Could someone help a clueless newbie?

[FallenBishop]

I just got this game a few days ago, and I absolutely love it. It has to be one of the most varied strategy games I have ever played. The problem is I'm in the dark about some of the most basic features.

I'm currently in my second game of any real length(the first one as R'yleh ended with every priest and wizard I made going crazy or getting killed by vastnesses or horrors in the void gate) as the Mictlan, with a turmoil and luck heavy dominion for lots of good random events. Well, one of the events I keep getting is fanatics joining the cause While I appreciate the help I'd rather it come from something other than worthless militia that are just sucking up gold and supply and whose morale sucks bad enough that even sending them off to die doesn't work since they break at the first sign of combat. Is there a disband command? I can't find it anywhere in the instruction manual keyboard shortcuts.

Also, since I'm relying heavily on blood and death magic should I be worrying about potentially summoning things that are going to fight me instead of the enemy, like with R'yleh? I'm not far enough into the late level spells to worry yet I think, but it is something I'd like to avoid getting burned on again. Though the possibility of being able to use a horror that was able to tear my pretender to shreds sure seems nice.

Anyway, these are my most pressing questions for now. Thanks for any help you can give!

[Saber Cherry]

Funny, I thought those were in the FAQ, but no. So...

Void summoning is very different from the rest of the game. Only the Ryleh Priest-types (and a national hero) can do it effectively, but they still have a 5% (IIRC) chance of insanity each turn, or each summon, or something. And any astral mage - sacred or not - may get attacked, so set the immobile summons to guard him.

Normal summons never attack their creator unless specifically mentioned, as with Ashen Angels or Horrors - so spill all the blood you want.

There is no "Disband" command, but units are easy to kill in Dominions... =) I always like free militia events IFF I have a commander with enough leadership nearby to cart them to the front, or if I am playing some sort of mod that makes them cheaper (lower maintenance) while also giving them fun and clever descriptions. Can't think of any off the top of my head, though.

Edit: Wait a second, here 's one!

[Saber Cherry]

Hmmm, forgot to mention, when you try to kill militia, be sure to put them in the very front and the rest of your troops in the very back. "Fanaticism" cast by a 4-holy priest can also keep cowardly units in combat longer. And you can also use them to patrol a province, which keeps down unrest (and kills population). Patrolling is usually vital when doing intensive blood-hunting.

[Arralen]

Some additional remarks:

- IIRC the national hero has a reduced risk of getting insane

- there are ways to cure insanity, which is an affliction like any other

- neither R'lyeh nor Mictlan make very good newbie nations, really. Too many "peculiarities" ..

[FallenBishop]

Thanks for all the help, both of you. Just a few clairifications:

Arralen said:
Some additional remarks:

- IIRC the national hero has a reduced risk of getting insane

Do all of them? My Stargazer was doing a really good job before a vastness ate him up, he was up to 7 or 8 summoning I think, but the aboleth went nuts after his second try. I didn't think of using the Traitor, and he was campaigning all the time anyway.

- neither R'lyeh nor Mictlan make very good newbie nations, really. Too many "peculiarities" ..

I'm beginning to notice. What would be a good starter, preferably with a wide magic range to choose from?

[PrinzMegaherz]

Abysia is the way to go. Hard hitting troops, lots of magic points , Fire Magic with lots of fire resistant troops... I think Abysia is the most easy Nation to start with

[Vicious Love]

FallenBishop said:

Do all of them?

Nope. Only the Stargazer. Take care of him, and he'll get much, much more than summoning skill 8. The simplest way of doing so is giving him a few astral pearls and scripting him to cast Returning. I'm not sure whether or not this is considered cheap; if you're reluctant to use this sort of tactic, feel free to give him a bunch of gems, protective items, and a few Greater Otherness bodyguards, instead. He's worth it.

I'm beginning to notice. What would be a good starter, preferably with a wide magic range to choose from?

Arcoscephale, Jotunheim(particularly Niefelheim), Pythium, Broken Empire Ermor and, in single-player only, T'ien Ch'i. There are other nations and themes that are more accessible than R'lyeh and can tap various schools of magic, but most of them work best with specialized strategies.

[Daynarr]

Do all of them? My Stargazer was doing a really good job before a vastness ate him up, he was up to 7 or 8 summoning I think, but the aboleth went nuts after his second try. I didn't think of using the Traitor, and he was campaigning all the time anyway.

There is only ONE unique hero that has 2% chance of getting insane per summoning. I think he's called Cthugul. Starspawn priests have 5% chance of insanity and any other astral mage including pretender has 75% chance of getting insanity per summoning.
Heroes are not like standard commanders. They can't be bought and they are nation specific (each nation has different one). Each turn there is a chance based on your luck scale that a hero will appear in your home castle and join your forces. You will get a message about that event. Every hero is unique so you can't have more then one of the same hero and if he dies hes gone for good. Only exception are Man knight heroes (there is 12 of them IIRC).

The luck scale plays crucial part in hero appearance. If your scale is neutral you have 3% chance each turn that a hero will appear. Each scale in luck adds 1% chance to it, so luck 3 means you have 6% chance that a hero will appear. If your scale is misfortune 3 then you will NEVER get any heroes in that game.

I'm beginning to notice. What would be a good starter, preferably with a wide magic range to choose from?

Ulm is probably the best 'newbie' nation - not very magic oriented but easiest to learn game with. You can try Arcoscephale or Machaka if you like magic with strong troops. Use elephants carefully though since they rout easily (even more then militia) and when they do they trample any troops on their way including your own.

[Endoperez]

Arralen said:
- there are ways to cure insanity, which is an affliction like any other

It's feeblemindedness. I'm not so sure about insanity...

[Daynarr]

Endoperez said:

It's feeblemindedness. I'm not so sure about insanity...

There are moments when I feel the need for that cure.