnD

[Meglobob]

Interesting idea, a GM could use dominions as a tool, rather than a game to easily keep track of the gaming world.

However, you would need a in game editor to that, rather than fudging it.

There are many generic roleplaying systems, that can be set in any world.

[MaxWilson]

Yeah, but most generic roleplaying systems don't have an AI attached to a huge world simulator. I really like this idea.

On reflection, I think you'd probably want to have a "DM" nation that starts with a province with no connections to anybody else, all spells pre-researched, maybe a couple of miscellaneous nation-specific spell (Soul Slay on Steroids) to e.g. kill off the giant commander when necessary, etc. If there were a way to mod Eyes of God to show units that would be good, otherwise you'll have to have cheap summonable, stealthy units that can Teleport or Cloud Trapeze to all the provinces on the map, in case you need to know what is where.

-Max

[Shovah32]

The DM could also just have control of whatever nations the players would be facing allowing him to deal with them as he wished(maybe add a spell that kills the owners units/commander? or simply hope a disband command is added)

[MaxWilson]

Well yes, but then you don't get the benefit of the AI(s) to do the decision-making. You'd have to run all 5 or 50 nations yourself every turn. Ideally, you'd be able to set a nation to AI temporarily and take it back over when necessary for a turn.

-Max

[HoneyBadger]

Here's an idea: maybe the Devs would be interested in taking this concept by both horns and creating a seperate version of Dominions, specifically attached to a role-playing system. Basically, remake Dominions 3 as a user-friendly roleplaying tool, which comes with it's own custom set of roleplaying rules, and maybe a couple of big glossy books.

A product like that might sell well, and at the same time, attract more attention to Dom3. And I'm sure that developing a set of roleplaying rules, and fleshing various things out, would only help improve Dom4 when it comes out, so everyone benefits

[Meglobob]

When I was a GM I would have loved to have my entire world (Greyhawk) as a working computer model.

You end up with A4 binders full of notes as the PC's effect the world. However any kind of AI element would need to be carfully edited by the GM, as the AI would do stuff you did not want or like in your campaign.

The AI would have been useful simulating the breakdown of the shield lands in Greyhawk for example, as various factions fought over the lands. My PC's joined 2 armies fighting pitched battles over the shield lands and managed to turn the tide of war. Dominions would have been useful in such a scenario.

[Gandalf Parker]

Hmmmm PC's joining the army.
You could use the mini-map simulator to build the armies, run the battle, and show the results. You could add commanders that would represent the PCs, followers, equipment.

In fact, you could MOD them into the game with unique graphics.