Vanarus, Machaka Lion Kings etc

[Zeldor]

We have Abysia, so I doubt we'd get Muspelheim in dom3. They are different nations, sure, but both fire based.

It'd be great to just get what was planned, so 2 more Machakas and Vanarus.

[WraithLord]

Maybe IW could give us a xmas present with these nations

[HoneyBadger]

Muspelheim was planned, actually. Kristoffer's talked about wanting to make it, sometime.

[B0rsuk]

Maybe it's time to talk Kristoffer into giving LA Mictlan some special units recruitable underwater ?* Rain priests' description mentions they would love nothing more than to return to the sea. Yet player has no particular reason to go there. They use people of Mictlan as means to the goal.

* I've inspired him to add the sleepless infantry and the astral mages to LA Atlantis. So it can be done :>

[HoneyBadger]

Originally Posted by B0rsuk

Maybe it's time to talk Kristoffer into giving LA Mictlan some special units recruitable underwater ?* Rain priests' description mentions they would love nothing more than to return to the sea. Yet player has no particular reason to go there. They use people of Mictlan as means to the goal.

* I've inspired him to add the sleepless infantry and the astral mages to LA Atlantis. So it can be done :>

What's the lore on Aztecs and the sea? My first wild thought would be to give them a really simple ability to shapeshift into a basic turtle. I like the idea of spellcasters having secondforms, fairly ubiquitously, even/especially if those forms seem to offer little other than increased flavour.

My second thought is that I'd like to see Fomorians, as kings of the drowned dead, have additional powers while underwater. Has anything been done with that, with CBM? Is there a good way to give them the demon priest ability to raise undead while underwater?

Kristoffer is a very nice man, and a wonderful Dev, but my personal experience is that he seems to run away from the idea of player suggestions directly becoming official content, due to concerns about legality and copyright laws (a concern which I don't really understand). So, if you've managed that, my hat goes off to you, B0rsuk.

[B0rsuk]

To be fair, my suggestion was far less specific, I merely highligted the disconnect between nation's flavour and player strategies. That player doesn't want to conquer water. Next thing I know there are some new units recruitable underwater. I think Kristoffer is an amusing developer. Not caring much about multiplayer or balance (although he does make progress), focusing on flavour, yet unstoppable. It's clear he takes his time to make Dominions, and he enjoys it.

I probably shouldn't mention I don't really love Dominions as a game. I like it. I treat it more as a book than a game. It's a game you can explore and study. It has absolutely the best descriptions I've ever seen.

Either way, I'm very curious about Illwinter's new project. I'm almost certain I'll buy it. I can't blame them for not making Dominions 4. The game has some fundamental issues, like balancing of national troops. They are either rush material or forgotten. Deep Ones from EA Atlantis would be okay in late game, I guess, if it wasn't for their awful MR. The "best", biggest forts are actually the worst and people prefer to build in swamps, etc. Anyway, Another dominions game could really feel limiting for a person this creative. Maybe it won't even be a strategy game ? That would make me sad.

[name thief]

This thread seems to have drifted. My question though is what do we know about the unmade nations. Muspelheim I think is a nation of fire giants or something. I have no clue about Vanarus, and Machchaka Lion Kings is clearly another African nation. What other information is there?

[thejeff]

On the other hand, LA Atlantis was arguably underpowered and LA Mictlan is a powerhouse. Giving them anything good in the oceans just boosts them even more.

On the gripping hand, more opposition to R'lyeh in the water is always good. As long as the new units don't add significantly to Mictlan's diversity (either new paths or combinations), I don't think it would be too much. No sacred units.

[Gregstrom]

Vanarus is the predecessor nation to Bogarus, so think Vanir in Russia. Lion Kings is a bit of an unknown. Look up the African white lion legends, think 'noble warriors of the plains' and you might get some ideas.

[Zeldor]

Yeah, Vanarus is about nordic tribes arriving at Russia and taking over. So probably some cap-only Vans and human pre-Bogarus troops as the rest. Someone should look up details behind it, mythology that is, to find out what we should expect