EA Pyrene is a cave nation, right? What if they had a traitor/captured agarthan oracle as a hero? Heck, oracles live so long you could re-use the same hero for MA Pyrene if you wanted.

Just make sure it has some cool paths, even if it's only e3 d1.

For Andramania I have a few ideas.

It would be cool to see Saint Christopher come back, especially with the nation having followed the example and becoming civilized and saintly. He could have been allowed to visit the fountain of youth in Ind, allowing him to still be alive while much older than most dog men.

A holy three hero saint would be nice. This could be the highest saint of the Serene One, or Sir Christopher, or Christopher could be the 'Serene Saint' and foregone all his old blood magic and violence.

There should be some connection to the old dark ways of the dog men. A terribly old ♥♥♥♥♥ mother hag, her life prolonged by blood sacrifices. Has heretic, causes high unrest, etc. For Gog, that seem more like a rising howler chief, no magic just calls up howlers.

Last idea would be someone from the Orionde, since they don't have a nation, but not the humans because the dog people think they are lesser. Either an escaped slave, or the Giant Huntress. Being a hero would require something special. So the Escaped slave could be a centaur who was able to study to reconnect with nature magic, and/or a thug. The Giant Huntress could have a retinue of lions.

Originally posted by Puppyguard:

EA Pyrene is a cave nation, right? What if they had a traitor/captured agarthan oracle as a hero? Heck, oracles live so long you could re-use the same hero for MA Pyrene if you wanted.

Just make sure it has some cool paths, even if it's only e3 d1.

A captured Agarthan would be a neat tie between the Underground races, perhaps an Olm would be cool for the weird factor? Maybe the Bekrydes found a strange creature badly wounded in the mushroom fields and nurtured it back to health, after which the Olm became attached to the cave dwelling humanoids?

Originally posted by mgmbach:

For Andramania I have a few ideas.

It would be cool to see Saint Christopher come back, especially with the nation having followed the example and becoming civilized and saintly. He could have been allowed to visit the fountain of youth in Ind, allowing him to still be alive while much older than most dog men.

A holy three hero saint would be nice. This could be the highest saint of the Serene One, or Sir Christopher, or Christopher could be the 'Serene Saint' and foregone all his old blood magic and violence.

There should be some connection to the old dark ways of the dog men. A terribly old ♥♥♥♥♥ mother hag, her life prolonged by blood sacrifices. Has heretic, causes high unrest, etc. For Gog, that seem more like a rising howler chief, no magic just calls up howlers.

Last idea would be someone from the Orionde, since they don't have a nation, but not the humans because the dog people think they are lesser. Either an escaped slave, or the Giant Huntress. Being a hero would require something special. So the Escaped slave could be a centaur who was able to study to reconnect with nature magic, and/or a thug. The Giant Huntress could have a retinue of lions.

I like the idea of Saint Christopher returning, and the Fountain of Youth is a good hook for that. The other ideas are solid too, however for now I think I'll stick to adding 1 hero to the new nations that don't currently get any.

We don't know Illwinter's plans there, it's possible they will each get 2-3 heroes once Illwinter gets back to adding content. If Illwinter don't seem to be interested then we can add in some more heroes, so these ideas are definitely in the pot.

An Olm for Pyrene sounds cool and plausible.

Would need to read more of the lore for the other nations though.

Since Helhiem got crushed with all the changes in Dom 6 and now the move of Loki to Muspelhiem (Which makes sense). I would like to suggest adding one back to them. Baldur was a son of Odin who Loki killed by tricking Hodar into throwing a spear of mistletoe at him. He held a seat of honor next to Hel. He would have invulnerability 25 as he got killed by spear of mistletoe his only vulnerability. Based on what I read I am thinking a F1A2E3G1H3 paths with some level of Awe, a Spear of justice and golden shield. He's is a mounted commander with the largest sailing options. Some accounts have him as a warrior/warlord type but also justice, hope and peace.

Below are a few snippets from the web that I formulated my thoughts from about Baldur.

One of the most notable artifacts associated with Baldur is the colossal ship, Hringhorni. This ship wasn’t just any vessel; it was the largest of its kind, symbolizing Baldur’s grandeur and the vastness of his influence. Hringhorni played a pivotal role during Baldur’s funeral rites. In a heart-wrenching ceremony, Baldur’s lifeless body was placed upon this ship, which was then set aflame in a grand funeral pyre, signifying his journey to the afterlife.

Alongside Baldur on this ship was his horse, a loyal companion whose name was Léttfetile whose significance is undeniable. This act was symbolic of the journey they would undertake together into the after life.

Additionally, during Baldur’s funeral, Odin, in a profound gesture of grief and respect, placed the ring Draupnir upon his son. Draupnir, a ring known to produce eight new rings of equal weight every ninth night, was not just a symbol of wealth but also of continuity and rebirth. By placing it on Baldur, Odin perhaps hoped for his son’s eventual return, echoing the cyclical nature of life, death, and rebirth in Norse beliefs.

