In Progress Decline 20: Dominions 5: Defenders of the Faith

[KoolNoodles]

see

How many times have you already watched it ?

Too many, friend, too many....

 

[Matalarata]

I hopw you didn't roewur your ne over it.

Dominions hits hard on your SAN, sometimes...

 

[sqeecoo]

Honestly, Dominions makes for an incredibly tedious and boring multiplayer game. The interface is horrendous and the game doesn't lend itself well to long gaps between turns. I'll keep submitting turns here and in decline 21 so as not to spoil anything, although feel free to AI me or whatever if you lot prefer it. Single player is a lot better.

I can definitely see where you are coming from, but the depth of strategy really only shines in MP. It'd be better if you could chat with an experienced player about your moves in the game, you only really realize how fucking intricate every decision is when you see it from a veteran's perspective. I could offer my services in D21 now that I'm out (though I'm hardly experienced), or I can definitely recommend a disciple game with a veteran as a team leader. Those were very eye-opening for me, especially the forum vs. forum game where the Codex team was led by Johannes. Jesus, it was like the guy wasn't even playing the same game as us.

Anyway, the time between the turns, if I'm into the game, is spent in sudden realizations of things I could optimize in game, and then running to the PC to do it only to forget what it was I wanted to do. Seriously, the depth of any decision, even minor ones like where to send your scouts, is completely insane, and you can never have enough time. But yeah, it's kinda hard to get into, especially alone.

Koolnoodles, that video is beautiful.

 

[Matalarata]

We could maybe organize a fast disciple blitz... With a couple experienced players like sqeecoo, Dayyālu or KoolNoodles as leaders and me and other newbs as disciples. Something we could play in an evening or three tops, since I'm starved for some free time. With enough planning I could manage, but only if everyone agrees to play as fast as possible and no one drags it too much.

 

[sqeecoo]

I'm definitely up for the idea! Though I wouldn't say I'm experienced. Perhaps the discord chat would be a good place to set up stuff like that?

 

[Agesilaus]

Nah, I don't think a blitz game would work well, either. My objections extend to the cumbersome manner in which multiplayer works: receive a turn by email, download the turn and place it into a folder, play the turn, copy the new turn file and send it back in an email, rinse and repeat using some sort of random webpage that coordinates everything. As for diplomacy, it can't be done in game effectively because there's this odd system where you don't store old chat messages, so it all has to be done somewhere like this forum. It's just a pathetic system that was long in the tooth a decade ago. Totally ruins it.

They should either learn how to make a smooth multiplayer experience as seen in turn-based games like Field of Glory, or otherwise put more effort into the single player. I am 100% unwilling to go to the bother of copying files and emailing them back and forth. At this point that's a line in the sand.

In Conquest of Elysium, the single player was improved by addition of different planes for the player to explore. In this latest version of dominions, it seems the AI is stronger so that is a nice step forward. Still, it's all a tad tiresome and boring; early game can be fun in single player but is just tedious in multiplayer, and late game is just the most meaningless grind. Pure mediocrity at this point, honestly.

 

[Dayyālu]

The AI's dust walker, and my moon warrior took about 20-25 turns to leave the field. Mine ran off the map a couple squares before his.

I was honestly asking "what the fuck".

This means I get that Throne? Dare you enter my Skelliton realm?

 

[KoolNoodles]

The AI's dust walker, and my moon warrior took about 20-25 turns to leave the field. Mine ran off the map a couple squares before his.

I was honestly asking "what the fuck".

This means I get that Throne? Dare you enter my Skelliton realm?

Don't you dare.

 

[Dayyālu]

I won't

 

[Joined on the 4th of July]

Nah, I don't think a blitz game would work well, either. My objections extend to the cumbersome manner in which multiplayer works: receive a turn by email, download the turn and place it into a folder, play the turn, copy the new turn file and send it back in an email, rinse and repeat using some sort of random webpage that coordinates everything. As for diplomacy, it can't be done in game effectively because there's this odd system where you don't store old chat messages, so it all has to be done somewhere like this forum. It's just a pathetic system that was long in the tooth a decade ago. Totally ruins it.

They should either learn how to make a smooth multiplayer experience as seen in turn-based games like Field of Glory, or otherwise put more effort into the single player. I am 100% unwilling to go to the bother of copying files and emailing them back and forth. At this point that's a line in the sand.

