Here is the new thread, let's set this game up !
Game name: Bay12GamesRound408 (http://www.llamaserver.net/gameinfo.cgi?game=Bay12GamesRound408)
Map: Uthar Mabdug (http://www.bay12forums.com/smf/index.php?topic=141429.msg5557548#msg5557548)
Mods: Worthy Heroes v1.23 (http://z7.invisionfree.com/Dom3mods/index.php?showtopic=2358)
Era: Late Era
Disciples: No
Time allowance: 28h
Special site frequency: 45 (default+10)
Random event frequency: Common
Score graphs: no (only by spy/spells)
Hall of Fame: 15
Artifact forging limit : limited
Thrones: 5 points needed out of 9 lvl1 thrones.
Renaming: allowed
Reasearch speed : easy
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List of Players (6 out of 7 available slots) :
TomPliss - (he-)Man
Antur - Agartha
lijacote - Utgård
Mindmaker - Ulm
HopFlash - Arcoscephale
Delta Foxtrot - C'tis
USEC_OFFICER - T'ien Ch'i
__________
Dom3:
1 (http://www.bay12forums.com/smf/index.php?topic=44348.msg849721#msg849721), 2 (http://www.bay12forums.com/smf/index.php?topic=46012.msg908706#msg908706), 3 (http://www.bay12forums.com/smf/index.php?topic=60235.msg1357467#msg1357467), 4 (http://www.bay12forums.com/smf/index.php?topic=63361.0), 5 (http://www.bay12forums.com/smf/index.php?topic=65222.0), 6 (http://www.bay12forums.com/smf/index.php?topic=72919.msg1797235#msg1797235), 7&7.5 (http://www.bay12forums.com/smf/index.php?topic=103575.0), 8 (http://www.bay12forums.com/smf/index.php?topic=112126.0), 9 (http://www.bay12forums.com/smf/index.php?topic=115427.0), 10 (http://www.bay12forums.com/smf/index.php?topic=118516.0), 11 (http://www.bay12forums.com/smf/index.php?topic=120941.0), 12 (http://www.bay12forums.com/smf/index.php?topic=124958.0), 13 (http://www.bay12forums.com/smf/index.php?topic=125655.0), 14 (http://www.bay12forums.com/smf/index.php?topic=125670.0), 15 (http://www.bay12forums.com/smf/index.php?topic=128797.0)
Dom4:
4.01 (http://www.bay12forums.com/smf/index.php?topic=133320.msg4768287), 4.02 (http://www.bay12forums.com/smf/index.php?topic=134792.0), 4.03 (http://www.bay12forums.com/smf/index.php?topic=137585.0), 4.04 (http://www.bay12forums.com/smf/index.php?topic=137631.0), 4.05 (http://www.bay12forums.com/smf/index.php?topic=138108.0), 4.06 (http://www.bay12forums.com/smf/index.php?topic=138950.0), 4.07 (http://www.bay12forums.com/smf/index.php?topic=139129.0)
Dominions 4 is an indy turn-based fantasy war game of epic proportions. Dominions: Priests, Prophets and Pretenders was released in 2002, followed by Dominions II: The Ascension Wars, and Dominions 3: The Awakening in 2006. Gameplay has not fundamentally changed since the first entry, but each new version has noticeably refined the GUI, added greater depth and complexity, markedly improved the game's modability, and generally made the gaming experience significantly better.
The player assumes the role of a pretender god, rising from slumber to take up the recently vacated throne of the Pantokrator (or All-Ruler). This invariably involves climbing there over the dead bodies of other wannabe gods and their countless followers.
The nations of the world each support one of the pretenders as their One and True God that shall no doubt lead them to glory everlasting. They are highly varied and defy the typical fantasy cliches. Instead they had been designed after some of the many myths and fables from the history of mankind. Shambling Atlanteans, undead legions of Ermor, frozen giants of Niefelheim, bloodthirsty demons of Lanka, steelclad armies of Ulm, Sauromatian amazons and their hydras, flying hosts of Caelum - over 60 nations to choose from.
The beings claiming the godly mantle are diverse themselves. Crooked crones and divine giants, sages and mages, liches and vampires, dragons and krakens. Apart from the physical form, the players can design their gods' magical powers, the blessings that they can bestow upon the chosen few, and the qualities that believing in them inspires in the common folk. Would you have your god bring good fortune and bountiful crops to the faithful, but be magically weak? Or would you rather make your god into a killing machine able to take on armies, but inspiring little awe? The pretender design system is excellent, and together with the multitude of nation choices is able to accommodate a wide range of strategies.
The game sports a very robust magic system, with literally hundreds of spells, ranging from in-battle lightning bolts to world altering doom bringers. Only in Dominions can you flaunt your divine destiny by hanging a second sun in the sky, draping the world in perpetual storms, or sending devils to incite enemy soldiers against their commanders.