Baldur, often referred to as the “God of Light,” held a unique and revered position within the Norse pantheon. His very essence was synonymous with qualities like purity, innocence, and beauty. In the ancient manuscripts, Baldur was often depicted as the embodiment of righteousness and virtue, a beacon of hope in the often tumultuous world of gods and giants.

Among the gods, he played a pivotal role as a mediator and peacemaker. His untarnished reputation and benevolent nature often made him the go-to deity during disputes, ensuring harmony within the realms. His radiant presence did more than just symbolize joy; many believed he actively brought light and delight to Asgard, thereby making the realm even brighter and more vibrant.

For humans, Baldur was a symbol of hope and positivity. His tales, as chronicled in ancient texts, served as moral compasses, teaching humans the virtues of integrity, kindness, and resilience. His tragic demise, as foretold by prophecies, was a poignant reminder of the transient nature of life and the inevitability of fate. Yet, even in death, Baldur’s legacy as a symbol of rebirth and renewal persisted, offering hope for a brighter tomorrow.

Originally posted by Orkiod Inquisitor:

An Olm for Pyrene sounds cool and plausible.

Would need to read more of the lore for the other nations though.

I second an exiled Olm as a possible hero.

Originally posted by vacolt88:

Since Helhiem got crushed with all the changes in Dom 6 and now the move of Loki to Muspelhiem (Which makes sense). I would like to suggest adding one back to them. Baldur was a son of Odin who Loki killed by tricking Hodar into throwing a spear of mistletoe at him. He held a seat of honor next to Hel. He would have invulnerability 25 as he got killed by spear of mistletoe his only vulnerability. Based on what I read I am thinking a F1A2E3G1H3 paths with some level of Awe, a Spear of justice and golden shield. He's is a mounted commander with the largest sailing options. Some accounts have him as a warrior/warlord type but also justice, hope and peace.

That does sound like a good replacement for Loki, thanks for the in-depth ideas. He seems like he has pretty much everything you want from a hero!

Originally posted by DonPete:

I second an exiled Olm as a possible hero.

Well, you're in luck. Check the recent update :)

I love the lineal and cultural syncretism of the Berytos-Phaeacia line, but one thing I find strange by its wholesale absence from the latter is any trace of the Bertyesian rephaites. Surely the whole marriage-cult of the Brides in Waiting and the Melqarts would have produced some issue that would still have vestiges in the primarily Gigante-Colossi milieu of the surviving colony?

I propose that it would be interesting to have a Rephaite-Colossi hybrid exile/survivor from Berytos modeled after Hannibal in his exile in the courts of the Seleukids and Pontus following defeat in the second punic war and subsequent fall from grace in intrigues at home. In this case an Old, brilliant, somewhat embittered veteran of the wars with Arcocephele that ultimately destroyed Berytos, fled into exile into one of the colonies before that final doom. Size 6-7, Old, probably a high level of Inspiring Leader (2-3) and leadership, mountain survivor (crossing the alps etc.), either functional or purely vestigial rephaite horns, a little bit of Blood and perrhaps a mix of Air and Fire to evoke descent from Ba'al Hammon? One last helping of the Berytian cocktail legacy for the road.


Another idea would be to have a Merman envoy/ambassador/etc. hero or multihero for EA Berytos and/or MA Arco to represent the major commercial and cultural links between EA Pelagia-Berytos and MA Pelagia-Arco; I thought it odd that this was stressed so explicitly in the Pelagia shore/amphibious troops background but had no reflection in either of the partners. Likewise, a sailing-capable Berytian or Arcocephalian envoy/ambassador/adventurer with a ring of water breathing (or a Therodian exile in that vein) might be a fun and quite different add for EA and MA Pelagia respectively (and limited access to good amphibious commanders or sailing commanders would be reasonably interesting on either side of that exchange).

I have a hero for one of the new nations, Nidavangr. They only have 3 national hero units according to better nation overview one representing each clan member yet according to their lore the true leaders of the nation would be the Nidbathed. This is the only hero unit missing.

So for abilities on top of the signature soulscar mechanic he should be like the other heroes a priest unit (other heroes tend to be 1 but this one can be 2 or maybe 3). Have dominions spreader and true sight according to their nations lore they're enemies of the Vanir so they learn to combat glamour tactics. It can come with magic weapons equipped for magic paths this can come with Earth 3, Astral 3, nature or death 1

Tangential to the main thrust of the thread again, but is there a reason you (and Ilwinter I guess) have shied away from direct translations of archetypal heroes like Odysseus, Achilles, Gilgamesh, etc.? There's a few big culture heroes here and there but a lot of the most prominent names have to my understanding (and maybe I'm missing something here) no representation.

Originally posted by Andkat:

Tangential to the main thrust of the thread again, but is there a reason you (and Ilwinter I guess) have shied away from direct translations of archetypal heroes like Odysseus, Achilles, Gilgamesh, etc.? There's a few big culture heroes here and there but a lot of the most prominent names have to my understanding (and maybe I'm missing something here) no representation.

