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| Thread: Top Ten User Made Maps for Heroes III |  This thread is pages long: 1 2 3 4 · NEXT» |
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doomnezeu
Supreme Hero
Miaumiaumiau
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posted March 30, 2004 03:07 PM |
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Top Ten User Made Maps for Heroes III
Well, I was getting kinda bored in my office (nothing to do, really, the magazine for this month is all done), so I thought of a top ten for user made maps for Heroes III. I’ll even throw in a small review for each of them… I’ll start from the 10th place and so on
10. Malagorn The Saviour
Players: 1H, 5C, Size: XL, two level map, Map maker: Jan Stephan Pontzen
Nicely designed map, cute story (although not the best there is, IMO), great battles. The hero, Malagorn, starts off by reciveing all eight skills, so there isn’t much to do there. He will soon become a tough hero and, after conquering the Tower area (and kicking Solmyr’s ass, lol), he will meet little chalange in the game. The map is set over land and water, with every region protected by border guards, so the computer will not storm in your camp too early in the game (well, except for that necro guy who will attack you in the first two weeks, if I remember well). There are lots of hidden thinghies, especially dwellings that will prove very useful later on. The main problem with this map is the final battles, where, besides your uber-army of titans, Moos, Goldies and other cool creatures, you will recive in the underground area a number of 60 – 70.000 (!?) of battle dwarves. Well, suffice to say that Lord Christian, the evil and almighty ruler of the humans, whith his legion-like army of archangels, was running away from an island to another, in fear of my presence (tremble, mortals, MWAHAHAHAHA!). You can obtain the grail if you want, though this is an optional sort of quest and you really don’t need it. In rest, an overall good map, worth playing.
RATING: 76 of 100
9. The Journey Home
Map created by: Roy Ritchey, Map Size: Large; 2 levels, 1 player
Well, this map, alike the two other that preceded it (Ungo’s Revenge and The Adventuring Gnoll), is made up using Users from the 3DO Community board, so it’s fun factor really depends on the guy playing it ant the knowledge he has of that community. The map is not XL, though it wouldn’t need that much space to expand. You start with a hero that knows basic necromancy and lidership and you get castle as your main creature supplier. Soon enough, finding the Vampire’s crawl and The Dead Man’s Boots, you will boost your number of skellis to a very high level, and, if you are lucky and you find the amulet of the undertaker, everything will be much more easyer (so I strongly suggest avoiding the Cloak of the undead thingie in your backpack. The story is quite hilarious and I must say that I had a good timpe lplaying this map, as well as it’s prequels. Most of the battles are quite easy, especially the last one when you reach Dharc Phoenix (the ultimately evil person, yada yada), and he has like 50 ArchDevils, 100 Pits, etc witch, compared to your thousands skellies, it’s quite a laugh. Anyway, you will get headaches with the conflux main hero, who is recruiting his army from six castles. Well, what can I say, go play it.
RATING: 80 of 100
8. The Imp
Map Maker: Tang Wen En, Small, 1H 1C
Well, this is certainly a map worth playing, even if it is a small one. You star out with a gremlin, you loose it, and you get an unicorn (and later on an arch magi). Well, with that unicorn you must defeat the hole map, including archers, throngs of imps, and even six manticores and a scorpicore in the same time. Great tactic map, good for those to like small, tactical battles. There are many hidden shrines and pandorra’s boxes, all providing the player much needed spells and stats. Some are guarded, some are not. I especially enjoyed the one guarded by a Titan and a Dread Knight, that was a nice battle. Right before the end, you get an archmage, witch is quite crucial for solving your quest. The last two battles are nasty, first a hero with resurrection and several dungeon creatures, then a bunch of Inferno troops with a devil among them. Hypnotise is priceless here. The story is rather funny and the map is enjoyable, so dig in people, it’s short, but complex.
