.com.unity Forums
  The Official e-Store of Shrapnel Games

This Month's Specials

Raging Tiger- Save $9.00
winSPMBT: Main Battle Tank- Save $6.00

   







Go Back   .com.unity Forums > Illwinter Game Design > Dominions 3: The Awakening

Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
  #1  
Old March 23rd, 2006, 01:39 PM

ioticus ioticus is offline
Second Lieutenant
 
Join Date: Feb 2004
Posts: 529
Thanks: 0
Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts
ioticus is on a distinguished road
Default \"Transparent mechanics\"

The ad copy for Dominions 3 released today mentions "transparent mechanics decreases the learning curve." This means one of 2 things, neither of which I'm thrilled about:

1) The numbers used to calculate attacks, damage, spell effects, etc., are not readily accessible in the game interface, and therefore it becomes harder to assess your strategy and make intelligent decisions. Therefore, you must play more intuitively, as the various factors you need to consider become hidden from view. Hopefully, all the numbers and equations will be in the manual, so you can still find the info you need, you just need to dig a little more to find it.

2) This is the worst case scenario, in my view. The hard game data and equations are neither accessible in game, nor are they explained in the manual. Thus, as in many strategy games nowadays, the player has no clue about game mechanics (how chances to hit and damage are determined, magic resistance, etc.), and merely plays by "the seat of his pants," entirely on intuition. The classic board game feel of series becomes lost in this case. Although many players may like this approach (because they are scared of numbers and equations), it would personally make me very sad
Reply With Quote
  #2  
Old March 23rd, 2006, 02:24 PM
Ed Kolis's Avatar

Ed Kolis Ed Kolis is offline
General
 
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: Cincinnati, Ohio, USA
Posts: 4,547
Thanks: 1
Thanked 7 Times in 5 Posts
Ed Kolis is on a distinguished road
Default Re: \"Transparent mechanics\"

Um, doesn't "transparent" mean you *can* see the numbers? As opposed to Dom2 with its mysterious "2d6+" rolls?
__________________
The Ed draws near! What dost thou deaux?
Reply With Quote
  #3  
Old March 23rd, 2006, 02:27 PM

ioticus ioticus is offline
Second Lieutenant
 
Join Date: Feb 2004
Posts: 529
Thanks: 0
Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts
ioticus is on a distinguished road
Default Re: \"Transparent mechanics\"

Quote:
Ed Kolis said:
Um, doesn't "transparent" mean you *can* see the numbers? As opposed to Dom2 with its mysterious "2d6+" rolls?
Maybe, I hope you're right, but I don't see anything mysterious about the 2d6 rolls.
Reply With Quote
  #4  
Old March 23rd, 2006, 02:28 PM
Nerfix's Avatar

Nerfix Nerfix is offline
Lieutenant General
 
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: Hyvink��, Finland
Posts: 2,703
Thanks: 0
Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post
Nerfix is on a distinguished road
Default Re: \"Transparent mechanics\"

Quote:
ioticus said:
Quote:
Ed Kolis said:
Um, doesn't "transparent" mean you *can* see the numbers? As opposed to Dom2 with its mysterious "2d6+" rolls?
Maybe, I hope you're right, but I don't see anything mysterious about the 2d6 rolls.
I saw for ages. I bet many noobs will see.
__________________

"Boobs are OK. Just not for Nerfix [img]/threads/images/Graemlins/Smile.gif[/img] ."
- Kristoffer O.
Reply With Quote
  #5  
Old March 23rd, 2006, 02:38 PM
JaydedOne's Avatar

JaydedOne JaydedOne is offline
Second Lieutenant
 
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: Atlanta, GA
Posts: 488
Thanks: 0
Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts
JaydedOne is on a distinguished road
Default Re: \"Transparent mechanics\"

When I read "transparent" along with the other mention of "pop-ups", my sense was that there'd be more information available to the user regarding what's going on behind the curtain, not less. Dom 2 got a lot of heat for seeming arcane and unapproachable to non-grognards -- I think the idea is that sharing more information, not less, is a way of making the game more understandable to people who don't want to have to pick through the forums for days to know why certain things are happening in game.

Just a hunch.
Reply With Quote
  #6  
Old March 23rd, 2006, 03:32 PM
Kristoffer O's Avatar

Kristoffer O Kristoffer O is offline
General
 
Join Date: Aug 2003
Location: Sweden
Posts: 4,463
Thanks: 25
Thanked 92 Times in 43 Posts
Kristoffer O is on a distinguished road
Default Re: \"Transparent mechanics\"

Correct
__________________
www.illwinter.com
Reply With Quote
Reply

Bookmarks

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is On

Forum Jump


All times are GMT -4. The time now is 12:32 AM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.1
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.
Copyright ©1999 - 2024, Shrapnel Games, Inc. - All Rights Reserved.