Dominions 3: The Awakening

Dominions 3: The Awakening is a turn-based fantasy strategy game. It is the sequel to the acclaimed fantasy strategy game Dominions II: The Ascension Wars. While that game set the bar for rich, engrossing turn-based fantasy strategy gaming, Dominions 3: The Awakening seeks to raise it higher.

The game combines a simple presentation with an extremely wide array of strategic options, including over 1500 units, 600 spells and 300 magic items. Turns are resolved simultaneously, with players planning battles rather than directly controlling them.

The game includes scenarios and randomized play, but does not include a campaign. Dominions 3 is mainly designed for multiplayer, including PBEM, hotseat and TCP/IP. AI opponents are available for single player.

Dominions 3: The Awakening is very mod friendly, and in fact has been designed from the very beginning with mod-making in mind. Any image can be turned into a map, opening up a wealth of possibilities.

Dominions 3

Price $54.95 Developer Illwinter Game Design (Linux Publisher Shrapnel Games) Website www.shrapnelgames.com Requirements CPU: 600 MHz libc6 2.1.92 or higher X11 with OpenGL support Support: Illwinter Game Design, Intel Forums Selected Reviews: blogspot, Tacticular Cancer, Atomic MPC

Features include:

• Up to 21 (AI or human) players using simultaneous turns
• 3 different eras: Early Magical Era, Middle Era, and Late Era. The Early Magical Era boasts many new nations, the Middle Era features most of the nations from Dominions 2, and the Late Era features an emphasis on more conventional warfare and less magic
  
• 50 different playable nations. Some of the new nations include Ermor, New Faith, based on the early Republic of Rome. Marverni, inspired by Gallic tribes. Kailasa, Rise of the Ape Kings, inspired from Indian and Hindu mythology. Jomon, Human Daimyos, born from ancient Japan.
  
• Brand new graphics, with an overhauled and streamlined interface
• Transparent mechanics decreases the learning curve
  
• Less micromanagement than previous Dominions titles
• Random map creation
  
• Players can design and save gods for later play
  
• Map filters now allow players to easily locate scouts
  
• Nation specific spells and summons. More than 600 spells and 300 magic items, all with evocative descriptions
  
• Rebalanced rates for income, supply, and resources enable larger conventional armies
• 1500+ units to wage war with. A deep combat model encompasses everything from battlefield morale to the use of magic
• An already challenging AI made even more challenging
  
• Much more powerful modding capabilities
  
• Make and remake nations as you see fit
  
• Turn any image into a map! Battle across Faerún or Middle Earth
• 300 page printed manual that will remind you of the early days of computer gaming.  The manual is more of a reference guide that includes a play-along tutorial, spells reference, nations info and so much more
  
• New music from Erik Ask Uppmark and Anna Rynefors, the duo behind Dominion 2's lilting musical score
• Axes and unrest automatically checked through the autotax function, streamlining play
  

Last Updated Wednesday, September 17 2008 @ 02:57 PM EDT