RATING: 83 of 100
7. Ringing of Victory
Map Maker: Tang Wen En, The Fiery Phoenix, Large, 1h, 5C
First of all, let me say that I do not really enjoy the maps where you have more then one principal hero, but this one is an exception. Combinig a real funny story (boy, that Cohen dude sure is stupid and that griffin of his is awesome) with a good plot and a lot of triggering, the mapmaker has succeeded in creating a superb universe, where you will get your share of fun. The battles are balanced, the enemies are everywhere and you will get puzzled more and more as you advance through this scenario. You will have to do a lot of walking around the map to find the keymaster’s tents (especially water-walking, lol) with one of your secondary heroes, so leave that hair of yours where it belongs, will you? The good thing is that you will first fight fortress (with Cohen) while you mount an army from the Rampart. The not so good thing is that you will fight first (with Niuren, your second primary hero – that sounds preety weird- ) some dungeon army while you have fortress to do the combat. Later on, you will have to prove your whortyness (with both heroes) by fighting Stronghold, Inferno a Necropolis town, and even some towers (but that is another story, they are very well protected, hehe). Your goal is to find the ring of infinite gems and to give it to your newly aquirred fiancé (well, the eternal love story, what more do you want). Have fun and enjoy!
RATING: 86 of 100
6. Vengeance is Mine
Map Maker: Andrew Tanzi, XL, 1H 7C
This map is not for beginners. As you can see just from the start, there is a good story, more philosophical than anything else I’ve seen so far in Heroes mapmaking (and I’ve seen a lot), and the time is of the essence. Right from the start, you will have to defeat 15 Battle dwarves with an Ogre Mage and a Beholder, witch I can tell you it’s not that easy, considering the morale/luck factor involved. Again, we have a map with two main characters, loosing each one of them meaning the lost of the map. When I said that the map is for the top players, I ment for the extra-top players. The battles you encounter are usually like this: you – an army, some stats, the computer – twice that army, twice those stats. But all are winnable. All. The first part of the map reminded me of those nice battle maps from H3trio (damn it again for being closed down), where you have to defeat five heroes with one army, without any reinforcements. Same here, only a little bit easier, IMO. You will get almost any kind of battles, from the very large ones to those where the enemy hero is COMPLETELY immune to magic (that was a tough one, I remember it well). There is that matter of hidden objects and other stuff that you encounter in all of Commando’s maps, witch makes them quite enjoyable, but rough and difficult. Any top ten player should have this map finished for his Heroes 3 CV…
RATING: 88 of 100
5. Hail to The King
By Scrowe, Large, 1 human, 3 computers
This map is unique in a funny sort of way. You cannot hire any troops, you start with practically nothing (1 swordsman, 1 archer and stuff) and you finish by leading a hudge army against the bad guy, who also has some nasty necros available (7000 skellies, 3500 WD, etc) Along with the map, in the zip archive come 8 readme files, all of them being chapters of the story, and you are pointed somewere in the map to read them one by one. Since it was a ROE map, the mapmaker could’t implement the sory directly into the map (like he did with Shar’s War, later on). The story is quite dense and good ploted, including a nice treachery, backstabbing, friends making and other stuff related. The battles are very tactical, and you will have to obtain minimal loss (or even not lose units at all, for that matter) if you even consider finishing it. The army-hoarding players should cleverly avoid this map, for it is not the “getting-5000-of-AB-and-crushing-everything” sort of map. As I said, it is purely tactical, and the player must use all his talents to outcome his enemies here…
RATING: 88 of 100
4. Unleashing The Bloodthirsty
Map Maker: Andrew Tanzi, XL, 1H 7C
This is another masterpiece from Commando. Unlike his other map that I described here, UTB’s story it’s hilarious, with nice turn of events, silly names, silly enemies and tough battles. You start with a stronghold (witch you eventually have to leave, since a pesky necromancer wielding a legion of ghost dragons comes after you in the third week), then advance to a Rampart (where, by the way, you will have to face a serious army of elves and grand elves, so stay open for any hidden places that can give you useful stuff – hint hint), then you conquer some Fortresses and you get a fair army do explore the map. There is lots of water, so a secondary hero with expert navigation will be needed to come back and forth and collect troops, at least until you find the Town Portal spell. The battles further on are becoming more and more decimating, especially when facing tower on his own ground, with hundreds of titans and nagas and… well, you know. The best part of the map (well, one of the best parts) is when you find the underground cavern filled with Behemoth dwellings (insert drolling smiley here), witch you will recruit and enjoy watching kill others. The final battle looks aufully impossible, when you have to deal with legions of dragons (just imagine 7 slots with 9999 of each azure, rust, fairy and crystal dragons, yeah, that’s an easy one, hehe), but using your head a little will prove a good thing to do. Another tricky thing about this map is the loss condition. Well, the loss conditions, to be more accurate. You either lose your hero and you… lose, or 14 months pass and you lose again. How is that possible? Don’t ask me, ask Commando. I know I did. 
