🚀 go-pugleaf

DeSangre <LOLZ@LOLZ.it> contributed wisdom to 
news:ih4iut$9qh$1@nnrp.ngi.it: 

> Il 18/01/2011 18:09, Gandalf Parker ha scritto:
>> Im 54 years old and still play games. Even more since I retired. Ive
>> played A LOT of games. This is the most excellent game I have ever
>> found (and this isnt even my preferred genre)
> 
> I think that multiplayer is very good, but playing vs the AI a bit 
> boring. What's your experience?

IMHO the AI is above average. Personally I play almost entirely against 
the AI. As I said this is not my preferred genre. I dont enjoy player-vs-
player. 

But in Dominions 3 the AI exceeds the average for such games which is 
usually barely capable of getting you past the tutorial. In this game it 
is well capable of of play for a year. Since the game is now 65 unique 
nations then just playing each of them until you have a firm grasp of the 
pros and cons of each is a lot of territory to cover. Also the game 
settings are widely variable. And it has a map generator which is 
adequate for solo play. Getting to the point of beating the AI with many 
nations against you, on its "Impossible" AI setting, on maximum maps, at 
extreme difficulty game settings, can be a long long time.

ON THE OTHER HAND... because the game has so much variety the AI was not 
capable of a ton of "IF" statements perfecting each action to each nation 
in each situation. The AI is rather general and non-specific in its 
tactics. Eventually you can learn how it does things. That doesnt 
automatically make the game a walk-thru but you can develop tactics that 
the AI cant handle. OR you can go onto the forum and find out what the AI 
does right and wrong, and what tactics to use against it. Also the AI 
tends to fall out in the late game due to too many variables. Its good 
for early expansion of the game. It can trudge thru middle-game. And 
tends to get clueless in late-game.

YET FLIPPING THINGS OVER AGAIN... just like MP portion of the game, the 
vanilla version of the game can eventually get old. Its FAR longer than 
other games Ive paid as much for and well worth the money. But even then, 
it doesnt have to end. The game has extensive command-switches for server 
mode, extensive map commands for scenarios, and majorly extensive modding 
commands. So as far as AI and Solo play the vanilla mode can be extended 
by use of settings, and maps, and mods that are designed specifically 
around the abilities and failures of the computer player. 

I still play solo in this game even after its been my favorite game for 6 
years. But in truth I rarely play vanilla (as originally delivered) mode. 
Such as, I like to create alliances within the AIs. All of the nature 
nations, and all of the fire nations, and all of the undead and blood 
magic nations. An alliance means they will no longer attack each other. 
And I now tend to play mostly with mods that add more pretender-gods to 
the game, more heroes, more magic sites, more spells, more summons. And 
adding modded nations as opponents. I also play on huge maps (1500 
provinces) with up to 95 nations. I also love the 3rd party programs of 
SemiRandom which adds surprise provinces to run across (Werewolve 
Village, Dragon Cave, etc) and the Chaos program which randomly gives 
everyone surprise units to start the game with. 

The End_Game tactics will still never equal human players so there is 
always somewhere to go to if the game gets stale for Solo play. When that 
happens I will let you know.

Things said about Dominions 3 can be found under the Dominions 3 link at 
the top of http://www.Dom3Minions.com


Gandalf  Parker
-- 
WARNING: this game is NOT suitable for students, interns,
apprentices, or anyone else who is expected to pass tests on a regular
basis. Do not think about Dominions strategys while operating heavy
machinery. If you find that your game has continued for more than 36
hours straight then you should consult a physician immeadiately (Do NOT
show him the game!)