Because Dominions is set in its own universe inspired by myth. It is not supposed to directly represent real life myth.

While I don't think it is a new nation, LA phlegra seems to currently only have one hero, so they could probably do with a couple more. One idea that I think would be cool would be a surviving agarthan ancient one, since they are the other major cyclopean race (and they are large enough and similar enough to the phlegran cyclopes to be grudgingly accepted), and could maybe also be able to summon some MA agarthan human statues with the summon allies command and get some of the better statues through random events while in the caves (similar to how LA atlantis's mother hydra can awaken sleeping EA atlantis living pillars through a repeatable random event).

As for LA Pyrene, (though I know they already have 2 heroes, that probably means they won't get any more for a long time), a wayward son of myrddin (the MA Man cambion hero) claiming his place in the cambion nobility through magical might seems like a good option.

Originally posted by Andkat:

Tangential to the main thrust of the thread again, but is there a reason you (and Ilwinter I guess) have shied away from direct translations of archetypal heroes like Odysseus, Achilles, Gilgamesh, etc.? There's a few big culture heroes here and there but a lot of the most prominent names have to my understanding (and maybe I'm missing something here) no representation.

Sorry for the delay in responding. I don't know that there is a solid reason that some of the big names are missing, although I will say that of the three you mentioned one is directly represented, while the other two are at least alluded to in the game.

Pathos, Son of Titans is a pastiche of various greek heroes, and his Invulnerability I think is inspired by Achilles. Worthy Heroes adds Bilgames to Ur, which is a direct translation of the original name of Gilgamesh. Finally Odysseus is mentioned in the Phaeacia nation description along with some of their heroes as the "Far Traveller" that visited their shores.

I think the non-greek nations tend to have their heroes much more directly referenced, such as Vanlade & Tjatse for the Norse nations, Baba-Yaga & Koschei for Rus etc. Perhaps there were just so many famous Greek heroes that Illwinter didn't want to pick out just one or two to represent. Perhaps the Far Traveller could be added to MA Arco, whilst EA could get a more direct Herakles analog with a lion pelt and club.

Originally posted by Andkat:

I love the lineal and cultural syncretism of the Berytos-Phaeacia line, but one thing I find strange by its wholesale absence from the latter is any trace of the Bertyesian rephaites. Surely the whole marriage-cult of the Brides in Waiting and the Melqarts would have produced some issue that would still have vestiges in the primarily Gigante-Colossi milieu of the surviving colony?

I propose that it would be interesting to have a Rephaite-Colossi hybrid exile/survivor from Berytos modeled after Hannibal in his exile in the courts of the Seleukids and Pontus following defeat in the second punic war and subsequent fall from grace in intrigues at home....


Another idea would be to have a Merman envoy/ambassador/etc. hero or multihero for EA Berytos and/or MA Arco to represent the major commercial and cultural links between EA Pelagia-Berytos and MA Pelagia-Arco...

(limited access to good amphibious commanders or sailing commanders would be reasonably interesting on either side of that exchange).

These are good ideas, I think a few multiheroespromoting more land-UW interaction is a great idea, whilst Hannibal-in-exile is a great hook for a Gigante/Colossi Berytian relic. Thanks Andkat!

Originally posted by DonPete:

I have a hero for one of the new nations, Nidavangr. They only have 3 national hero units according to better nation overview one representing each clan member yet according to their lore the true leaders of the nation would be the Nidbathed. This is the only hero unit missing.

This is a neat idea, however I'm not sure where it says the "true leaders" are Nidbathed. Pretty sure it explicitly says the Crow Clan Seithberenders are the true masters of the nation, while the clans are ruled by jarls that don't appear to be Nidbathed themselves. A H3 Nidbathed champion Jarl-of-Jarls might be interesting though.

Originally posted by Lordlynel:

While I don't think it is a new nation, LA phlegra seems to currently only have one hero, so they could probably do with a couple more. One idea that I think would be cool would be a surviving agarthan ancient one, since they are the other major cyclopean race (and they are large enough and similar enough to the phlegran cyclopes to be grudgingly accepted), and could maybe also be able to summon some MA agarthan human statues with the summon allies command and get some of the better statues through random events while in the caves (similar to how LA atlantis's mother hydra can awaken sleeping EA atlantis living pillars through a repeatable random event).

Phlegra is a bit of a special case as they get the Gigantes as a guaranteed "Hero" that appears after ~2 years at their cap. I'm not sure an Agarthan fits that well tbh, they don't seem to have any ties in the lore and you'd think he would just head back to Agartha where he will be revered and worshipped.

Originally posted by Lordlynel:

As for LA Pyrene, (though I know they already have 2 heroes, that probably means they won't get any more for a long time), a wayward son of myrddin (the MA Man cambion hero) claiming his place in the cambion nobility through magical might seems like a good option.

Tying the cambion into Myrddin would be neat, as pre-Pyrene Cambions they would have had time to grow their powers and could use Glamour magic to infiltrate the noble houses.