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Sandman
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Sinister Penguin
Aug 2001
time: 05:27
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I've started playing Dominions 2 again. For about the seventh time.
The nation I'm messing about with just now is Man. Before I'd written them off as a bunch of losers with weak infantry and heavily-restricted mages. But I've started to take a liking to them.
The mages may be capital only, but they are extremely cost-effective, being sacred, but not having any holy magic to add to their cost. With a strong magic scale, Man can research very fast indeed. My current thinking is that Man can quickly move up the conjuration school and grab all the nice nature stuff there - Vine Ogres, Lamias, Lamia Queens, Ivy Kings, etc. And maybe even some of the elemental monarchs. These creatures compensate for Man's limited infantry and mages, and make them a force to be reckoned with.
What's your favourite nation at the moment, and why?
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LDiCesare
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La Ferté sous Jouarre France
Jan 2001
time: 05:27
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That's a very good game imo.
Man I like because of their knights, which are extraordinarily powerful. That and longbowmen. Their infantry has long spears which can hold the enemy at bay while your archers kill them and the knights go around, flank and kill everyone. The mages are a bit expensive in my opinion.
My favorite nation is Pythium. Powerful mages with access to astral and air magic, making them very strong. Very good infantry with the Principes. Serpent cataphracts are nice but expensive. Hydras allow Pythium to use their money in hte late game to build units which are as powerful as many summons.
From reports of other players who play multiplayer, it looks like blood magic is the strongest with the various devils, ice deveils in particular. So nations like Vanheim and Abyssia are probably among the strongest too.
Mictlan is fun too, but you have a hard time needing sacrifices expanding your dominion. And the units are absolute crap. But Mictlan is there for the blood mages.
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solo
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Lowell, MA USA
Jan 2001
time: 05:27
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I have enjoyed playing as Man, too. The stealthy monks are also useful, as well as the cheaper temples. When playing against the AI I like to play Man without using any magic or any research. Doing this frees up a suprising amount of resources for a strong economy and some huge armies. Man can do well by hiring mercenaries early to get a jump on the prime independent territiories.
From games I have played with multiple AI, it appears that the AI haven't a clue as to how to deal with the Ermor, who tend to dominate the others in every game they are in. I tried them once and had an easy time of it, but against human opponents I do not think they would fare very well.
I have played the Arcos a lot, and like using the Golden Age option. Their astrologers are great researchers, and each one starts at astral 2 and is given 3 other randomly picked magical skills. Often they will be given 2 levels of a particular path, making them suitable as specialists in that particular magic. Pretty soon most paths and spells become available. When the magic scale is tilted on all the way, the Arcos make short work of accumulating an advantage that makes up for their relatively weak military units. They also get to build labs at half the usual price, and their preistesses' ability to heal comes in very handy, too.
I have not played enough of the other nations to have a good opinion, but from what I have read on the Dominion forums, the game is so well balanced that you can do well with just about any of them. The most experienced players there seem to place more emphasis on the design of "Super" Pretenders. Along with that is their emphasis on developing a plan to accumulate gems, knowledge and magical skills faster than the other players. Being first to some of the global enhancements and/or unique artifacts can make a big difference.
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General Ludd
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Minion of the Dominion
Aug 2001
time: 05:27
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quote:
Originally posted by Kuciwalker
quote:
How so? Both are games, and if you a judge a game by it's graphics, forum games should be passe. |
Forum games aren't "video games". People who judge such games by their graphics DON'T judge, say, Monopoly by its graphics. |
They do tend to, actually. either 1) you're talking about the board game itself, in which case chances are they don't play board games, or 2) you're talking about a PC conversion, in which case they'll judge it by it's graphics.
But, regardless, a forum game is a game, dominions is a game, and whatever sub-labels you might want to apply to them do not really matter. Graphics by themselves do not make a game, gameplay does.
And anyone who can appretiate a game like Civ2, MOO, Colonization, and all the others classics, aswell as other humble games such as the forum games played here, paradox's games or board/PnP games, should be able to understand that.
If you want to criticize a game, you'll have to do more than "hur hur look at them graphics - it's like 1996 all over!! loL!!!".
Yes. 
Last edited by General Ludd on 06-02-2005 at 09:36
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General Ludd
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Minion of the Dominion
Aug 2001
time: 05:27
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quote:
Originally posted by Jamski
Hey I'm not saying, "LOL crappy graphics LOL!"
More along the lines of, "If I'm going to pay for a game it had better look nicer than something made 10 years ago"
Thinking that way I assumed it was an open source game.
Oh, and looking at the "3D" battle graphics, I can safely say that MoO2 has better graphics 
-Jam |
Hey, since when did anyone around here actually buy games, anyways? 
But anyways, the graphics are dated, but I wouldn't call them bad. They suite the game well and are good enough to create a good atmosphere within it, and convey all the information you need. The thing I like most about them, however, is that they alow for very easy modding while still keeping the graphics within the context of the game.
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solo
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Lowell, MA USA
Jan 2001
time: 05:27
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Yes, those archers are neat! And those knights are chivalrous, too.
As for the graphics, please remember that Sandman only posted a picture of the strategic map. The real eye candy comes when you ZOOM into territories in which there are battles during the current turn.
Then behold the real time battle, as your bolts of lightning zap enemy commanders, and as your wicked spells and noxious potions leave your opponents writhing in agony on the battlefield!
Your greatest triumphs can be replayed as often as you like, too, just in case you missed part of the action.
You can try the demo for free if I have not convinced you that this game gives real value for the money spent.
Back on topic.
While not that experienced yet in the game, a PBEM contest among us Apolytoners would be of interest to me. Each player can pick a nation they like, and we could get started. I guess Sandman could act as GM by collecting moves and resolving each turn as we play.
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solo
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Lowell, MA USA
Jan 2001
time: 05:27
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quote:
Originally posted by Sandman
If anyone wants to play an Apolyon game, just say. I suggest the Urgaia map. I suppose I could GM, not that I'm in any way experienced in such matters. |
I have no GM experience either, but the procedure outlined in the manual seems to be straightforward and simple.
The Urgaia map sounds good to me. One game option I'd like is renaming. I recruit a lot of researchers and like to keep track of them by renaming them according to their differing abilities. The other default options are fine with me. Should we include any AI nations?
I'd like to play as the Arcos. After I set them up, I'll need your email address in order to forward the files you'll need to create and start the game.
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03-02-2005 00:27
@ Jamski.
I'm sure it's an enjoyable game regardless of graphics ... like M&M 2 for example 
Marignon makes a good adversary to Ulm, and a good ally against Ermor.
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