Collaborative Multiplayer, Humans Vs. AIs

[NOZIGAN]

Dear All,

I am new to this forum and apologize if my questions have already been answered previously.

We would like with a group of friends to start a MP game with 2/3 humans playing collaboratively vs several AI and would appreciate any advice on the best maps for this type of game (we are considering 300+ provinces at least) as well as the most adapted mods.

Also is there a list of previous threads which could walk us around setting the MP game, and answering the usual MP beginners questions?

Finally is there a way to allow an allied nation to enter a friendly province without triggering a batttle?

We really appreciate any suggestion regarding the matter and look forward for any idea from this great community.

[Lazy_Perfectionist]

300 provinces at least? Sounds a little high, but you are playing as a team.

For fun, worthy heroes makes an interesting mod. There's also an epic heroes mod you might consider, though it's not popular with competitive, non-team games.

I suggest looking into modifying one of the pre=designed maps (documentation available in dominions directory, and on CD) so that your three nations start fairly close together, rather than on opposite sides of the map.

Not precisely a way to set another nation as allied, but their are a couple of workarounds to minimize battles.
1). Sailing nations (LA Atlantis)
2). Flying nations (Caelum)
3). Stealthy nations and light patrols/pd (Shinuyama)
4). Use castles/forts as doors. If the local forces are set to defend the castle, (not patrol), then they will not engage an invading force. While they're there, they'll have partial control of the territory, but they won't fight you. They will engage any PD. When the 'friendlies' move out, territory will revert to the defenders' nation.

[thejeff]

There are map commands that let you set AI nations as allies. Which really only means they won't attack each other. Gandalf is the expert on maps.

The game doesn't really have much support for allies. No moving through another nations territory, no joint attacks.

[Zylithan]

Nozigan -

I played one of the maps that comes with the patch 3.08 Dawn of Dominions I think, with a buddy. We just agreed not to attack eachother. You can't move through provinces, but you could trade them back and forth if you don't have PD. Or you can just have a limited offense, but have the safety of knowing your ally has your back/side covered.

In a couple weeks I will release a map meant for team of humans to coop vs AIs.. I'll let you know, or look around the maps forum then.

[NTJedi]

For a collaborative Multiplayer game where humans verse AIs I recommend the following to provide the greatest game value:

1) Use map edit commands so all the AI opponents have a growth_3 scale. This helps prevent them from starving their own troops. Also have the AI opponents as allied.

2) Use map edit commands where one AI opponent is placed in a corner far away from the human opponents. Also give this AI opponent extra provinces and equipped SCs to guarantee a final challenge at the end.

3) Use map edit commands to place victory points on the map otherwise the game will last way too long. Probably have the capital of a strong AI with 5 or more victory points.

4) Ban specific spells such as 'send horror', 'ghost riders', 'flames from the sky' and 'wish' since the AI opponents also don't use these spells. These spells can also quickly crush AI opponents.

[Gandalf Parker]

Stealth nations make good allies because they can usually move thru your area.

Or high level spells of transportation

Other than that there is the trick of building a castle and putting no PD in that province. That allows an allied army to move thru that province without fighting you

[NOZIGAN]

Thanks to all, we will try your suggestions and post our feedback

[Edratman]

I am assuming that you and your friends are relatively new players.

On a 300+ province map, I would recommend you set up victory points as the victory condition. I would use 8 to 10 victory points to win, and set up the victory points as follows: 1 victory point per capital, and approximately 15 one point victory point provinces. Maybe set up 1 to 3 two victory point provinces, but no more than that. (Actually adjust the winning Victory point requirement against the number of AI opponents in the game and the number of victory point provinces. If you group consists of 3 players, the winner should have to get 1/3 of available victory points.)

This will minimize that chances that one of your group will get bored with the micromanagement and time commitment that accompanies owning 40+ provinces and want to quit before standard victory conditions are met.

[Sombre]

On the other hand, the AI has no idea how to play using victory points, so it won't defend them any more than any random province. Unless it has forts there, in which case it will (potentially suicidally) throw surrounding troops at any sieging force.