List of nations and real world counterparts

[Majora]

Hey just got this game, I was wondering if there was a list of nations anywhere

where they list the nations and what real life nations they are based on.

I recognize many of them but plenty I dont right away, I find this very interesting.

[estyles31]

I think that it has been canonically stated by Bruce Geryk that the units available to each nation are historically accurate to the units those nations actually did use in history. But it is possible to use tactics that those nations didn't use, which isn't exactly historically accurate, but makes for a more enjoyable game.

[Majora]

well I dont think you read what i was asking =p

Is there a list that shows all teh nations and what they are based on in real life, I like history etc and would find it more interesting if i could know.

[coturnix]

There´s a nations list in the manual, starting from page 123. There one of the authors explains each nation (except the last ones that were included in recent patches), the inspiration from them and an overview. Then follows a bestiary, where the nations are dissected according to the threee ages (Early, Middle, Late). There´s a historical line wich affects the different factions, some of them change enormously (Ermor being the most obvious example).

The Lore is one of the most interesting parts of Dominions 4. Being a history and mithology fan it´s refreshing finding a game that seeks its inspiration in those areas instead of the tired old "D&D fantasy".

[Shinuyama]

Actually, DnD fantasy is pretty good in terms of interesting fluff. You're thinking of Forgotten Realms and it's various PC iterations (Neverwinter Nights, Baldur's Gate), overhyped by mindless fanboys to an entirely unworthy role as a the progenitor for all modern fantasy settings.

The actual fluff in the dnd books is quite nice and reasonable and well-rounded. It's only the absurdly simplified power-fantasist's wet-dream Forgotten Realms campaign setting that's a pile of hackneyed, simplified, nostalgia-ridden, sacred-cow, unversimilitudinous crap.

[Shinuyama]

They standardized FR as the main setting for 4e and 5e, so, i'm mostly talking about 3.5, 3e here. Eberron, Greyhawk etc all have very nice fluff and lore, especially the explanations for how the planes work (Planescape Torment is based on that) and how all the races and monsters co-exist (badly) etc. Lots of war and backstabbing and racial tensions and wizards secretly ruling the world, just like in real life history.

[oldrocker99]

Some of the nations (EA Ermor, Bogarus, Mictlan) are based on historical nations, while others (R'lyeh is an obvious example) are from fictional sources, while others sprang from the minds of the developers (Abysia, Agartha).

The main thing (and one of the game's strongest qualities) is that there aren't the usual dwarves, elves, orcs, etc; fantasy cliches are pretty much nonexistent. For a game which is marketed as a fantasy 4X game, this is big.

Of course, there are more nations available as mods; the Warhammer universe is pretty well-represented.