"Dominion of Darkness" - simulator of the evil overlord

[Adeptus]

"Dominion of Darkness” is a strategy/RPG text game in which the player takes on the role of a Sauron-style Lord of Darkness with the goal of conquering the world. He will carry out his plans by making various decisions. He will build his army and send it into battles, weave intrigues and deceptions, create secret spy networks and sectarian cults, recruit agents and commanders, corrupt representatives of Free Peoples and sow discord among them, collect magical artifacts and perform sinister plots.
Note – one game takes about 1 hour, but the premise is that the game can be approached several times, each time making different decisions, getting different results and discovering something new. Feedback is very much welcome. Very, very much. Altough game is playable and winnable now, I am still working on improving it, so all suggestions are appreciated.

Here is the game: https://adeptus7.itch.io/dominion
And here are reviews:
- Indie Sampler (video):

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LM6f4UCEgWU

- Dad's Game Review (podcast): https://www.dadsgamereview.com/blog/
- [BOKC] BlancoKix (video):

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lgNpSKToOSg

 

[Couchpotato]

So a cheaper visual novel of the older Overlord games?

Guess I'll take a look. Thanks for sharing.

 

[Adeptus]

Thanks! If You will play, please let me know about Your feelings.

 

[Adeptus]

I am constantly improving and extending the game (I will probable be doing it as long as I live) and it's time for the big update (2.).

Some most important improvements in the new version are:
- many new named characters who You can recruit as Your lieutenants/agents - like Meroe the serpentwomen, Aegnor - elven druid who wants to liberate all living beings from suffering (permanently), Grimdal - dwarven runemaster who reluctantly serves You because of his family's oath, Airen - elven pirate captain or Polena - young vampire lady;
- now You can recruit serpentpeople and harpies into Your army if You meet the requirements;
- new way You can use Your lieutenants/agents -(old and new) - take them for expedition into Witchlands, watch them argue or even make Your consort (at this moment avalaible only for male Tempter and Warmonger characters);
- new way to achieve ultimate victory - explore ruins of the ancient civilization and start questline who will enable You to discover eldritch secrets and create Great Work.
Of course, apart from this, I have introduced many new things - new events, choices and bugfixes.



Of course, this is not the end of work on "Dominion of Darkness". I will publish another update in some time. Here's what I'm planning in it:
- choice of the element for Your character - it will mostly influence magic, but also give some additional opportunities in events connected to given element;
- questchain connected with the Guild of Thieves;
- new optional storyline and way for victory for Tyrant character - liberate Your ancient hosts of servants from the Infernal Heaven and wage apocalyptic war against any competition for divinity;
- new questchain for Destroyer of Life (heh, the least popular playable character) - recover lost part of Your body (and power). Probably also new optional way for victory - "zombie apocalypse";
- option to seduce prince by female player character;
- as always, many new events and descriptions.

 

[Adeptus]

OK so it is time for the promised update!
https://adeptus7.itch.io/dominion

It contains all things I wrote previously about, which means:
- harpies and serpentmen are now reruitable for Tempter character,
- new expedition to Witchlands, land once ruled by civilization older even than Your character,
- new possible way to victory by discovery of ancient secrets and accomplishment of the magical Great Work, including new endings,
- male Tempter and Warmonger can take a consort, which brings mechanical benefits and story elements.

But there are also some surprise, other elements I added in the meantime:
- choice of element your character specialize in. It has influence on spellcasting and unblocks some new events;
- new ways for defeating enemy kingdoms, connected with profession of your character. Warmonger can initiate full-scale total ware between elves and dwarves, Destroyer of Life can start vampire apocalypse, Tyrant can summon hosts of angeldemons from Infernal Heaven and Temptress can seduce king Janos.

And of course many lesser changes, fixes and new events.

Some plans for the future:

- make elemental focus more significant by adding big questchains connected to it - e.g. as Water focused character You will be able to wake ancient sea leviathan and as Fire focused one, to create your own fiery "Mordor",

- add some new "final bosses" with which You will have to deal after conquering Free Peoples,

- add new special ending in which You go back in time to won first war (mentioned in prologue).

Many thanks for all people who pla this game and give me feedback! Please, remember to rate the game. Or if You prefer to support my creative process financially, I invite You to: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/adeptus . But still, feedback is more important than money!

Oh, BTW, I invite You to listen to:

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZgkSmj55jl0

or read: https://adeptusrpg.wordpress.com/2023/12/17/all-children-of-the-mother-short-story/ "All Children of the Mother", short story featuring one of the characters You can meet and fight in "Dominion of Darkness". But beware of spoilers!

Happy New Year!