RATING: 92 of 100
3. The Empire of The World II
Map Maker: Darklord, XL, 1 Human, 7 Computers
Many of you probably wonder why I placed this map so high in my top, even above UTB. Easy. It is so cool to play it and enjoy it over and over again. I played this map lots of times and I never felt like getting bored keeping on. It is very balanced, it has a good story (although the mapmaker should review his English, it is not that good, but hey, a try is a try, so I won’t count that as a minus) and you get a nice army to deal with your enemies. I heard somwere else on this forum that many heroes players had also enjoyed playing this map, so what the hec, it’s a 3rd place for it in my top ten. You start the map as Maximus (I bet that the mapmaker saw the Gladiator first), and you get the chance to kick the asses of all the important rulers history has ever known, like Caesar, Gengis Han, the Evil (lol) Robin Hood, as well as the gods of the elements. Nice to know you are powerful enough to deal with that kind of important people, right? The final battles is quite easy, though, when you start having a little too much army… hehe, nice feeling. Well, good map! Just play it and you will see!
RATING: 93 of 100
2. Goldheart
Mapmaker: Timothy Duncan, Large
Well, I have saved the last two maps for the end of my post (if anybody had the patience to read it, hehe). Goldheart was for a long time my favourite map, and for a simple reason: the story, the way the mapmaker is using H3 editor’s capabilities, the battles, the ending. Unlike other maps, he choosed to tell his story via a Narrator, witch is actually a hero inside the map who doesn’t do anything but read events, revealing to the player what’s been going on there. The problem is as follows: being a ROE map, and the chapters being long, the only way to relate them is via countless events, witch can prove quite annoing sometimes. But that is a minor problem. The story, whatsoever, it is beautiful and you can see that Tim has put a lot of time and effort into writing it down. The way your past (the character’s past) is revealed, the trimming taste of love and treachery, everything is well put together. The first part of the map is more tactical, with only a few creatures by your side, but when you get to your Stronghold and release teal from behind the border guard, everything is beginning to hot up. You will fight a castle-computer (tough job), then some dungeon overlords, and finnaly the great mean guy himself as a heretic inside an Inferno. And so you finnish the map. Nice…
RATING: 95 of 100
1. Sander’s Folly
Mapmaker: Timothy Duncan, XL
Well, the last is the best. My personal favourite. I’ve played this map like a zillion times and still I start it again every now and then . The same story as above – a narrator and a hero who will save the world. Only this time, the map being AB, the Narrator’s job is a lot easier and less frustrating for the player. The in game story is fabulous, the best there is by far, and, although it is a long one (MANY pages to read, eyes will bleed if you are in for those hack and slay type of maps). You play the role of a young student (a geek student, hehe) and you decide to travel back in time to observe history closer. And you do just that. The only problem here is a nasty King considered by all a hero (and he’s not) and a Necromancer who has plans for his prosper undead army. You screw history up, get thrown in jail and let to rot. Yes, nice so far, really intriguing, until a mage rescues you and tells you that you must save the world in order to get back home and live a happily life. Well, it seems that not only the fate of the entire world is in your hands, but you don’t know snow about combat or magic… So you must learn. You play alongside Tower, while the enemy consists of a large variation of Stronghold, Inferno, Necropolis or Fortress. Due to the fact that Bersek is in one of your towns, the fact that the enemy forces is overwhelming is no longer a problem. As you fight your way through the tons of monsters, you will recieve a lot of secondary quests that will boost your stats through various artifacts. In the end, you will solve the problem an go safe home…. Blah blah. Happy end.
