Summary

Release Year: 2013
Genres: Indie, Strategy
Platforms: Linux, Mac, PC (Microsoft Windows)
Developers: Illwinter Game Design
Publishers: Illwinter Game Design

Dominions 3: The Awakening (2013)

Dominions 3: The Awakening is a turn-based strategy game developed by Illwinter Game Design and released in 2013. It is the third game in the Dominions series, and it is set in a fantasy world of gods, magic, and war.

Players take on the role of a god-like being, choosing from a variety of races and nations, each with its own unique strengths and weaknesses. The goal of the game is to conquer the world, either through military conquest or by achieving certain victory conditions, such as building a wonder or researching a powerful spell.

Dominions 3 is a complex and challenging game, with a steep learning curve. However, it is also a deeply rewarding game, with a huge amount of strategic depth and replayability.

Gameplay

Dominions 3 is played on a hexagonal map, with each hex representing a province. Players control their armies by moving them around the map and attacking enemy provinces. Combat is resolved through a complex system of dice rolls and modifiers, taking into account the strength of the units involved, the terrain, and the spells that are being cast.

In addition to military conquest, players can also win by achieving certain victory conditions. These include:

Building a wonder: Wonders are powerful structures that can provide a variety of benefits to the player who builds them.
Researching a powerful spell: Some spells in Dominions 3 are so powerful that they can single-handedly win the game.
Converting all of the provinces on the map to your religion.
Destroying all of the enemy nations.

Races and Nations

There are 15 races and 30 nations to choose from in Dominions 3. Each race has its own unique strengths and weaknesses, and each nation has its own unique starting position and bonuses.

Some of the most popular races in Dominions 3 include:

Humans: Humans are a versatile race with no major weaknesses. They are good at both magic and warfare, and they have a variety of units to choose from.
Elves: Elves are a long-lived race with a strong affinity for nature. They are excellent archers and mages, and they have access to some of the most powerful spells in the game.
Dwarves: Dwarves are a hardy race of miners and smiths. They are excellent at defending their territory, and they have access to some of the best armor and weapons in the game.
Orcs: Orcs are a brutal and savage race. They are excellent at close combat, and they have access to some of the most powerful monsters in the game.
Dragons: Dragons are the most powerful race in Dominions 3. They are immune to fire and magic, and they can fly over any terrain.

Magic

Magic is a powerful force in Dominions 3. There are over 500 spells in the game, and they can be used to do everything from summoning monsters to casting plagues.

Spells are divided into four schools:

Nature magic: Nature magic deals with the forces of nature, such as plants, animals, and the weather.
Blood magic: Blood magic deals with the forces of life and death, such as healing, necromancy, and vampirism.
Sorcery magic: Sorcery magic deals with the forces of chaos and destruction, such as fire, lightning, and summoning demons.
Astral magic: Astral magic deals with the forces of the stars and the cosmos, such as divination, teleportation, and mind control.

Each school of magic has its own unique strengths and weaknesses. Nature magic is good for healing and supporting your troops, while blood magic is good for summoning monsters and casting curses. Sorcery magic is good for dealing damage and destroying enemy units, while astral magic is good for controlling the battlefield and manipulating the minds of your enemies.

Religion

Religion is another important aspect of Dominions 3. Each nation has its own unique religion, and each religion has its own unique bonuses and penalties.

Some of the most popular religions in Dominions 3 include:

Pantheism: Pantheism is the worship of nature and the gods of nature. Pantheistic nations get bonuses to their agriculture and their ability to summon nature spirits.
Polytheism: Polytheism is the worship of multiple gods. Polytheistic nations get bonuses to their research and their ability to cast spells.
Monotheism: Monotheism is the worship of a single god. Monotheistic nations get bonuses to their piety and their ability to convert enemy provinces.

Conclusion

Dominions 3: The Awakening is a complex and challenging game, but it is also a deeply rewarding game. With its huge amount of strategic depth and replayability, Dominions 3 is a must-play for fans of turn-based strategy games.