The #1 Difference New Players Must Know For MP

[PsiSoldier]

Originally Posted by vfb

Also I've been messing around in the Forgotten City, and have poured at least 1000 gold into it and not gotten anything back yet. But I've had some funny battles with the horrors within. So 'no one else does' is just not true.

Hrrrm I sent a Wraith Lord into the forgotten city and and the first turn I got a magic shield and the second turn I found 43 gold and fought a horror wich killed my Wraith and sent him back to my capital. Haven't been back since then yet.

[Agema]

Firstly, I generally agree that high PD will not deter an enemy in MP: I generally never use more than about 20 except in rare circumstances. However, high PD does have benefits.

If an invader knows they are facing a series of low PD provinces, they can take several a turn by splitting their forces. However, if they are up against high PD, they may not be able to do this safely. Thus high PD can potentially reduce the number of provinces you lose. Provinces mean money: arguably a 50gold province is worth 100 in a war, in that it's not just a drop in your income but an equivalent increase in your opponent's. Obviously the same is true of gem income.

Furthermore, weak PD can be destroyed often with minimal loss. More substantial PD is much more likely to cause casualties in return. Going from PD 10 to PD 20 costs you about 150 gold, but if that PD destroys 10 basic units more than PD 10 would, you've cost your enemy 100 gold, plus possible afflictions.

A final note I'd say regards misfortune scales. You'll need high PD (20+) just to resist the frequent barbarian hordes who tend to pillage your empire, although it might not stop a tougher encounter like knights unless it's really high. Particularly if that square has a fortress or you can't reclaim it quickly because troops aren't available, that extra gold per province can save you a lot of grief.

[lch]

Originally Posted by Agema

A final note I'd say regards misfortune scales. You'll need high PD (20+) just to resist the frequent barbarian hordes who tend to pillage your empire, although it might not stop a tougher encounter like knights unless it's really high. Particularly if that square has a fortress or you can't reclaim it quickly because troops aren't available, that extra gold per province can save you a lot of grief.

In late game, however, barbarian hordes are known as "walking death gems" if you happen to have a flying SC who wields the Sickle whose crop is pain. Then you'd wish that your PD doesn't kill too many of them for the harvest.

[Toran]

Of course you can get creamed as well, but even if you lost a battle in the game, you can still tickle your enemy with snippy remarks in the forums

[Ironhawk]

I think you mean MP in your last sentence there Jim

[fungalreason]

I don't think everyone plays MP Dominions 3 games simply to win. In fact, thinking on the subject made me remember the classic Magic: the Gathering personalities.(http://www.wizards.com/Magic/Magazin...om/daily/mr280). I think many similiarities between Timmy, Johnny, & Spike can be applied to the way players approach MP games.

Timmy - tends to take awake SCs/strong blesses. Deploys strong, powerful units that can be employed in a simple fashion.

Johnny - someone who looks for combinations of spells, or continually finds new uses for uncommon items or spells, etc. Takes over hopeless sub positions just to see what they can do. Perhaps focuses heavily on diplomacy instead of the traditional means of achieving victory.

Spike - Exercises efficiency at all cost, using only the best available units/spells at all times. Every decision is made with a thought to how it will bring them closer to domination over all the other players.

Obviously people are going to be a mix of each category, but most importantly the goals for each are not always winning the game. Timmy might be satisfied winning a single war, or even just seeing their SC wipe out hordes of enemies in a single battle. Johnny may be happy when their specific combination of spells catches an enemy unprepared, or if they pull off a massive sneak-attack. Spike is probably the more like the typical MP player you described, but I doubt it's even the most common. However I suppose you do have to practice some level of efficiency, or you simply won't live long enough to achieve your other goals

[Dedas]

I'm pretty much the Johnny type I believe. Love learning new stuff and trying out different combinations of things - I'm an explorer pretty much. Winning is a kick of course but beating your enemy with a radically different strategy that no one ever thought possible is an even great kick. I don't like playing it safe - safe is boring, safe is everyday life. Guess I need to get out more...

[Trumanator]

Timmy- no idea
Johnny- Baalz, at least as far as finding new uses for underused spells/items
Spike- Sounds a little like Micah

I'm going off what I've seen in the forums, having not played any high level games.

[Darkwind]

I'd call myself a Johnny (though I also love themes I guess, so Vorthos too; for example, I really wish there was a Chronicles LA game so I could play as R'lyeh. There's just something about Lovecraft...). I like trying to figure out how to make underused nations work Not that I'm good, so usually I fail. But hey, I try, and I can have some fun while I'm at it!

[Lingchih]

Originally Posted by Trumanator

Timmy- no idea
Johnny- Baalz, at least as far as finding new uses for underused spells/items
Spike- Sounds a little like Micah

I'm going off what I've seen in the forums, having not played any high level games.

Actually, Spike sounds exactly like Micah.