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| Thread: Why HOMM4 (and not other TBS games?) | |
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shaowei
Adventuring Hero
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posted November 07, 2002 08:59 AM |
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Why HOMM4 (and not other TBS games?)
From the gamers point of view (subjective but guess what - argumented)
My comparison - HOMM vs Disciples 2
HOMM (1,2,3) - focus on castle/creature management; centralized(simplified) hero management
D2 - focus on hero party development; centralized(simplified) castle/creature management
The reason I play both HOMM3 and D2 is because they are different. Sorry, but HOMM4 is trying to work like both. And it fails in both fronts. Here is why.
I don't play HOMM because I want hero action. I like the development of the hero, it is really satisfying to see the CREATURES fight better with the might hero and be annihilated by the magic hero.
In HOMM3 you build your castle carefully, choosing what to build when, recruit or upgrade, which town to develop economically, and where to build creature buildings. Having no heroes directly involved in combat means much more focus on building the right structures, gathering resources, strategy. It's a "strategic quest" afterall Multiple powerful heroes just ruin that concept, while too frail heroes ruin gameplay satisfaction.
If I want hero action, I play Disciples 2. It is perfectly balanced as concerns heroes in battle. Because it follows a different concept than HOMM. Single creatures in stack. Creatures gaining levels. Disciples 2 has very limited castle focus (only as much as to provide healing+defense, not counting the initial buildup of creature upgrades). You build and forget things. Focus is on questing.
Neither of the games is tedious, because they have divided the two main parts (TBS and RPG) into "micro" and "macro". In HOMM4, everything is "micro". It has become too overwhelming. HOMM4 is not decided, what it wants to be. The wish of the fans today is to keep heroes on the battlefield. That is a D2 type of games feature. So the same mistake can be made in HOMM5.
My conclusions. If HOMM5 are based on HOMM4 (simplified castle management with non-upgradeable creatures, and focus on heroes in battle), there will be a vacuum in the market for a game like HOMM3 (or the previous versions). The concept is a winning one, and to make money, 3DO need a winning concept. They made an experiment with HOMM4. The fans welcomed the "new" concept. Guess what, this is fighting for a different market than HOMM1,2,3. It is trying to compete with D2 which is a superior game in this class. Now, everybody who expected a HOMM 3.9 feel cheated, because there is no new game on the market with that simple and powerful concept of "hero rules the adventure map, creatures rule the battle". There is an attempt to compete with other TBS'es with heroes in battle and it is not as fun.
I am not trying to argue that NWC is worse than other game creators, no. My point is - they should do what they do best. That is what brought the fans to them. Make experiments on parallel, and not with your major product.
I posted this here because it reflects mostly on the current situation, but it can also be relevant in "altar of wishes".
Your thoughts on that?
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kaiser
Tavern Dweller
für das Vaterland
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posted November 09, 2002 03:01 PM |
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you're my hero!!! (no pun intended  ) please, for the sake of humanity, go work as an advisor for nwc!!!
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DonGio
Promising
Famous Hero
of Clear Water Mountain Clan
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posted November 09, 2002 03:05 PM |
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I don't know if that's why I hate HOMMIV, but it could be.
In response to the thread name, show me a better-working TBS set in a medieval/fantasy world, and I'll be all over it.
Choose well
DonGio
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There are 10 types of people: Those who read binary, and those who don't.
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Agent00BLeRD
Adventuring Hero
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posted November 10, 2002 07:35 AM |
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Why Homm4 and not other games? Hmmm...
Well, for one thing (*giggle*) you can STOP an army in mid-movement on the map if you see that they're gonna head into danger. Something not possible in Age of Wonders 2. (Or if it is, PLEASE tell me).
I'm trying disciples 2. Seems like a good game.
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shaowei
Adventuring Hero
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posted November 11, 2002 09:02 AM |
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Dongio:
HOMM3? Of course you've been all over it for quite a while so that doesn't count... Actually, no game offers the ability to hoard creatures as effectively as the HOMMs.
Agent00BLeRD:
You are right about AOW2, I don't seem to be able to stop the army in movement. One of the small things where HOMMs excel.
Here, I tried to compare the concept ideas of two TBS'es and why they shouldn't be merged. I guess, too much time on my hands last week
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aces170
Hired Hero
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posted November 11, 2002 09:42 AM |
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i actually liked the hero development concept alot, but on second thoughts i havent played disciples 2... guess i should be buying that game
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there is no god, he is yet to be discovered
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