Review?
 

So Dom3 is finally out,
I've superficially followed the SEV forum (I'm a lover of SEIV too) and the demo has greatly disappointed most of the fans. Bad UI, loto of bugs, and so on.
And DomIII? Are you happy with it? My copy is probably fliying over the ocean or, worse, laying in a labyrinthic custom office in Italy. I'm perhaps the only one on the forum not to have it yet, some playtesters having it from months., No bad words. Is it as perfect as everyone is waiting? No severe bugs? No SEV effect?
A little review, please!

Re: Review?
 

Actually, only very few people in the forum have yet to get theirs. For some reason, people seem to post quick "WOOOT I got the game, the manual is BIG, gotta try it" posts and then disappear. Few have later appeared to make a "Damn this work, I can't play now, http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/frown.gif http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/frown.gif http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/frown.gif" posts.

I was in the beta, and think it is a good game. It's faster, sleaker and has some interesting new features. I'm still learning new things every day. You can now hide the buttons on the right part of the screen, and I learned this maybe ten minutes ago.

Jayded One mentioned that it was better than Dominions II, and that he won't be going back except for nostalgy's sake. The message in question.

Re: Review?
 

Well, the fact that people post that they got their game and then 'dissapear' is a good thing. They are playing game and not complaining about it. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/happy.gif

Re: Review?
 

Well, I don't have it yet.

http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/frown.gif

Re: Review?
 

Yep like Jurri. We are now playing probably the first non-beta blitz duel of Dom3 http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/image...es/biggrin.gif.

Unfortunately Jurri is even winning *ashamed* http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/wink.gif.

Re: Review?
 

I think the lack of complaints is a good sign.

EDIT: Hey look, a new rank!

Re: Review?
 

Send me a free copy and you'll have a "First Impressions" review shortly and a real review a hundred hours later. I love writing them.

Re: Review?
 

Gratz, Captain. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/smile.gif

Re: Review?
 

I want a review because I can't wait the arrival of my copy. If I send my copy to you my copy is already arrived so I don't need the review, right? I'm sure you understood.

Re: Review?
 

It wasn't directed at you, pal. No worries.

Re: Review?
 

Damn Jurri is tough http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/image...es/biggrin.gif.

Maverni (me) vs. Yomi (Jurri), a 32 random map, we are already at turn 32.

http://img91.imageshack.us/img91/4549/8ro6.jpg

Jurris main army attacked my main army strategically camping before his capitol binding his forces:
http://img243.imageshack.us/img243/7025/9oo5.jpg

My army:
http://img91.imageshack.us/img91/889/10ny7.jpg

My army could rout Jurris army, but it was a phyrrhic victory and strategically a defeat for me http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/frown.gif.
http://img80.imageshack.us/img80/7729/11ec5.jpg

Unfortunately the 4 dead commanders are only hanyas and sorcerors http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/frown.gif.

Jurris Dai Oni become more and more problematic http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/evil.gif

Re: Review?
 

Hahaha, I like it how both of yours lines made a huge drop.

Re: Review?
 

Boron, you got your Dominions 3. copy already?!

Re: Review?
 

My review on first impression is that it's everything I liked about Dominions 2 but in much cleaner format, with added perks, and more consistency.

I like the Eras a lot. It does feel like nations are playing on even footing, whereas it felt like certain nations in the old game (looking at you, plain Ulm) just weren't quite as viable. In the new game, I'm really pleased with the way each nation I've tried stacks up against others.

As a brief rundown:

R'lyeh Dreamlands - Beautiful. I almost wonder if it's dreamspawn ability is overpowered, but I imagine we'll see if that's the case further down the line. The fact that they get that AND they're the only underwater Late Era nation seems to make them a defensive powerhouse, but I'm not sure how that translates once they come to land. I'm certainly curious.

Ulm - Enigma of Steel - Had to try it. Their Sacred warriors are fantastic -- relatively cheap in gold and resources and fast-moving, hard-hitting troops that can be mass-produced and sent out to do horrible, horrible things. They aren't stealthy like most of the rest of the nation's units, so they give you an option between going stealth-kill armies or putting together a Bless strategy. Or do both, using them as your vanguard while sneaking around with your troops to bushwhack. Overall, I can see them being VERY popular.

Agartha - Pale Ones - I experimented with them this morning before work. They can recruit Troglodytes and their high hps and trample ability makes them a quick kill squad, particularly in dealing with indies. They have real trouble with archers, however, if you don't have fodder to soak up the arrows. Later game seems to indicate that you can go high on dominion effects that kill supplies because they have so many undead/magic being troops and summons that don't need food.

