My previous posts were more for the veterans who want to know the nitty gritty details, but there is value in having a shorter, easier to look at, more condensed, list of new features. So here it is:
TLDR Dominions 5 new features/changes
-Real time combat
-Custom blesses (77 individual effects)
-New and unique banishment and smite spells for every magic path.
-History playback after game over.
-Better random maps.
-New recruitment system for commanders and normal units.
-New build/upgrade forts system.
-New, more granular movement system in strategic map.
-Winter shown on map and affects movement
-Dominion overlay.
-New retreat rules (units can disperse after battle, good leaders prevent this).
-Improvements in AI.
-Better 3d performance, better looking terrain.
-Three new nations (Uruk, Rus, Erythea).
-Some old nations have been reworked and updated (Marverni, Sauromatia, Yomi, Abysia, Lemuria, Ur and others).
-More spells, magic items, special abilities, events, monsters, titles, thrones, …
-Improvements in UI.
*Conservative casting is now saved with script and is shown in UI.
*More info related to province defese, supplies, attack and defense siege scores, commander max squads and type shown.
*Monthly casting and monthly forging are now options in the UI.
*Nation description show more info like unit roster.
*More info for items.
*More info in Battle summary log.
*More info conveyed in province connections.
*Spell lists show gem cost and type (ritual or not).
*Magic sites show up as icons in the map.
*Events show thumbnail image of the location.
*Much better army setup, with less micro.
*New UI screen: Battle Overview.
*Holding TAB in army setup will show hearts for afflicted units.
*Multi turn order movement for armies (saved for the next turn)
*Provinces flags are highlighted indicating where you can move to.
-Updated battle system:
*Repel weapon changed
*Critical hits bypass less protection
*Shields can be damaged
*Units recover 1 fatigue/turn
*2-hand weapons do more damage
*Str contributes to bow damage
*New orders: hold & fire and advance & cast.
*Harassment penalty halved
*Better cavalry
*Flying needs one turn to move from one point to another
*Formation fighter increase unit density
*Pierce damage affects shields
*New stun and new sleep effects
-Changed mechanics:
*Sieges are faster now, and need time to repair damage
*Limp or cripple affects strategic movement
*Fear effect is capped, so overlapping fear auras aren’t as strong
*Stronger gem income on every age
*Pillaging made more effective
*Pretender gods get their own bless
*New UW province types.
-New setup game options:
*Max turn limit/game mode on games (Cataclysm: Horrors attack!)
*Selectable AI level for mp games.
*Customizable global spell slots.
*Customizable story event settings.
*More customizable site frequency.
*Random starting research option.