RATING: 99 of 100
Well, this is my top ten. Enjoy reading. If anybody wants one of those maps, please feel free to mail me and I will make sure you will get them. Man, this is a long post.Sorry
EDIT: Also included personal ratings
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scorpion
Tavern Dweller
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posted March 31, 2004 03:39 PM |
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I don't know about the rest of you but I agree with God the maps are really COOL and my favourite is also the map that is on the first place.I think it's creator was very inspired when he created that map,but there are other maps to be included here as well.We could all make a personal top 10.How about it!?!
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figaro
Tavern Dweller
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posted April 09, 2004 01:23 AM |
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You forgot the map "The lone knight" which i think is
great.
Also the map "To kill for power" is good.
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rechet
Hired Hero
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posted May 13, 2004 05:11 PM |
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Since you like story-based maps (#1 and #2 on your top-ten), I can warmly recommend my "2 Friends" map. It's available at
http://www.hut.fi/~jmikkone/
(To admins: hint hint)
XL, 2-layer, Shadow of Death required
Expect LOTS of tricky situations and clever tricks. And yes, there's a couple of enemies you're not even SUPPOSED to be able to beat. Run for your life!
NOTE: The map is a co-op map, so you'll have to get together with a friend or play hotseat solo. Me & my girlfriend (back then, that is) thought it was a bit sad that there's no co-op ally maps with storyline, so I started the project. It took me over a year to finish it.
Jukka Mikkonen a.k.a Sir Rechet
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Jukka Mikkonen a.k.a Sir Rechet
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otoss
Tavern Dweller
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posted June 15, 2004 11:31 PM |
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I recommend maps from this page:
http://free.bol.bg/homm3
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vlaad
Admirable
Legendary Hero
ghost of the past
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posted July 21, 2005 05:30 PM |
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Revived!
I don't know if you are old enough to remember, but THUNK by Timothy Duncan a.k.a. Corribus was a legendary map for Heroes 2. Now the author has joined forces with the master of scripting, Timothy Pulver a.k.a. Fnord, and the two created a WoG remake of the original scenario. It is part of a series, so be sure to get its prequel called "Last Hope" if you want the whole story. Fnord has used many new options available in the latest 3.58f update to introduce things you have NEVER seen before in the game.
This map must be on any relevant Top Ten list of Heroes maps!
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ByteBandit
Promising
Famous Hero
Soul Merchant
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posted July 21, 2005 06:17 PM |
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Quote:
I don't know if you are old enough to remember, but THUNK by Timothy Duncan a.k.a. Corribus was a legendary map for Heroes 2. Now the author has joined forces with the master of scripting, Timothy Pulver a.k.a. Fnord, and the two created a WoG remake of the original scenario. It is part of a series, so be sure to get its prequel called "Last Hope" if you want the whole story. Fnord has used many new options available in the latest 3.58f update to introduce things you have NEVER seen before in the game.
This map must be on any relevant Top Ten list of Heroes maps!
ANd since this is a top ten list, I don't see any WoG maps on here. Seems there should be one or two on here. ANy of those maps mentioned by Vlaad are good. Also, what about "Choices?" Or one of my favorites- Painted: The Misfit. Even Vlaads' maps should get an honorable nod. Maybe we need a Top Ten all time WOG favorites list. 
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vlaad
Admirable
Legendary Hero
ghost of the past
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posted July 22, 2005 10:48 PM |
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Have you played the sequel to "THUNK" called "Adjudication" (map # 3 of 7). Was it as good as THUNK?
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Corribus
Hero of Order
The Abyss Staring Back at You
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posted August 01, 2005 12:41 AM |
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Quote:
Have you played the sequel to "THUNK" called "Adjudication" (map # 3 of 7). Was it as good as THUNK?
Of course it is :-)
What feedback we've gotten on map 3 has so far been fairly good. The most outstanding complaint impression seems to be that the map is not quite as difficult as THUNK (and it's not). I can also tell you that map3 (and 4 for that matter) is less complex than the secomd map.