EDIT: Yomi (I always mix up Shinuyama and Yomi names) - Only experimented with them briefly to see the Oni. Yes, they're great in combat. I love the Poison Spittle sound they get -- not sure if that was in before in DomII, but the roar it gives the Oni rules. And I can see the Dai Oni becoming a SC/Thug of sorts. He's got a LOT of tools to work with, assuming you can keep him from getting Banished. ;-)

Sauromatia - Not sure what to make of them yet. They get Blood Magic but in relatively weak form (only one unit, capital-based, can learn it and he's 300 gold a pop. Not terribly daunting, but seems, imo, to make Blood a supplemental, rather than primary, strategy for this nation. I like their cavalry but I'm still not sure how it all fits together. More my failing/being tired than the game's at this point.

The interface is a big improvement. Little things like letting you know when certain troops can't move, giving you nice animated arrows that show movement in much prettier fashion, coloring the neighbors tabs for provinces in much thicker, yellow (as opposed to the invisible white) lines... There's a lot to enjoy here and being able to see your gems at all times is -huge- in terms of thinking about who you're having cast what on a monthly basis. I really like all of the new sprites. The game just LOOKS better. And I like the new music, although I'd like to be able to hear the Dom2 theme every now and again as none of them are quite as captivating yet as that one was.

I suppose I'll have more of a review later, but overall, I'm really pleased. This did what I wanted out of a Dominions sequel in most respects and I can only imagine how it'll look after a year or two of patching. Some might scoff at that, but Dom II was a much different creature by its end than it was at the beginning, and for the better. I think Dom 3's a complete game as is, mind you; I'm just saying that, given IW's awesome past history of support, I'm already excited to see what's coming down the line (like the Tuatha Early Era Man nation that the manual promises. ;-))

There's no notable loss from Dom 2 that I've seen yet. Everything's either the same or notably better. To me, that's a worthy buy in and of itself.

Re: Review?
 

Thx for the mini review JaydedOne. I wonder when will my copy arrive.
/me impatient http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/frown.gif

Re: Review?
 

No it is shipping, i am playing with my beta version, Jurri already got his copy today http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/happy.gif.

I will get my copy of Dom 3 in a few days hopefully too, i am curious to see the manual http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/happy.gif.

Re: Review?
 

Ah I thought that you got it faster than me. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/image...es/biggrin.gif

Re: Review?
 

No but Jurri did. He is also a european http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/image...es/biggrin.gif

Re: Review?
 

Jurri uses a ctulhoid as an avatar, this we can concluded he used Gateway to get the game. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/happy.gif

Re: Review?
 

I love the Marverni boar warriors... and that I've got Vercingetorix working for me!

Re: Review?
 

Thanks

Re: Review?
 

No review from me, 'cause when I get my copy, you'll all have been playing the game for at least a week - my girlfriend ordered it for me as a birthday present, and my birthday's still two weeks in the future (who'd have thought it would release in October when the announcements said October?)...

Re: Review?
 

http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/happy.gif http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/happy.gif http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/happy.gif

Re: Review?
 

Wello, the game was delayed only.....what, three quarters? http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/image...ies/tongue.gif

Re: Review?
 

Hm! *ROAR* http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/image...es/biggrin.gif

Re: Review?
 

Ok a review from me too, i try to be objective and not too much a fanboy (which i am obviously http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/happy.gif ).

Dom3 is a very good game. It is better than Dom2, and Dom2 is the best turn based strategy game i know. A sequel is not necessarily better then the predecessor, think about e.g. C&C 3 or Warcraft 3 or Civ 3.

A lot of content has been added. The era system works surprisingly well, it adds history to dominions and the eras are fun. And if you want to play cross era you can do this with a simple mod http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/happy.gif.

If i would praise all the things i like in Dom3 and which are better than in Dom2 i could easily write 10+ pages.
I am not doing this, i only list my few issues i have with Dom 3 (they are minor):

- MP balance is not yet as good as it was with CB for Dom2.
It is already much better as Dom2 vanilla.
And this issue will be fixed by the community eventually.

- 4 nations are still missing: Early and late era machaka, late era pythium and early era man.
They will be added with patches.

- Some micromanagement reduction features do not fully work, mainly the auto site search function.
Those issues are likely to be patched.

- Some micromanagement issues are still present, like blood hunting MM nightmare with mictlan.


Those are my main issues i have currently with Dom3. As you can see they are very minor and most of them are likely to be fixed with patches or by the community. For PC games it is normal that version 1.00 is rather buggy (anyone ever played a paradox game in the 1.00 version? Or RTW? Or Civ 4?). Imho Dom3 is there an exeption, 1.00 is already pretty solid.

If you are a hardcore Dom2 fan and played Dom2 extremely much you will when you get Dom3 most likely soon be disimpressed for a short while. But you cannot go back to Dom2 anymore and after a while of playing you will notice how many subtle changes were added that nicely add up and improve the game a lot compared to Dom2, e.g. the new random magic system, the slightly toned down SCs etc. etc..

If you are new to the Dom universe you will be busy for years with exploring Dom3, as Dom2 veteran you will be busy for many months at least.

Dom3 is a worthy sequel and a must buy for turn based strategy game fans.

