I know there's some Dominions 3 fans here, so I figured I'd let everyone know that Illwinter has started taking pre-orders for Conquest of Elysium 3.
Buy it at: http://www.desura.com/games/conquest-of-elysium-3
Learn about it at: http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/showthread.php?t=47712
It's a good time for us fantasy TBS fans.
Wut is this?
I remembered Dominons 3 to be a deep and fulfilling TBS game. However, it was complicated, was not easy to get into for newcomers and were balancing issues.
Nonetheless, I am interested. Will look into it.
CoE3 may be what you're looking for if Dom3 was too much. It's more of a single player game with better AI, less micromanagement and much quicker turns. Graphically it looks similar to Dom3 but it's quite different.
Also, it seems that pre-ordering to get into a beta access was an error.. you can still pre-order for 15% off but you DON'T get the beta. Time to update the OP..
So I've been playing the accidentally leaked beta (which you can't get anymore)... I've barely scratched the surface of the game but I'm already glad I pre-ordered.
Someone on another forum called it a strategic roguelike. I think that fits. So yeah, gameplay wise it's much different than Dom3.
Dom3 was pretty well balanced for a game with thousands of units and spells. Great game. I will certainly be looking into this.
I liked the design of Dom3(and 2) except the AI was awful. It was geared more towards multiplayer. If they come out with a demo for it i'll try it, otherwise I'll be passing.
I still play CoE2 sometimes. I think it's free now.
I must confess something. Promise not to tell anyone. I have preordered the stuff, against my principles.
For the people who want to try COE2 - here is a download link (legal, the game is free):
http://www.shrapnelgames.com/Our_Games/Free_Games.html
There are now screenshots, a video, and two AAR's of running games (some forums call them LPs).
Its definitely what I would call Dom3-lite. It plays much quicker with much less micromanagement. The AI is MUCH better (a separate one for each nation). I think its going to be popular as a blitz game in IRC channels and Chat rooms.
Its more solo play than Dom3 is. It can be played MP but Im not sure how much that will happen. On the other hand, it supports downloadable player-made scenario maps. You can create triggers and events. Such as "entering the Mystical Column gives you a message that turning with the Fire Brand from the Erot Volcano will grant you 10 Mage Men troops" or whatever
Triggers, editor? Good, it will be useful for a Fallen Enchantress mod!
I love Dominions3 for my multiplayer itch, but find it vastly suboptimal for my single-player needs. Am I right in understanding that COE3 is almost the other way around? That is, it is designed as a single-player game and will come with a dedicated, halfway challenging AI? Or am I mistaken? Any hints on the AI / SP-applicability of this would be greatly appreciated. Thank you.
Yes the focus is flip-flopped on CoE3. MP is possible but in Dom3 choices were made for MP over Solo, and in CoE3 some obvious choices were made favoring Solo over MP.
And the AI is excellent. In Dom3 there was one general AI trying to play all of those very unique nations. In CoE3 each nation has its own AI and plays the nation specifically to its strengths and weaknesses. And you can even ally with it pretty nicely.
What little Scenario ability that Dom2 had got broken in Dom3. CoE3 brings back Scenarios with major additions. Im hoping that an extensive tutorial style Scenario can get written prior to release.
Instantly ordered. Can't wait, should be fantastic
There are some good AARs on the Shrapnel forum.
http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/forumdisplay.php?f=161
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Damn, I can hardly wait, I admit I am counting the days to the release.
If you scroll down a bit, Tom Chick has 2 articles describing the unique features of the Dwarf and Undead factions here
http://www.quartertothree.com/fp/
It certainly looks extremely exciting with such incredible difference between factions. Of course my first thought when I read it was that Dominions looked incredibly exciting too but I hated actually playing it. But if this has more of a single player focus and less micromanagement then there is hope that I'll like it a lot more.
Although I never really hated Dominions III, I think I'm in your camp. I would get to thinking abouit firing up a new game of Dom III, and then imagine micromanaging 20 plus provinces and put it on the virtual shelf again. Hoping CoE III scratches the itch that Dom III always induced but never satisfied.
Only two days now!
It's OUT!!!
Just reading the manual... OMG, Hoburgs are playable!
and what is your analysis of this? Does this forum not have a similar policy?
Well, after playing the game for a week or so, it's not so great. Solid gameplay, it's basically the old COE2 with some polish, and also some horribly outdated interface and gameplay elements.
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