In Conquest of Elysium, the single player was improved by addition of different planes for the player to explore. In this latest version of dominions, it seems the AI is stronger so that is a nice step forward. Still, it's all a tad tiresome and boring; early game can be fun in single player but is just tedious in multiplayer, and late game is just the most meaningless grind. Pure mediocrity at this point, honestly.

Muty's pbem manager is pretty good for handling the turn files.

 

[coldcrow]

Nah, I don't think a blitz game would work well, either. My objections extend to the cumbersome manner in which multiplayer works: receive a turn by email, download the turn and place it into a folder, play the turn, copy the new turn file and send it back in an email, rinse and repeat using some sort of random webpage that coordinates everything. As for diplomacy, it can't be done in game effectively because there's this odd system where you don't store old chat messages, so it all has to be done somewhere like this forum. It's just a pathetic system that was long in the tooth a decade ago. Totally ruins it.

They should either learn how to make a smooth multiplayer experience as seen in turn-based games like Field of Glory, or otherwise put more effort into the single player. I am 100% unwilling to go to the bother of copying files and emailing them back and forth. At this point that's a line in the sand.

In Conquest of Elysium, the single player was improved by addition of different planes for the player to explore. In this latest version of dominions, it seems the AI is stronger so that is a nice step forward. Still, it's all a tad tiresome and boring; early game can be fun in single player but is just tedious in multiplayer, and late game is just the most meaningless grind. Pure mediocrity at this point, honestly.

The ingame message system could be improved drastically, I give you that. But complaining about using an email client to save an attachment and send one? This takes 1 minute at most. PBEM is also an established form of MP gaming for turnbased 4X. The alternative would be a server set up by Illwinter, which would come with costs and problems.

 

[Isiloon]

I'd be down for some blitz games - maybe on weekends so some of us in crazy time zones can stay up - or wake up early.

Blitz games would be a lot of fun.

 

[Matalarata]

maybe on weekends

What's a w-e-e-k e-n-d? I only know work...



Jokes aside, unfortunately sunday and saturday are the worst for me in terms of workload. For me the best situation would be to start on Sunday evening, after I get back from work and then follow up with monday and tuesday evenings (if needed). Wednesday starts the no-no portion of the week, with various geeky commitments I simply must attend to.

 

[Dayyālu]

Jokes aside, unfortunately sunday and saturday are the worst for me in terms of workload.

Italians guys, so lazy we pretty much banished weekends not to starve.

And vacations in general.

 

[Matalarata]

vacations

Ooh you are an historian, after all. Back in high school I remember translating an excerpt from Pliny the old's Naturalis Historia about it. Fascinating topic, really.

Spoiler

I do have Monday as a free day though...

Spoiler

...which means I only have a single student in the afternoon, not 4-6 like the other days. I still work.

 

[sqeecoo]

Boyos, could I possibly get 24h here? To get back from my trip eh? My brain is mush and playing dominions on a touchpad is no fun

 

[KoolNoodles]

Attack rear now less reliable

Oh no....

 

[JagreenLern]

Could I get an extension? I'm away from my PC atm.

 

[mondblut]

Attack rear now less reliable

Oh no....

I am literally shaking. Make ponies and flyers great again!

 

[KoolNoodles]

Thanks for the extension, because I sent my turn in and nothing happened? I am looking at my email just now because I thought it would be the new turn again.

Fuck, ok, time to re-submit.

 

[Joined on the 4th of July]

Good news, everyone!

The bandits from Marignon are no longer sieging my capital.

retreaters didn't survive either

 

[mondblut]

At least you didn't go AI first. Otherwise retreating from your cap would have been mandatory

(Ysian matrons chew on fish chips watching AI Arco horde rampage through Mictlan)

 

[KoolNoodles]

At least you didn't go AI first. Otherwise retreating from your cap would have been mandatory

(Ysian matrons chew on fish chips watching AI Arco horde rampage through Mictlan)

Arco has done next to nothing, oddly, and certainly aren't attacking me. They are summoning hordes of boars and whatnot though, from the looks of it.

 

[KoolNoodles]

Some good descriptors in there.

 

[sqeecoo]

> Lord of this World
> 5/8 throne points

Hmmmm.