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| Thread: What do you want from a perfect HOMM game ? | |
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B0rsuk
Promising
Famous Hero
DooM prophet
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posted March 23, 2014 10:25 AM |
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Edited by B0rsuk at 10:31, 23 Mar 2014.
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What do you want from a perfect HOMM game ?
No, I don't give crap about your dream town lineup. I'm asking about the way you enjoy the game the most.
Heroes of Might and Magic 1-3 combined quite good strategy layer with a very elaborate adventure, exploration and tourism. It can be very enjoyable to walk around, fight monsters, gain experience, and only fight actual opponents once in a while.
You may not have realized that HOMM games successfully combined these parts. Not unless you've played other games like Age of Wonders or King's Bounty.
Age of Wonders III is coming out. It looks like a great game. However, it's not for everyone. It has a fantastic strategy layer with many meaningful decisions and options. It has numerous aspects completely absent from HOMM, such as establishing new cities with settlers, population growth, precise spell research with spells that are actually worth alternatives, road building, terraforming, unit upkeep which solves many problems, unit experience, stealth, and an elaborate combat system. It does NOT have dozens of unique artifacts to collect, item and site descriptions, countless strategy map locations, collectibles, choke points, impassable terrains enabling uninterrupted adventure and loot collection. It does not have the sheer number of differently looking creatures and fancy animations. It doesn't have a soundtrack that you'll hear on TV.
The polar opposite of Age of Wonders is something like King's Bounty or even Warlock 2. Opponents in these games are just speed bumps on your adventure. You are there to enjoy the show, the ride, admire animations and high production values.
Which kind of player are you ? Do you honestly enjoy both, or have a strong preference for one ?
Self-help questions:
Do I often play on Extra-Large maps ? (AoW 3 has gigantic maps too, but not nearly as much to explore)
Would I rather play against my friend, or bash computer opponents in an alliance ?
Am I a big fan of unit upgrades ?
Do I enjoy fully building my towns, armies and arriving only to crush the enemy with the first salvo ?
Do I think balance is important, or do I say that balance makes everything the same ?
How much do I enjoy random outcomes ?
Do I try to collect everything before moving on, or focus on what's important at the moment ?
Would I rather customize my hero's look or spell choice ?
Would I rather think about optimal army composition, or where to get more buffs ?
Age of Wonders III and Warlock 2 won't entertain you in all the ways classic HOMM games have. It doesn't look like any game will marry these things again any time soon. Unless you're prepared to get both, you'll have to choose. So which is it - strategy or adventure ?
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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u5um8QWWRvo RSA Animate - Smile or die
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Sarcyan
Adventuring Hero
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posted April 09, 2014 01:21 AM |
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Edited by Sarcyan at 01:24, 09 Apr 2014.
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Alas, I missed this thread before but I am extremely grateful you brought this up -awesomeness- and I am glad I can give an opinion now, even if a somewhat newbie one.
Having played Age of Wonders series, especially Age of Wonders 2 and Age of Wonders Shadow Magic, what can I say... I think they got the Heroes of Might and Magic formula and expanded upon it pretty gracefully. 
I am enjoying both series at the moment. (I also have Elemental Fallen Enchantress and the King's Bounty games, and all the games in Age of Wonders, including AoW3)
Do I often play on Extra-Large maps ? (AoW 3 has gigantic maps too, but not nearly as much to explore)
Can't comment, I've just played campaigns for now. Have to take advantage of this question to say that I agree that King's Bounty, for instance, is more about the presentation than the typical Heroes game.
Would I rather play against my friend, or bash computer opponents in an alliance ?Both, but I like alliances, and neutrality, opposition, and all the combinations possible, like loyalty, treaties and betrayals, all that comes with Diplomacy.
Am I a big fan of unit upgrades ? Not much, I prefer individual units and choosing from there, as if they were telling you there aren't inferior units, but it's just about how you use them.
Do I enjoy fully building my towns, armies and arriving only to crush the enemy with the first salvo ? Not sure yet.
Do I think balance is important, or do I say that balance makes everything the same ?
Balance is important. I can understand a few languages and learnt that languages, each of them, have a point. There are expressions in English that cant' be used with the same touch in other languages, and vice versa.
Same with variation. You can make a game very rich while keeping balance, like many factions in Heroes of Might and Magic. Every faction SHOULD have a point, just like every type of heroe.
Jacks of all trades master of none are boring, so you have to make things varied and specialised in their own thing. I mean, standing out at some things, choking at others.
How much do I enjoy random outcomes ?
Very much. I enjoy feeling like I play chess, which is the most common feeling I get from the battlefield in Heroes of Might and Magic games.
And in chess your opponent can use either expected or unexpected tactics and moves. It's about adapting.
Do I try to collect everything before moving on, or focus on what's important at the moment ?
Generally the first option. I like to have everything well built before moving on.
But I enjoy adventure and rushing too, depending on my ability. AS a newbie I find the first approach much safer, but when I thought I had learnt something I ventured much more.
Sometimes the outcome didn't pay off, other times it did...
Would I rather customize my hero's look or spell choice ?
Yes, why not? That's the point. Customisation for might heroes and for magic heroes.
Would I rather think about optimal army composition, or where to get more buffs ?
Both, but I am not very picky about units. As long as they have something different to offer I get what I can at the moment. Even in games, I get attached.
Those who look fancy to me and are useful to my kind of game, get always picked before anything else, once I know the game better.
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What about yah'??? What would you respond to your own questions? Do you love Age of Wonders? What's your favourite Heroes of Might and Magic game?
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Heroes of Might and Magic; They aren't only games, they are passions. And feelings. Laura Jackson is the most beautiful woman who has ever existed!! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pSBTC1HHN-E
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