Gandalf's Crazy Solo Games

[Jack_Trowell]

another version : the script now add to the province description (in the output map file) that the map has been edited by it, with the date and time.

This should help for those that wish to use the script several times on the same map

[Caduceus]

Tried the map from Gandalf and it brought my computer (AMD 3700+) to a screaming halt. I'll try it again tonight if I have time...

[Gandalf Parker]

If the MegaMap crashes then try the Dom2 "Poke in the Eye" scenario. It does the same things but with a smaller map it doesnt have quite the replayability. However since I regenerate PokeEye every day that helps.

[thejeff]

How long does it take to finish these games?
How long before you actually have contact with other nations?

And how long to play a turn by the time you've beaten one or two nations?

I'd never make it. I can barely finish games with 3-4 AI nations before starting to dread trudging through another turn. How do you deal with the scale of the late game?

[NTJedi]

thejeff said:
And how long to play a turn by the time you've beaten one or two nations?

I'd never make it. I can barely finish games with 3-4 AI nations before starting to dread trudging through another turn. How do you deal with the scale of the late game?

It's easy... setup the victory condition as victory points. It prevents the SP or MP gamer from having to conquer the entire map. It also adds a new flavor to the game because if some AI or human starts getting close to winning it changes who you have to focus on being your enemy.
I recommend making each capital a victory point then add several 1pt, 2pt and 3pt VP provinces... set the winning amount as 35% of all VPs. The larger the map means adding more 2pt and 3pt provinces. If the game becomes to easy then add more AI opponents or edit the .map file and setup the AI opponents as allies.

[thejeff]

I get victory points. But we're talking 1500 provinces here. Even with 35%, you're going to be a huge empire before winning.

I'm just curious how bad it gets in these huge games and how Gandalf handles it.

[Gandalf Parker]

To everyone:
Keep in mind that these are NOT the types of games for the strategy MP player but more for the Solo RPG player. At least thats why I enjoy it. I like playing my pretender thru a long game. I get really into BEING that god and getting pissed at the other gods for what they do. I dont want to play just until the winning strategy is picked and then the game is over without being played out completely. I like playing in a whole world.
I consider heavy management to be part of the headache of trying to rule the world

thejeff said:
How long does it take to finish these games?

I dont know yet
Even with the fact that I started with Dom3 a year ago. Im one of the beta testers. And I have definetly played more maximum games than anyone else. I kindof think that was one of the reasons that I was in beta, to test the insane limits of everything in the game. Max map sizes, max nations. I found the limits and some were changed on number of nations, units in the game, armies, network streaming, etc.

But I have proven that if you WANT to play Dominions as if it was an RPG world then you can.

How long before you actually have contact with other nations?

I think I was 30 turns into my latest game before I reached another nation.

And how long to play a turn by the time you've beaten one or two nations?

I dont know yet. I didnt bother keeping track of such things in my other big games. In this one Im still trying to take out my first enemy but I have beaten the god and taken most of their forts. It also helped that I pushed them into war with two of the AIs at the same time.

I'd never make it. I can barely finish games with 3-4 AI nations before starting to dread trudging through another turn. How do you deal with the scale of the late game?

It depends on what you like or dont like. As a stay-at-home dad (retired and caring for a handicapped child) this works well for me. I can spend almost an hour doing a turn, then when I hit host it takes far too long for me to sit and wait so Im forced to get up and take care of a chore. While Im doing a chore I can think about what I will do for my next turn.

Its not like an MP game where forgetting any little thing on each turn can be the end of you. Im kinda sloppy in how I play but hey, Im a god, I can be sloppy if I want. Every once in awhile I have to do "cleanup". Run thru the F1 screen to set PD on provinces I missed, or to view the magic sites that my monthly searching mages discovered, or check for useful indepts that I should be making.

[NTJedi]

thejeff said:
I get victory points. But we're talking 1500 provinces here. Even with 35%, you're going to be a huge empire before winning.

I'm just curious how bad it gets in these huge games and how Gandalf handles it.

I recall reading Gandalf doesn't finish his SP games when playing 1000 or more provinces. I see he already responded...
I always finish my SP and MP games to the bitter end whether I'm winning or losing. In the scenario where 35% of VPs are needed on maps of 1400 provinces... the time to win actually becomes a matter of research and gem income. Once you have enough gems to create powerful armies all you need is the research to teleport them to the correct VP provinces.
The only downside is the AI needs to be improved to recognize provinces with VPs.

[Jack_Trowell]

Caduceus said:
Tried the map from Gandalf and it brought my computer (AMD 3700+) to a screaming halt. I'll try it again tonight if I have time...

If you like the concept, but prefer to use a smaller map, you can use my perl script with any normal map.

I used it yesterday on a tower map with "only" 150 provinces (but with higher percentage of random goodies)

[Gandalf Parker]

If you generate a map for solo play I recommend turning the mountains to 50 or higher. It creates many "chokepoint" positions on the map which control the access to small areas. Allowing for lots of "cut them off at the pass" tactics. At setting shigher than 50 you can get a maze.