Every unit in the sometimes hundreds-strong armies has got individual, and evolving stats, including age, battle wounds and experience. They can starve and fall victim to disease. They can be cursed and hunted by trans-dimensional horrors. Lots of things can happen to each individual unit, most of them unpleasant.
From the strategic map, commanders, mages, heroes, priests, magical beasts and pretender gods can be equipped with magical items and sent to do battle in person, assassinate or seduce enemy commanders, spy and instigate unrest, enchant armies in battle or wreak havoc among enemy ranks. Or, they can be kept at home and work on improving magical knowledge, build fortifications, summon magic beings, raise undead, forge items imbued with arcane forces, scour provinces in the search of blood slaves, preach god's glory, patrol provinces for troublemakers, search for magic sites hidden in the wild, and more.
The turns happen simultaneously, so the battles are resolved automatically, according to the preselected orders for troop formations and commanders. Here's a youtube video of a large-ish battle to pique your interest. Courtesy of Lorak.
Should you desire to know more about the game, go and visit the website (http://www.illwinter.com/dom4/index.html) (or go to the publisher's page here (http://www.desura.com/games/dominions-4-thrones-of-ascensions)). You'll notice that the price tag is not pintsized (though it's much lower than Dominions 3 was), but as many of us can attest, the game is well worth it.
- First of all, you need to download any non-standard map and mod we're using (links will be provided if we decide to use one), and put the files into the map and mod folders of your dom4 installation respectively.
- Then go to the options menu and enable the mod.
- Next use the pretender creation tool in the game tools menu to create a pretender and send the file(to be found in your /dominions4/savedgames/newlords; named <your_nation_era_number.2h>, where number is most likely "0" if it's the only pretender you've created so far for this nation.) to "pretenders [at ] llamaserver [dot ] net" with the game name as the subject.
Game name will most likely be "Bay12GamesRound402".
You'll be receiving .trn files from llama server, which you should put into a {dom4dir}/savedgames/{whatevernameyouwant}/
After finishing your moves, a new .2h file will appear in that folder, which you should send to the same address from which you've received your .trn file.
Regarding the rules of conduct:
- No exploits please. Examples of exploits are siegeing a fort infinitely with a string of scouts; sending other players crap items to fill their magic item pool and make them waste gems; anything else you can think of that doesn't feel like it was meant to be a feature. If not sure, ask.
- Trade agreements are sacred. Once you decided to exchange some gems/items/gold, you MUST fulfill your side of the agreement.
- No constrains on diplomacy. You can attack anyone you want, with or without warning. It would be, however, in good taste not to rush another player at the very begining of the game. We're all trying to have a good time playing this.
- Use forum PMs for diplomacy. The in-game messaging system is seriously flawed(unacceptably slow, and parts of messages tend to dissapear)
- If you want to boast/moan about your progress(or lack thereof) in game, feel free to use this thread to post your screenshots, stories and whatnot.
- It's bad etiquette to repeatedly stale/go AI without consulting other players. If you lose interest or ability to play, do try to get in touch with us. Usually a sub can be arranged and it's better than AI/inattentive player.
Useful links:
Dom4 forums on Desura (http://www.desura.com/games/dominions-4-thrones-of-ascensions/forum)
Link to Edi's Dom4 Database (http://www.llamaserver.net/edi/dom4/dom4_db/dom4_db_403.zip)
An archived snapshot of the Dom3 wiki (http://web.archive.org/web/20130118162532/http://dom3.servegame.com/wiki/Main_Page): Yes, it's still relevant, and it hasn't been replaced yet, so... It has loads of useful information, including strategy guides. Keep in mind that while a lot of this information is still very useful and valid, a lot of it is entirely out-of-date.
Llama Server (http://llamaserver.net/): the automatic hosting server for our game.
Llama Server's map and mod browser (http://www.llamaserver.net/createDom4Game.cgi) (Yes, it's not really a browser, but you can browse the maps and mods here)
Text taken from the 4.06 thread, where TomPliss stole it from Delta Foxtrot who stole it from E. Albright who stole it from Akhier the Dragon hearted who stole it from ScriptWolf who stole if from Il Palazzo ( with his say so ), and scantly updated for Dom4 by the latest OP E. Albright.
__________
Ok guys ...
I give you Uthar Mabdug :
(http://i.imgur.com/MNy4mba.jpg)
I've tested it a bit with many nations to checked the start points (I put some no-start), and the rest, and it seems ok.
If somebody wants to check anything about the map, please do :)
If it fits for everybody, we'll just wait for Mindmaker to coem back and start the game :)
Who or what are the gods of these nations, and what are their titles? Well, let me tell you!