-

Re: Review?
 

Hm interesting sentence. Why do you think so that hardcore Doms 2. players will be disimpressed?

Re: Review?
 

I think he's jaded from being a beta tester. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/wink.gif

But seriously, the small reworks of the interface and the creation of ages alone makes me very happy. I don't know; I can't put my finger on all the reasons why Dom3 feels so much better, but it just does.

Re: Review?
 

Because as a hardcore Dom2 fan you long for Dom3 and then you will find out that some of those features that you would loved to have seen in Dom3 are not included when you finally get your copy.
And if you loved SCs or battlemage tactics you will be for a short while be probably a bit disappointed that they were nerfed.
Also your favourite nations might be weaker than in Dom2.

If you were an Abysia fan or a Ctis fan e.g. you might cry when you see them the first time in Dom3 http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/image...es/biggrin.gif.
Those 2 nations were hurt through most of the new features like old age and profited least from other changes like the more expensive forts or changed relief etc..

So i think most Dom2 diehard fans will have a short period (1-14 days) where they are disappointed with Dom3, but then they will hopefully come back and begin to like Dom3.
Once you played Dom3 you would have to force yourself to play Dom2, so you cannot go back neither http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/happy.gif.
But i really think that the majority of Dom2 fans will have this brief disappointment phase within the first month after they got Dom3 but 99% of them will soon come back and start to really appreciate Dom3 http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/happy.gif

Re: Review?
 

Ah I see. Oh and no I probably won't cry that my favourite nation was nerfed, because I am an Ermor fanatic! http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/image...es/biggrin.gif
Old age! bleh! My undead hordes won't care about their age. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/image...es/biggrin.gif

Re: Review?
 

Ermor has its own problems, for example that you have to take an awake god (otherwise you cannot summon spectators/dusk elders till your god awakes) or that because gold income was so much increased population is more valuable in Dom3 and thus Ermor will face even more united opposition than in Dom2.

But you also get a 20 death gem income from the sepulchre site whereas other nations in LE get only 4 gems from starting sites http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/happy.gif.

And you have a fun ally with ryleh dreamlands, so you are not alone http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/happy.gif.

Re: Review?
 

LE Agartha also looks like excellent for a person who prefers to use Death Magic as source #1.
Can you confirm this? http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/smile.gif

Re: Review?
 

Personally I think people are going to quit using Shrapnel's site since images were implemented in signatures, especially since some people want to use 100+K images there. ( And yes - I have DSL, but imagine all the people still paying per minute in parts of Europe (or New England). )

Re: Review?
 

LE Argatha is an excellent nation imho.
Not only death magic wise, their mages are i think the most versatile late era battlemage too http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/happy.gif.

You can get quite high death,earth and fire magic on them http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/happy.gif.
On a big map where you buy dozens of them you should eventually luck with the 10% randoms and thus without powerup gear you can reach:
Fire 3, earth 4 and death 4.
Then with booster items you can easily increase this.

So earth and fire kings are an option too. And also the king of banefires http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/happy.gif.

Once research is finished you can do the classical demilich ghostrider-spamming /tartarian factory strat too http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/happy.gif.

Re: Review?
 

Well at least in germany it is your fault if you do not have a flatrate http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/image...es/biggrin.gif.
Most ppl who play dominions are hardcore pc gamers, and this special group there 90+% should have a flatrate http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/happy.gif.

I do not know how common flatrates are in other countries though.

Re: Review?
 

There is the option to turn off signatures completely

Re: Review?
 

Why would all the death nations that were crammed in LE care about Ermor killing off population? O_o

My biggest concern about the game is actually all the Death nations jammed into late era + the two nations that start with a popkilling Dominions and a third one who can go that route. That and the kitbashed late era Marignon and Ulm.

Re: Review?
 

I just 'block images from foo' with my firefox. It's quick, and without the 'carpet bombing' effect of blocking all signatures. Some of them are funny.

Two signature images/servers blocked so far.

Re: Review?
 

Other of them would be mine. Hmm. I wonder if it is too large.

Re: Review?
 

Awesome! http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/smile.gif

Re: Review?
 

> Personally I think people are going to quit using Shrapnel's site since images were implemented in signatures, especially since some people want to use 100+K images there. ( And yes - I have DSL, but imagine all the people still paying per minute in parts of Europe (or New England). )

My brother bursts out laughing everytime he sees it (he has been laughing a lot lately), and I think he would laugh less if it was smaller http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/happy.gif, but you are perhaps right, there might be people who would prefer a smaller sig.

Edit: heck, I can't stop laughing now

Re: Review?
 

Very simple. Go to the top hand right corner of the site and click "my home", then under the main configuration box click the edit button beside display preferences, etc., then go to the very last option that says "Do you want to view other user's signatures with their posts?" and click the no button and then hit the submit.

All done, no more signature pics to worry about.

http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/cool.gif