Dom3: Expansion Pack

[Stretch]

I'd love to see an expansion with AI scripting able to be modified. That is, having players able to better define the order of spells that the AI uses, how it places its units, what units it recruits, and when it sends them to attack you, to make single player a little more challenging.

I'm sure someone posted it already, but more intricate scripting for commanders would also be nice.

[hEad]

Originally Posted by Gandalf Parker

Well to me a Dom3 Expansion Pack is:
Streamers and Standards mod
Worthy Heroes mod
Mytheology mod
Magic Site mod
SingleAge mod
and running each map thru the SemiRandom program before playing it.

I understand there is also a mod to add a ton of new spells to the game but I havent tried that yet. There is also a mod that put something like 12 new nations into the extended slots in one move with all conflicts ironed out.

Those are mods that extend the game. Took what was in it and added lots more.

Gandalf Parker
--
To some people, unlimited options seems to them to be zero options.
Without a menu of choices, they are lost.

Exactly right! The game as is stands is with out peer and I can appreciate that at this point of its development it has given all to most of what it has got, but the question is, what possibly extra could be added to the game - either as a metaphoric expansion or an actual sequal?

What more could dominions become? More of the same or could additional concepts or factors to the game with out it becoming something else? As it it, can Dominions 3 be topped? Can the strategy (again not emphasising UI or other improvements expected of a new engine)

For those who know, what was Dom 1 like and how has it changed over the series? I would have loved to player earlier versions to see how far it has travelled.

[Fakeymcfake]

Well I'd assume that Dominions originally spawned from Conquest of Elysium II, which you can get for free now. It's quite similar to Dominions in what you're expected to achieve, and I think I even saw some of the same sprites still being used. Worth playing at least once just for kicks.

[Illuminated One]

Well, what I would change:

Expand the scripting posibilities but at least add a keep casting that specific spell (at that kind of target). The 5 slots are easily filled by buffs, which doesn't allow effective spell combinations with spells the AI doesn't use correctly.

Research is generated by labs (but must still be paid for on a point for point basis, but the number of labs determines the max possible). Different nations get different research per lab/gold ratio, drain affects it on a percent base. Mages are only recruited for combat/rituals/forging and can be disbanded.

Labs get a limited amount slots in that gem/research producing items must be placed in to work. Initial Number of slots is depending on nation or god and can be expanded a couple of times for an increasingly larger price.

A player gets more control over random paths depending on how "institutionalized" magic is for the nation/mage.

[vfb]

Originally Posted by Zeldor

I'd call it rather low budget You'd have to spend at least $5-10 million for proper 3d graphics engine.

Or $0 for id Tech 3. Even runs on linux! Perfect for the Dom 4 (Pretenders Gone Wild) FPS.

[Sombre]

Being able to modify AI and spell AI (banning certain spells, changing their weighting etc) is basically all I'd want from Illwinter and of course I'd pay for it.

But I don't think they need to do anything to expand it. It's a great game I'll still be playing in 10 years time.

[MaxWilson]

Originally Posted by Sombre

But I don't think they need to do anything to expand it. It's a great game I'll still be playing in 10 years time.

Here's a high compliment for Dom3: since installing Dom3 on my computer, I don't think I've played a single game of Master of Magic to completion. No other game has ever been able to claim that distinction for so long[1]. It's a testament to the richness of Dom3.

-Max

[1] I reserve the right to play more MoM in the future of course, but Dom3 still holds the duration record.

[Poopsi]

I'd likely be playing master of magic still if I managed to run it reliably. But dosBox aint reliable. Starts lagging bad after a while.

As for simmilar games, I think that Dom3 might be the closest to the experience.

(strictly speaking, Age of Wonder Shadow Magic is almost a carbon copy of MoM with better graphics, but Dom3 is better in some regards, as well as less resource intensive. When turns start taking long in Dominions I simply alt tab and do something else. Heck, it´s resource-light enough to run two games at the same time and alternate)

[chrispedersen]

Originally Posted by MaxWilson

Here's a high compliment for Dom3: since installing Dom3 on my computer, I don't think I've played a single game of Master of Magic to completion. No other game has ever been able to claim that distinction for so long[1]. It's a testament to the richness of Dom3.

-Max

[1] I reserve the right to play more MoM in the future of course, but Dom3 still holds the duration record.

I still prefer MoM - but Dominions has real people! So I haven't played MoM in years - the graphics are dated. But it still holds near and dear to my heart...

[Poopsi]

I still prefer MoM - but Dominions has real people! So I haven't played MoM in years - the graphics are dated. But it still holds near and dear to my heart...

Strictly speaking, the graphics of Dominions 3 are not top notch either (though certainly more carefully crafted than the graphics in MoM). What I like of these games is the sheer ammount of things you can do.

One more thing: I sorely miss the spell Chaos Channels. In fact, more unit modding spells in general would be nice