Well, I'm through with the game

[Saulot]

Hear Hear Ballbarian.

I too very much enjoy SP. While nobody would say that the AI is great it still is sufficient. I play the game with settings that make it easier for the AI to work (like high supplies, moderate indeps, many provinces per AI, etc). I also tend to play smaller maps of 100-150 provinces, so that I never get bogged down with too much late-game micro. I modify all my maps to have no independents, which keeps the AI from using useless chaff. I never buy mercenaries. If I'm playing a nation that I think is particularly strong, I just pass the first few turns. All of this allows the game to be quite enjoyable, at least for me.

For variety, I'll sometimes play a 3-4 player map with a mod which modifies the enemy nations to give them extra gems, as I suspect the AI doesn't sitesearch enough.

Anyway, for me, it's about trying out all the different nations, and trying out different strategies. Even after all this time, I still haven't played through a full game with each and every nation, not to mention all the various interesting mod nations that you can find on the forums as well.

While the AI could use improvement, SP is very much about discovery and experimentation, setting your own goals and challenges, and creating your own enjoyment. Obviously there are probably many people who enjoy the more visceral experience of crushing (or being crushed by) a human entity, over the more sandbox nature of SP strategy games. I'm still pretty confident that there are plenty of SP players who are lurking, or don't even visit these boards, who are enjoying the game without MP.

One can enjoy climbing a mountain, and feeling satisfaction at reaching the top, without grabbing a dozen people and saying "Race you to the top!".

[Saarud]

I am enjoying SP as well... alot. I play on all kinds of maps big and small though I do prefer smaller when playing only AIs. The thing is that the AI in most (like 95%) of the strategy games I play are a pushover so I have a habit of restricting myself with alot of houserules. With strict houserules you suddenly get new challenges and you have to develop new strategies. What houserules to use? Well that's up to the player... whatever makes the game harder and more fun seems like a good houserule.

[kasnavada]

The thing is that the AI in most (like 95%) of the strategy games I play

There is no AI capable of handling hard-core fans, whatever the game. I don't claim having seen everything of course, but, up to now, every single AI I played or heard about had flaws that could be exploited for an easy win on whatever difficulty level... In dominions, SC and thugs certainly fall into this category.

One possible thing would be to be able to mod the AI. I do not know if that is possible for Dominions.

[capnq]

Saulot said: I'm still pretty confident that there are plenty of SP players who are lurking, or don't even visit these boards, who are enjoying the game without MP.

<raises hand>

I'm generally a late adopter on games; I've only had the full version of Dom3 long enough to start three SP games, and haven't finished any of them yet. I'd like to finish at least one SP game before I attempt MP.

My experience with Space Empires IV, which is the only computer game for which I've played a significant number of MP games, is that I alternate between getting tired of dominating the AI in SP and getting tired of being crushed by humans in MP. I find that I don't particularly enjoy the style of play that seems to be required to be competitive in MP.