View difference between Paste ID: dHdZ1cch and xCKEZWv6
SHOW: | | - or go back to the newest paste.
1
>GETTING THE GAME
2
It is available on Gamersgate, and Steam. Keys from either Desura or Gamersgate should work on Steam. It goes on sale from time to time, frequently on steam for 50% off and sometimes 75% off but don’t count on it.
3
If you like it, please consider buying it. Each player in a multiplayer game must have a unique CD key, which means only one player per game can use the pirate copy. The pirate slot is usually taken quickly, so buy the game.
4
5
6
>MULTIPLAYER
7
>Multiplayer is played in two forms: Play by email (PBEM) games hosted on http://www.llamaserver.net/ which typically progress at a rate of one or two turns per day and can be joined either through the thread or steam group discussions, and blitzes hosted through the game client and typically played to completion in one or two sessions. Blitzes can be joined through the steamgroup chat, and require the port and IP of the host.
8
9
>Steamgroup 
10
Join the steamgroup for multiplayer, though there are also anonymous games.
11
http://steamcommunity.com/groups/vanheimageofvidya
12
13
>Group chatroom
14
Copy the URL to join the chat group directly.
15
steam://friends/joinchat/103582791434709795
16
17
>Play by email guide:
18
http://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=202096551
19
20
>Blitz Guide:
21
-Join chat.
22
-Select the ‘Connect to a Dominions Server’ under the ‘Network’ option in the main Dominions menu.
23
-Ask in chat for the IP and port for the blitz.
24
25
26
>RESOURCES
27
28
>Dom4 Inspector
29
This is a community resource that has every unit, spell, item, and event in the game in an accessible database. If you have any question about an item, unit, or spell, check the Inspector.
30
http://larzm42.github.io/dom4inspector/
31
32
>Dom4 Manual 
33
Download the manual and search it before asking basic questions in thread. Note that the manual includes comprehensive spell descriptions beyond those found in game or on the inspector. However it also has some things which are no longer correct, and some which have never been correct.
34
http://jaffa.illwinter.com/dom4/manual_dom4.pdf
35
36
>Our work-in-progress wiki
37
If you can’t find something here, ask in the thread then post the replies into the wiki.
38
http://dom4.wikia.com/wiki/Dominions_4_Wiki
39
40
>Custom battle creator
41
Can be used to quickly test out battles.
42
http://maxwilson.github.io/DomSetup/
43
44
>Magic booster guide
45
Required reading. Useful reference.
46
http://www.desura.com/games/dominions-4-thrones-of-ascensions/forum/thread/dom4-magic-path-booster-guide-by-telos
47
48
>Simple spellcasting fatigue calculator
49
Useful for planning out communions so you don’t kill your slaves.
50
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1OlzLT2bHI-Ldk5N8js4KoAPB1yof8G3FgXJEkaxNSoM/edit#gid=0
51
52
53
>MAPS
54
Most maps can be downloaded either from the llamaserver or found on:
55
http://www.desura.com/games/dominions-4-thrones-of-ascensions/forum/board/undiscovered-door-maps-cartography
56
In particular, grab the “Elmokki Dom3 Collection” which includes a lot of commonly played maps.
57
To add maps, unzip the files and place the .tga and .map file together in the user maps folder:
58
C:\Users\’Username’\AppData\Roaming\Dominions4\maps
59
This can also be accessed from the main menu in game under ‘Game Tools >Open User Data Directory’.
60
61
>UI
62
A kind anon created and uploaded various interface mods. 
63
They can be downloaded here: 
64
https://mega.nz/#F!slcSECKR!3w21BNllKxxEZOXgC--41g
65
66
>MODS
67
Mods are installed in the same way as maps. The mod is unzipped, and the mod folder and .dm file are placed together in:
68
C:\Users\’Username’\AppData\Roaming\Dominions4\mods
69
Which can also be accessed from the in game menu in the same way.
70
The mods can then be enabled from the ‘Mods’ option in the main menu. This is only needed when creating games and they will be automatically enabled and disabled for unrunning games.
71
72
>Debug Mod
73
Essential tool for testing things.
74
http://www.desura.com/games/dominions-4-thrones-of-ascensions/forum/thread/debug-mod
75
76
>Worthy Heroes
77
The most widely used mod. Adds more heroes to some nations and tweaks other heroes. Is well made and low impact. Has split into a newer version made by Olhman and the older version without his updates. Someone from DOMG also made a version of Olhman’s with the tag (NN) meaning no nerfs, so if a game has that on llamaserver you know what it means.
78
Olhman (5.5)
79
http://z7.invisionfree.com/Dom3mods/index.php?showtopic=2749
80
Main thread:
81
http://www.desura.com/games/dominions-4-thrones-of-ascensions/forum/thread/worthy-heroes
82
Current version:
83
http://z7.invisionfree.com/Dom3mods/index.php?showtopic=2358&st=0&#entry22124951
84
85
Sum1won’s Submod
86
The newest attempt to balance Dominions, based on winrate stats gathered and feedback in thread. He’s usually about the thread so if you have concerns or suggestions do voice them.
