Time to look again at the Nations

[GeeGee]

Ok, if like me you’ve dabbled, shall we say, with a number of Nations, you will know that there is not one that offers the key ingredients to total DomiNation. Yes they all have their benefits and disbenefits, but nothing outstanding. This may explain why I opted to jump from the Japanese, to the French to the Germans and then back the French...what am I like [rolls eyes]

The thing is, I don’t even use the key French tool...the ARL Tank. Yes it’s ‘tanky’, but who uses tanks in a world DomiNated (sorry, I couldn’t resist) by Howies. So this got me thinking...why DO I stick with the French. And, of course, the answer in a world of ‘national compromises’ is simple...the 20% reduction in troop/kit rebuild times.

When I dabbled with other Nations, the one thing that frustrated me most was the ‘non-French’ rebuild times. How do all you Brits and Romans cope? Ok, I know what all you elite players will be saying, and yes I possibly could be a bit better at attacking bases, thereby reducing the amount of kit to rebuild. But let’s be honest about performance...we ALL get wiped out, particularly in the higher Leagues.

So, in a game essentially premised on stealing stuff through smashing bases (look no further than the latest rebalance update and League Rewards), it strikes me that we should be able to rebuild and go again with much speedier turnaround times. Indeed, ALL Nations should be able to rebuild kit in exactly the same timeframe as the French. Adding a Training Blessing would also then be a good use of an hour as every player would benefit from a speed uplift premised on the same rebuild timescales.

But why stop at basic troop/kit rebuild rates. Why should an SMG shooter who happens to be French be incapable of firing at the same rate, or over the same distance as say a Korean, or British shooter? Yes, I know British Longbows once fired further than the French, but that was simply a ‘technological’ thing dating back to say The Hundred Years War. Moreover, the archers who fired Longbows suffered from broken bones more readily due to stress/strain of firing the damn things. And besides, a machine gun is a machine gun irrespective of who holds it. But, I digress; and maybe I’m stretching point.

But my point is nonetheless this. With everything that has been added to DomiNations over the years, the unique selling points of each Nation have, in my mind at least, been largely lost. If a player utilising the French Nation doesn’t even use it’s unique weapon, what’s the point? Oh yes, the 20% reduction in rebuild times...but I’ve already mentioned that.

With the impending release of v5.8 and THAT missile silo, what will be the point of having a longer firing range, better tanks etc? Answers to all that and more will undoubtedly be revealed. But if the Bazooka Tower is anything to gauge with...very little may be the answer.

So, I conclude by reiterating my point. Why not reassess the core values that sit behind each and every Nation?

I’ve been GeeGee of The Aesir. Thanks for giving me somewhere to express my opinions

 

[Manifesto]

You sound very familiar, do we know each other?
Anyway, some valid points but the uniqueness of each nation is, I think, more for newer players.
Yes, the effects of uniqueness is lost when we get to higher ages but there are other things to keep us entertained at these levels: newbie bases, better league rewards, wars (for some!).
Then there are us casual players who don't care who we are, we've perfected a technique and just play for fun. Or we have two accounts!

 

[GeeGee]

I sense you are being ironic, but if we know each other, great! Howdee

Yeah I guess the unique ‘troop/kit/Age/relevance to game style’ equation does become a little meaningless as you progress through time. But surely that’s another point...what incentive is there in higher Ages once Uni/Library work takes over your life?

In addition, I still believe that speeding up troop/kit rebuild times as a standard across the board item would make sense.

As for two accounts...no chance. I barely have time to maintain the one I have now.

 

[Sentex]

I'm the British. The rebuild times do not bother me except for Supply Trucks. Needing 15 mins for a Supply Truck when a Tactical Helicopter only needs 12 mins, that seems unbalanced and kind of ridiculous. It would be much more reasonable if the Supply Truck build time was reduced to 10 mins.

I do use tanks, so the French would be a waste for me even with the reduced rebuilding times. I understand that tanks are slow, but having a range of only 3 is way to little. My special troops shoot almost twice as far as a tank. Increasing the tank shooting range to at least 5 across all nations would be more balanced. And maybe have the tank range for the French be 6. That would really give people the incentive to use tanks more.

 

[yemen]

Supply trucks should probably be a 5 minute rebuild or less - same time per space as a tank or infantry. They don't let you raid or attack, just heal the rest - making them faster doesn't help anyone who is purely raiding, but it would make a difference to full attacks. And with the AI as atrocious as it is, they ought to be one of the fastest things to rebuild, since they often die through no fault of the player.

 

[Manifesto]

Maybe the problem is not what incentive there is, maybe the issue is when is enough? There is some point in the future I will quit, maybe after Cold War age.
Then I will be happy to raid a few times a week and let others farm my base, if they can!

 

[Shade SIX]

Personally, I want a Nation which gives me better Raiders...

 

[melheor]

The best raider is Russian Oligarch.