The strategic map in a game of Dominions 3 consists of a number of provinces. Conquest of these provinces is one of the most important goals of the game; a nation which controls no provinces is immediately eliminated. Provinces produce gold and supplies, and have a population type that determines what kind of units and commanders can be recruited there.
Provinces can have one or more types of terrain which affect their productivity, movement into and through them, what population types and magic sites are more likely to be found there, and can affect battles fought in the province. Some provinces are seas and most units cannot enter them at all. Others are coastal, bordering a sea.
Each nation usually starts with only its capitol, although this can be changed in game setup. Neutral and enemy provinces must be conquered. Conquering a province gives the conquering nation control of all discovered magic sites and all buildings in the province (except temples, which are destroyed whenever a province changes hands), in addition to the province's gold income.
Most units automatically attack enemy provinces when they attempt to enter them. Units with Stealth can choose to attack or hide. If the attacking nation wins the resulting battle, it gains control of the province. Some ritual spells also cause an attack on a province, which can conquer it.
If a province contains a fortress, conquering it is a more complex and difficult process: first move into the province and defeat its province defense and any patrolling forces, then besiege the fortress's defenders until the walls are breached, then storm the breached fortress. Until this is complete, the defender retains control of sites and buildings.