Why Dominions 3 isn't just another computer game.

[Jazzepi]

lulz.

I've just discovered something I'd like to share with all of you.

Lately, we've had a few posts complaining about other players complaining about the game. *****, *****, *****, go whine to your mommies, says I. These people are clearly brainless dolts. I've never seen more hypocritical trolls in my entire life. The forums are brought down by the presence of these unnamed people, whomever they might be.

Jazzepi

[Monkeyfinger]

That analogy doesn't hold because unlike trolling, complaining serves a purpose for the community and staff and you know it. It's a good thing to bring up problems with the forums and the MP servers, so if you respond to that kind of thing with "*****, *****, *****, go whine to your mommies, says I." expect to be personally attacked because you deserve it.

[Jazzepi]

sum1lost said:
I do have some trouble seeing how that entitles you to pee in my formerly delicious cheerios.

Surely you jest. Clearly you mean, "now extra delicious, and fortified with all the vitamins, minerals, and other antioxidants that pee provides."

Jazzepi

[sum1lost]

Jazzepi said:

Surely you jest. Clearly you mean, "now extra delicious, and fortified with all the vitamins, minerals, and other antioxidants that pee provides."

Jazzepi

On a more serious note, antioxidants? I know that pee can be incredibly vitamin and mineral rich, American pee in particular, but I'm not as sure about the antioxidants.

Maybe those will be in an upcoming patch.

[HoneyBadger]

I'll agree with Jazzepi that the interface is clunky.
I'll add that the lack of a strong AI-and moreso, the lack of a programmable AI-is a big downside for me. Even the combat AI isn't that strong.
I know it's not a big deal, and that I can play my own music, but I really wish it were a stronger aspect of the game, since the little we have with the game is tantalizing.
Staring at a more or less blank screen, reading the same 3 or 4 tips each turn, just plain sucks. Again, I know I could go do something else, but I'd rather have something game-related and interesting to look at.
The nations that come with the game, while multitudinous, still downplay the same parts of the world that are typically ignored or downplayed in other games, namely North and South America, Russia, India, Asia, Australia, Oceania, and Africa. Where these areas have nations, they are usually very typical, being based on China, Japan, and a generic African tribe. It's very Sweden-centric, if that can be a word. Being an American, I ofcourse understand the desire, but it's still something I find faulty. The only one that really stands out as different is the one based on India, and that draws heavily from Kipling, who was English.
Forgeable items really should be Age specific. That just makes sense.
There's no graphical reason (although I can understand processing requirements) why units couldn't and shouldn't have more than 2 images. Even if it's optional.
Some of the ways stats are handled seems arbitrary and needlessly generic. Hitpoints, for instance-it would make more sense to me if they were linked to size. Size itself, being of such importance that it has various game mechanics built around it, seems very limited at from 1-6. If hitpoints only went from 1-6, you can probably see how limiting that would be.
Another thing that irks me a bit is how certain aspects of the game are very independent from standard fantasy tropes, while others seem quite generic-eg. we don't have even Tolkien equivalent elves (which are more original than the average fantasy elf), but we do have D&D equivalent dragons (which are-if anything-less original than average).

Now, all of these things I've already addressed, at length, in other posts. Sometimes more than once. So no, I don't think Dominions 3 is perfect. I do think it's a fantastic game, that easily lends itself to being a hobby-and a very inexpensive one, which was the point of the thread.

[Gandalf Parker]

Actually complaining is not always automatically good for things.
In fact, its been shown numerous times that in this case it is quite non-beneficial. It does not serve the desired purpose with the staff of Shrapnel, tends to have quite the opposite effect on the game developers, and as far as the benefits to the community... well as far as I can see the only benefit was the consolidation of the opposition. Feel free to read back thru years of posts in the Dom3 forum and the Dom2 forum to see what I mean.
Compare the tone of the threads with the results.

[HoneyBadger]

Pee also has powerful antibiotic properties, and can protect you from the vicious sting of the jellyfish.

[Monkeyfinger]

Gandalf Parker said:Actually complaining is not always automatically good for things.

Obviously. But if the problem being complained about is legit - and the ones mentioned at the start of this topic sound like they are...

Gandalf Parker said:It does not serve the desired purpose with the staff of Shrapnel

It should if something of theirs isn't working properly, they need to know about it.

Gandalf Parker said:tends to have quite the opposite effect on the game developers

"Opposite"? what are you saying, that when people suggest something that needs to be fixed or changed the developers do the exact opposite of what they said out of spite or something?

[sum1lost]

Monkeyfinger said:

It should if something of theirs isn't working properly, they need to know about it.

"Opposite"? what are you saying, that when people suggest something that needs to be fixed or changed the developers do the exact opposite of what they said out of spite or something?

There was a moderately amusing incident where some board members got upset and vocal about the "I want my dominions 3" advertisements. The response was to create some new ones featureing surfer dudes instead of random female models.

[HoneyBadger]

Besides, Sum1lost, if you choose to put your cheerios in a urinal, how can you complain when they end up in the path of pee?