However, I think players of this series should keep in mind that these maps really SHOULD be played all at once in the form of an epic campaign. If they had been released all in one shot, then the "small feeling" of maps 3 and 4 would probably go unnoticed in the larger context of the campaign. Thus I urge players not to judge maps 3 and 4 individually, especially against an epic, large map like THUNK. Instead, look at them as they fit in the larger picture of the story. I think players will find that Cave of Dreams (XL, map 5) and Retribution (L, map 6) will live up quite well to the high gameplay/difficulty standard we set with THUNK, with Adjudication and Toran Rift (soon to be released) playing sort of supporting roles. And really, this should be expected - you can do much more with larger maps than with smaller ones 
In any case, thanks for playing, and do please send us comments (good or bad - suggestions are always welcome), as they really help.
C.
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Artas1984
Adventuring Hero
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posted January 06, 2007 04:15 AM |
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So where are direct links to download those 10?
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insatiable
Supreme Hero
Ultimate N00bidity
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posted January 06, 2007 02:04 PM |
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and who are you to judge the universe?
top 10 my butt
'some really good maps' or somthing, would be more gentle as thread title
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Artas1984
Adventuring Hero
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posted January 06, 2007 02:11 PM |
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Quote:
and who are you to judge the universe?
top 10 my butt
'some really good maps' or somthing, would be more gentle as thread title
I agree, but he pointed that those are just his favorites, it does not mean those are realy the best..
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Hell_Wizard
Famous Hero
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posted December 21, 2008 04:14 PM |
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Hey, what happened to this topic?
In my opinion, "The Imp" desirves a higher rang. So does the saviour.
And about your imp review, doomnezeu, using hypnotize I easily crushed the dungeon hero (Jeddite in original), WITHOUT loosing my Arch Mage. The further battles were too easy, because of the resurrection spell (And 1 Arch Mage in abundance ).
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PrinceJasca
Hired Hero
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posted January 23, 2009 06:21 PM |
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Unleashing the Bloodthirsty is the best because it's the hardest and toughest!
I can't find any map which has murderous battles and attractive story like Unleashing. Even the Empire of the World!
Yeahh...but I want to know which version of UtB do you play? Armageddon Blade or Shadow of Death?
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doomnezeu
Supreme Hero
Miaumiaumiau
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posted January 26, 2009 08:20 PM |
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When I played it (billions years ago ), I played the SoD enhanced one, aka the "tough" one, where some magic schools were forbidden and some battles were tweaked in favor of the AI.
I swear to god, if Vengeance is Mine would have had such a version, I would have probably desecrated my computer
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mvassilev
Responsible
Undefeatable Hero
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posted January 26, 2009 11:00 PM |
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doomnezeu
Supreme Hero
Miaumiaumiau
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posted January 27, 2009 09:22 AM |
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And a damn fine one, too.
*walls of text still crit me for over nine thousand*
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Corribus
Hero of Order
The Abyss Staring Back at You
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posted April 09, 2009 06:40 PM |
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Edited by Corribus at 18:42, 09 Apr 2009.
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Quote:
So Corribus used to be a mapmaker?
Back in the day, yes
I still have a few to finish up for H3 and WoG, but I sort of lost touch with Fnord and real life got in the way, so who knows...
(and Doomnezu is right - IIRC Traemask II had well over 100 pages of text, when exported to Word).
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I'm sick of following my dreams. I'm just going to ask them where they're goin', and hook up with them later. -Mitch Hedberg
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zamfir
Promising
Supreme Hero
Allez allez allez
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posted April 09, 2009 07:59 PM |
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@Corribus: I must shake your hand for making Sander's Folly. You are an exceptional map maker.
Right now I'm playing GoldHeart.
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5 Times TV
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Cepheus
Honorable
Legendary Hero
Far-flung Keeper
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posted April 09, 2009 08:12 PM |
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Seriously, finish WoG Cave of Dreams I eventually managed to find the Heroes II version of the last three episodes and salivated for a day while playing through them.
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