Some more praise for dominions 3!!

TheBigBlueBox · #1 October 11th, 2006, 01:13 AM

I just felt I needed to post about how fun this game has turned out to be. I've played many strategy games, but this has got to be the deepest, most fun strategy game I've ever played.

Here's my scenario and why this was an epiphany for me...

I started as Early Age Atlantis on a large 200 province map with 6 normal defensive opponents. At first I thought okay, no tactical combat, no diplomacy... not much of a 4x game. Boy was I wrong. I eventually conquered all the independents on the water, and then the fun really began. I started to bring my troops across onto the land and battle the other pretenders.

I thought I was cruising, pretender after pretender fell to my mighty armies. Research was cruising along and I soon maxed out (I need set research to slower on larger maps with lots of magic sites). Then it was down to me, Atlantis and Caelum. I thought Caelum would just lay down and die, like so many AI opponents in so many strategy games, but this wasn't the case! I started getting complacent, thinking the AI would never catch up, but not only did it do just that.. this supposedly "defensive" AI started launching attacks and while at first it couldn't break through my province defense (best feature EVER in a strategy game such as this, taking micromanagement out of province defense is utter genius).

Sooner or later though, attacks increased dramatically and soon the AI not only stopped my advance but pushed me back... and then he launced a global enchantment that killed my pretender, who I buffed significantly and had amazing skill levels. Now I'm backed against a wall, Caelum is pushing me back (beating provinces with 125 province defense!), and my pretender needs to be called back. I just couldn't believe the AI could muster some of the armies that it did. I couldn't believe that it managed to handle it's magic use in such a way to really hurt me (and I had multiple global enchants going killing his heroes!) While part of the problem is Atlantis can't recruit their troops in land-based forts, it's really no excuse.

The point I'm trying to make is that in most strategy games, if you establish yourself AIs usually can't pick themselves back up. I got complacent and the AI made me pay.

Bravo Illwinter... I can't wait for what's in store with the patches!

Gandalf Parker · #2 October 11th, 2006, 08:25 PM

Thats a pretty good writeup for a first day event.

You will find that the balance in Dominions isnt nation vs nation. Its more of a rock-paper-scissors type of balance. Each nation tends to have abit easier time against some nations, and a rough time against others.

They also each have unique features that makes them fit certain plaing styles. When you find the nation that best matches your playing style then you will do better against the AIs (though not a cakewalk against other human players who have discovered which nation fits THEM best)

Gandalf Parker

NTJedi · #3 October 11th, 2006, 10:02 PM

Yes Dominions_3 is a great game!!

In regards to your situation you'll probably win the game. From what I've seen MOST the computer opponents have serious difficulty entering water provinces. The computer opponents now even have more difficulty entering the water for Dominions_3 since many water mages can no longer enter water provinces without some magic item.

Currently I play most of my maps with 97% land since most computer opponents have such serious trouble marching into water provinces.

Foodstamp · #4 October 11th, 2006, 10:54 PM

Is there a way to set the % of land using the random map generator, or are you just referring to premade maps?

TheBigBlueBox · #5 October 11th, 2006, 11:51 PM

Quote:

NTJedi said:
Yes Dominions_3 is a great game!!

In regards to your situation you'll probably win the game. From what I've seen MOST the computer opponents have serious difficulty entering water provinces. The computer opponents now even have more difficulty entering the water for Dominions_3 since many water mages can no longer enter water provinces without some magic item.

Currently I play most of my maps with 97% land since most computer opponents have such serious trouble marching into water provinces.

The AI cast the global enchant that allows any troops to enter water, Thetis Blessing I believe... I dispel it and he just casts it again.

That's what I meant with the AIs using magic well.. he knew I was mainly water based and he cast that spell. The AI did manage to capture a couple water provinces back, even with 125 province defense.

Archonsod · #6 October 11th, 2006, 11:56 PM

One of the things I noticed with 3 rather than 2. The AI seems a lot better at underwater warfare. Looks like the days of R'yleh retreating beneath the waves to lick your wounds is over.

DominionsFan · #7 October 12th, 2006, 06:22 AM

Actually the AI is still weak in underwater conquest, but the land AI is much better already, compared to the Doms 2. AI.
I think that Johan and Kris will try to upgrade it once the bugs are fixed, so stay tuned, if you prefer SP over MP.
However SP fans should try to play some MP games as well, trust me, you will love it!

solops · #8 October 12th, 2006, 09:21 PM

As a wargamer I am having a little bit of difficuly in mentally shifting gears for this game. Nevertheless, I find it addictive in a way that no game has grabbed me in a long time. I've lost 4 out of 4 games so far and cannot wait to play again. If it were not for some UI features I'd be completely happy. Great game!

NTJedi · #9 October 12th, 2006, 09:56 PM

Quote:

Foodstamp said:
Is there a way to set the % of land using the random map generator, or are you just referring to premade maps?

Within game tools and generate new map you can choose the percentage of water terrain. This will allow you to create a map which can be 1% water or 99% water or anything in between.

I've only played 2 games so far which include both human and computer opponents on 400+ provinces, but from my experience the land computer opponents are having a difficult time taking water provinces in Dominions_3. What experiences are the rest of you having?

Frostmourne27 · #10 October 12th, 2006, 10:12 PM

I think they are better (in the demo) but still not great. They recruit amphibious indies and use a FEW water summons, but not many. They also seem to use amphimbious pretenders if they have them. I got a nasty suprise from a wyrm that showed up bside my atlantian capital with an ichythid army. I ran out of turns before i could drive them away, but I don't think it will be too hard.