Flash - Princess of Arcane Mysteries, She who Makes Clear the Way
Rainbow - the Vessel of Might, Lord of Bricks, the Enemy of Both Sides, Prince of the Harvest
Smiling Chaos - the Most High, God of Order, Opener of the Ways, the Morning Star
Artifical God Guneden - Master of this World, Emperor of the Rock, Patron of Languages
The Moleman - He who Is at the Center, the Watcher of the Gallows, Master of Dark Magics, the Armorer
Supreme Entity - Prince of the Dawn, Father of Gods, Feeder on Impurity, August Master, Patron of the Rich
Witch-King of Utgård - God of Untimely Death, God of Disease, the One Always at the Shoulder
Looks like we have a lot of death in this game. Also humans, yay. My favourite combination.
And is it just me or do Man's titles indicate a luck build? Fiendish.
Some chassis guesses
One of the dom1 arch mages.
I've got nothing. Titles don't indicate a vampire queen and that leaves a lot open. Fountain of Blood? I have no idea.
Nyorai or Celestial General.
Risen Oracle or one of the high D ones. I think a D3 titan would be more economical but he could have gone with a more flavourful route.
Another blank. Probably one of the D ones, but that's still a decent selection of pretenders. If I had to guess I'd say Master Lich.
I guarantee to only use IB in self defense.
Irritable bowels? I just woke up and this is all so confusing.
Also YES! I have the best start! If best start is anything like 402! But I have hoburgs! I know, I know, I don't have vaetti, but I have these little pudgy fools. Now to see if their province will ever amount to anything in terms of resources. Also yay, I have mercenaries!
I'm sort of wishing we had a mod to replace the unit/fort graphics with ASCII, I think that would be really cool. I'm totally feeling this fortress of the Witch-King, by the mountains, by the lake, by the forbidding river and the haunted swamp, by the hoburg town... with DF-style generated names for places. Oh, man. That would be so cool. And independent monsters like the eldritch horrors added into DF recently (by my reckoning anyway). I guess it's time to reinstall DF.
With a flourish, Durand (Durand the Great) signed this latest paper of binding in a series of increasingly dangerous ventures. Sure, he and his crew had been through some rough times, with tribes of vampires, ichtyid invasions, and hill giants besides, but something was seething Uthar Mabdug. A potentiality, a deadly promise, like a carriage teetering on the brink. It was on the lips of every usurping fool on every gilded throne, in the frightful doe-eyes of the ignorant peasantry, in the wind hissing through those dense and dark woods here by Utgård. Damn their hides, but at least it pays.
"Is there something I should know", Durand asked the aging, dangerous lady. Solveig shrugged, and took out a paper. She spat on it, cursed it, and hurled leaves (and other debris) at it, and shook it. Whatever came off, whatever stuck to the surface, she shrugged yet again. "The future shifts."
That night, Durand dreamt of a road of broken glass.
The Throne of the Stars
Spreads dominion (1)
Produces two astral pearls per turn
Boosts astral ritual range by 1 province
The Throne of Winter
Dominion gets cold+1
Produces one water gem per turn
Enables recruitment of Mage of Winter
The Throne of Bones
Spreads dominion (1)
Blessed troops get undying +3
The Throne of Law
Spreads dominion (1)
Dominion gets order +1
The Brass Throne
Spreads dominion (1)
Produces one fire and one earth gem per turn
Brings 50 gold per turn
The Throne of Pestilence
Spreads dominion (1)
Dominion gets death +1
Produces 3 death gems per turn
The Throne of Thorns
Spreads dominion (1)
Blessed troops get poison resistance +10
Produces two nature gems per turn
The Throne of Flames
Spreads dominion (1)
Blessed troops get fire resistance +5
Produces two fire gems per turn
The Lower Throne
Spreads dominion (1)
Produces five blood slaves per turn
Supreme Entity - Prince of the Dawn, Father of Gods, Feeder on Impurity, August Master, Patron of the Rich
The carnivores all actually died between MA and LA because climate change. They can still pop up as indies but they all died/left native C'tis lands.
I'm a denialist. Change is a part of Uthar Mabdug, it has always changed! Anthropogenic utharmabdugian climate change is a hoax! OPEN YOUR EYES, SHEEPLE! Those researchers... well, they're WIZARDS!
I suppose. But it would be cool, even if there are some scenarios where you might want to look at an "accurate" preview / scout report on the map. Of course, naturally, you would also have to change the battlefields.
His men shied away from him, they averted their eyes, seemingly withering under his gaze. What had he done? He had done what was needed. These fools, these hypocritical brothers and sisters of his... had they not done just as well?
The contract was binding. Wise Spring Cove had to be brought under the dominion of the King of Utgård, and if that meant a few eggs had to be broken... well, that's the price of an omelette. That's what they say, right? Those strategists and philosophers, they speak of necessity. The necessity of blood in order to save it later.
