Sell me without saying "more"

jaif · #1 July 2nd, 2007, 06:48 PM

Hey all, I've been reading a bit about Dominions III and comparing to Dominions II, and I am on the fence.

Can someone give me a reason to buy this game without using "more"? What I mean by that is that things like "more spells, more units, more nations" is not a big selling point to me. Has the game been tweaked in other ways?

One bonus question - does either dominions or dominions 2 come with a "no underwater" option? I know I can choose not to include underwater races, but I want to turn off all underwater activities. Is this possible?

-Jeff

Sandman · #2 July 2nd, 2007, 07:02 PM

Unfortunately no. I too would be interested in a 'dead oceans' version of the game.

Gandalf Parker · #3 July 2nd, 2007, 07:05 PM

Actually you can by using the "hosting switches". You can create an icon on your desk that creates a game of whatever parameters you want so that you arent putting the same ones in over and over. You can also get a really simple mod that would take the water nations out of the game. Or it can be part of the map commands for a certain map. Or you can generate playing maps that have no water (I think, I havent actually tried that). Maybe later I will post something specific on one of those if someone else doesnt do it first.

Gandalf Parker · #4 July 2nd, 2007, 07:12 PM

As to the original question:
If you are looking for a very DIFFERENT game than Dom2 but just called Dominions then Dom3 isnt going to do it for you.

But it does have a much improved interface which has saved many of the complaints we had from Dom2.

Also a fantastic manual (almost 300 pages) which took care of many of the other complaints.

The AI was extensively rewritten which provides an opponent far later into the game. This was very needed since the many added nations means that the initial learning time is much longer before you choose the nation you feel is your best bet for multiplayer play.

The built-in random map generator is a big addition. It makes very playable maps of up to huge sizes.

The game now allows you to have multiple created gods for each nation. Also a major complaint in Dom2.

The hosting options have pretty much filled our needs for enough servers I think.

jaif · #5 July 2nd, 2007, 07:17 PM

Gandalf,

Thanks much for your response. A random map generator and an improved interface would make me very, very happy. I think I may look into this.

Note that with the bonus question, I don't want to simply leave underwater races out. I want to remove everything to do with water breathing, water npcs, and so on. The water should be dead, as the other poster said. I want sailing ships to be the height of water usage.

-Jeff

Gandalf Parker · #6 July 2nd, 2007, 07:59 PM

Well I think that generating a map with no water would be the best bet.
Anything else would be "impossible". *see sig

Gandalf Parker
--
The word "impossible" is a technical term which means
"it can be done but its probably more time and effort than its worth".

lch · #7 July 2nd, 2007, 08:21 PM

As in, you could mod away all (low) amphibian attributes from units, make all water based spells and items that have to do with it inaccessible. But that's quite a bit of work.

Oh, and Dom3 has more of everything. More more more more more.

Shovah32 · #8 July 2nd, 2007, 09:59 PM

Pretty much what gandalf said(including his signature). You would basically have to mod out all water npcs/amphibious summons/water breathing items/underwater spells ect.

Tuidjy · #9 July 2nd, 2007, 10:13 PM

Why bother? Make a script that changes all water provinces on a map to impassable,
and fixes the neighbors. Instant dead oceans.

It will slightly decrease the desirability of sailing nations, but "dead oceans"
already does this to land nations that have a relatively easy time underwater.

Xietor · #10 July 2nd, 2007, 10:47 PM

Just make a map with little water, and then edit it(simple to do) to make all the water provinces "no start."

Dominions III is much better than Dom II, for many of the reasons stated.

I am ambivalent about the 3 ages, and downright hostile towards units, even heroes, starting with old age. The old age concept i do like, just not having units that start with extreme old age.

But there are many races with no old age issues, and even a mod that greatly reduces mages starting old. So that alone is not a reason not to buy dom III.

There are some really fun mods that you need dom III to play. And they can really enhance game play. Worthy Heroes Mod is a favorite of many, and there are many others as well.

I have talked 4 of my friends into buying Dom III, and 3 have liked it, and one has been too busy to play it yet.