87
http://z7.invisionfree.com/Dom3mods/index.php?showtopic=2764
88
89
>Old /domg/ balance mod. Aka ‘cronemod’.
90
General balance mod. Apparently had/was “Widespread usage and generally well liked, but not to everyone’s tastes”. Recently taken over by new modder whom also left.
91
http://www.desura.com/games/dominions-4-thrones-of-ascensions/forum/thread/domg-balance-mod-v105
92
Original version, with >crossbows, available here
93
http://www.desura.com/games/dominions-4-thrones-of-ascensions/forum/thread/domg-balance-mod
94
95
>UW Expanded
96
Mod that aims to fix some the issues with underwater nation balance and increase the level of interaction between UW and land nations. Makes sweeping changes, some of which effect balance in significant ways. Good concept with great ideas mixed in with more questionable ones. Olhman again.
97
http://z7.invisionfree.com/Dom3mods/index.php?showtopic=2113&st=0
98
99
>Chocolate Thrones
100
Mod that both tries to increase the power level of thrones, and bring the balance of thrones more in line with each other. Good for games where you want the thrones to be major points of contention. Apparently there is a version in the works that aims to balance the thrones without increasing the power level.
101
http://www.desura.com/games/dominions-4-thrones-of-ascensions/forum/thread/chocolate-thrones
102
103
>Pretenders Rebalanced
104
Dubious attempt at rebalancing the pretender chassis. Not very commonly used.
105
http://z7.invisionfree.com/Dom3mods/index.php?showtopic=2126
106
107
>Nationgen
108
Pretty amazing mod that generates random nations. Has been used to good effect in some recent and ongoing games. Is not used like a typical mod. Read the thread.
109
http://www.desura.com/games/dominions-4-thrones-of-ascensions/forum/thread/nationgen-for-dominions-4
110
111
>Mod Nations
112
There are a lot of mod nations out there, but games that allow them are pretty rare due to balance issues. Probably the most commonly used are the various Warhammer nation mods, which tend to have their own games, and the various CoE nations, which are balanced such as to be somewhere close to vanilla nations or weaker. There is also a highly prolific /domg/ user who creates a lot of nations. Some recent examples are LA Sssla, EA Alee, and EA Neritia.
113
114
115
>THE BASICS
116
>How to start
117
Start by downloading the manual and doing the tutorial presented in the manual, ignore the fact the pretender it asks you to make isn’t possible anymore.
118
If you can you should then read the rest of the manual.
119
Play a few games against the AI. Familiarise yourself with the mechanics and understand that the AI has no real idea how to play the game. Check the inspector and the manual a lot.
120
Now, the next section is old advice and has been challenged about how good it is, but it’s not BAD per se so...
121
122
Use the single player games to focus primarily on getting good at expansion. You should be aiming to have around 12+ provinces and a second fort finished or close to completion at the end of the first year. There is not really much point in practicing anything further then that against the AI.
123
At that point you might as well dive into multiplayer. No matter what the initial jump to multiplayer is going to be tough, putting it off to play more single player won’t really help.
124
>What nations should I learn with?
125
Human nations with a lot of magic diversity and mundane troops: T'ien Ch'i (any age), Arcoscephale (any age), EA Ermor, etc.
126
Giant nations with a major bless: Niefelheim, Fomoria, Ashdod
127
Heavy infantry nations with simple magic: MA Ulm, Abysia.
128
Necromancy: C'tis (any age), Sceleria, Ermor, Asphodel, Lemuria
129
Blood: Mictlan (any age), LA Ulm
130
It’s worth trying out each of these playstyles at least once.
131
132
Newer advice about starting includes a bit more SP (formations, learning how the AI reacts to PD and armies because EVERY game someone goes AI, and learning the basic lesson of MAGIC=GOOD), that some of the ‘easier’ nations such as Ma Ulm, Abysia and Niefelhiem lack late-mid to endgame without extensive planning and so aren’t that newbie friendly as going from doing well early but then getting stomped to having an endgame with them is a fair leap, and that MA Ermor somehow encourages undertale shitposting.
133
134
>TIPS
135
>Use "?" in any screen to display a full list of hotkeys, learning the hotkeys is essential to keep the micro under control, and there are a number of commands that can only be performed through hotkeys.
136
>Try and have a concrete plan for your pretender. Remember that they can only do one thing at a time, so having them good at lots of things is not a great idea. Generally good options are awake Dragons with dominion 9 for Awe, and imprisoned immobile pretender with a major bless and good scales. Try to avoid ‘rainbow’ pretender or other multipurpose designs until you really know what you are doing.
137
>Always be recruiting mages everywhere you can. Recruit commanders from indie provinces. Mages and research win games.
138
>Try and figure out concrete research targets for your nation.
139
>Don’t focus on spells that kill things. Buffs and debuffs are the real game changers. Unless the spell kills EVERYTHING, then it’s the buffs that make your troops not also go up in smoke that help.
140
>Pay more attention to combat magic then ritual magic. Yes reread that sentence because on first glance it reads incorrectly.
141
>Read the manual, yes even the wrong bits.
142
>Remove Elves, Bats, Burds, Skeletons, Ragha, etc.