How many had he slain by his own hand? One. He had slain one of that pathetic militiaman, one that had been enough to utterly break the enemy. Had he not in fact spared lives? So what if he... no, it's no matter.
The contract was binding. The road of glass is walked, but not by the strategists, not by the philosophers. It is walked by men like him. Soldiers. Warriors. Mercenaries. Blood is inevitable. Blood is binding.
Someone was wrong on the Internet. I had to set them straight.
I hear you have nasty vampires. So that's good.
And we're down to five submitting human players. I'd be interested to hear Antur's thoughts on the game and his performance in it.
At least tell me how your early expansion went? We were pretty far apart so by the time I scouted you out a lot of the indies were taken, all I can tell is that you seemed to have expanded pretty badly. Did your neighbours rush all your borders real quick or did you face some tough/unlucky indie fights early?
What was the gameplan? Based on the pretender I'd assume you were looking to power through the early game with E blessed sacreds and transition to mass national summons in the midgame.
Yeah i failed utterly during expansion. I barely got one province from my capital. I hoped that Prophet and few blessed sacreds with crossbow support would be enough to clear most things. Then amazonian riders (jade riders? Can't rember the exact name, anyway nothing special so i didn't expect any trouble) pulled out some unbelievably lucky charge along with sorceress hitting with something and poof goes the sacred line and my expansion army. That was in one of the first turns so i kinda lost hope for easy going from that moment. Then i wasted two turns on moving my second expansion force back and forth when the provinces i aimed for were taken by other nations. Decided i need to move fast since time will only make the provinces disadvantage greater, got stomped by utgardian bolts of death. At least i got back at them a bit during Agartha defense.
About strategy, pretty much what you said, blindfighters with crossbow support at the start but it turns out it's not enough. Blindfighers offense is painfully bad. I expected to set up some summoning and go on from that.I found W2A2 indie mages for recruitment so i thought maybe Wind Guide + Darkness (+Flaming Arrows maybe from that hero) and massing crossbowmen would be worth it. Never got to test it really but that was probably bad idea since they didn't seem much more accurate during the one fight i used it.(Also betting on getting D random necromancer whyyy i did this to myself). I need to stop shoehorning cool stuff i find into the overall strategy. In hindsight i should have thrown the necromancers into the fray earlier since skellyspam is not that bad when you got a few mages spamming.
That was foreseeable ;)
Another game that teaches me a lot...thank you all for it!
If some outsider is interested in the graphs:
(https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/17094484/Dom4_Bay12_308/EndGraph_Provinces.png)
(https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/17094484/Dom4_Bay12_308/EndGraph_Forts.png)
(https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/17094484/Dom4_Bay12_308/EndGraph_Income.png)
(https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/17094484/Dom4_Bay12_308/EndGraph_GemIncome.png)
(https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/17094484/Dom4_Bay12_308/EndGraph_Research.png)
(https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/17094484/Dom4_Bay12_308/EndGraph_Dominion.png)
(https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/17094484/Dom4_Bay12_308/EndGraph_ArmySize.png)
I did expect to face a lot more resistance when the Eyes of God went up, as I imagined I had the lead on other players and was worried Arco would use that to stir a C'tis vs. The World fight. Didn't you guys think I was that big of a threat or what?
As I said...I saw it without Eyes of God with only my few scouts that you was the biggest and most powerfull guy...therefore I was happy to have that save border with you.
(https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/17094484/Uthar_Mabdug_28.png)
And I talked with my neighbours about you but at this time I don't wanted to be the aggressor because my starting expansion was miserable and I was the smallest one as you mentioned too.
TC was concentrated on Man. Man was afraid that I had my army (with pretender) near his border.
But Utgard was a little suspicious in PMs and dangerous with his shadow-artillery and I thought that he will roll over me after attacking Agartha but then he lost nearly his entirely army and C'tis ask me for war :)
To get some pieces of the cake (I aspected that Utgard has no chance against C'tis) I went for war. But unlucky me Utgard focussed on me what was logical afterwards ;)
My "big plan" was elephant herds but I havn't managed to get enough gold early on because of bad land conquering. My astral-focused pretender was not effective enough either.
I had a Great Enchantress with F1A1W1E2A4D1N1B1.
I wanted to find sites, make research and pump up some nice astral magic.
But most of this was not effective for start expansion and later not powerful enough to make a real impact (only Eyes of God was nice).
Generally I loved the Healer aspect of my Priestess (healing afflications after battles) and that I never had starving troops.
I think the only chance to battle you, C'tis, was that Man, TC and me alliance but both of them never answered my PM at that time (which came relative late perhaps too late...it was after Utgards "defeat") and now as I heared that TC was in something like an alliance with you ... the picture begins to form ;)
It was a "perfect" play of you I think (tactical and diplomacy).
For my part I made "bad" diplomacy and a bad starting tactic to have a real impact on that game...but as usual many things learned for the next game :)