Heroes of Might and Magic

**Rosacrux redux** · 08-31-2005, 06:25

A bargain price, nevertheless, but the game isn't really worth much more than that. Contrary to HOMM1&2&3 - all extremely good and addictive games - #4 was a terrible flop, despite the niceties and improvements it included. It doesn't look bad, it feels (and plays) bad. One of the two mega-dissapointments I got from a favorite franchise in the past two years (the other being MOO3).

Hopes seem to be high for HOMM5, but there are still many months ahead before this one comes out so... relax and wait for it!

**Martok** · 08-31-2005, 08:18

Originally Posted by Rosacrux redux

A bargain price, nevertheless, but the game isn't really worth much more than that. Contrary to HOMM1&2&3 - all extremely good and addictive games - #4 was a terrible flop, despite the niceties and improvements it included. It doesn't look bad, it feels (and plays) bad. One of the two mega-dissapointments I got from a favorite franchise in the past two years (the other being MOO3).

GAH!! You just *had* to mention that game, didn't you?

Okay, okay, I just gotta remember to take regular, deep breaths.....

Sorry for the panic reaction, but simply speaking that game out loud makes me wince. For as much as I criticize Rome, and what a letdown it was after Shogun and Medieval, it's nowhere near the horror that was MOO3. I had so looked forward to that game, and I wanted to like it so badly; but in the end I simply couldn't make myself enjoy it. Anyway, onto other topics.....

Speaking of Rome, there is one feature I would love to see HOMM5 borrow from it: The ability for standard units to become Heroes (or at least "Champions", if there's only going to be one main "Hero" per faction). I really liked Rome's mechanism where an "average Joe" leading a stack into battle could be "promoted" from a mere Captain to an actual General after a certain number of victories. I think adapting this feature for HOMM5 would be a great idea.

[edit] Hey, my 350th post! Only took me 2 1/2 years.

**Mithrandir** · 09-03-2005, 19:00

Got it today and been playing it for a few hours, with fun.

Not as lively as the previous ones indeed, but that might just be the campaign...

already worth it's money so far :).

**econ21** · 09-04-2005, 19:31

Originally Posted by Mithrandir

Not as lively as the previous ones indeed, but that might just be the campaign...

The campaigns are better done than the standalone maps, IMO. (Whereas in Homm3, I never cared much for the campaigns).

I really liked the story telling and writing in the Order campaign - Emilia and Solymer etc. It seems to have a lot of role-playing elements.

The Nature town campaign was fun too. I really liked marching my kick-ass druid hero up to the gates of a city alone and then watching him smash up the defending army solo.

The "introductory" campaign - the Life town one - really dragged, despite it being for my town of preference, I couldn't get past the first map.

**Alexanderofmacedon** · 09-04-2005, 20:13

I looked up some screenies, and I have to say it doesn't look to...fun...

I probably have to play it though to get full effect...

**AntiochusIII** · 09-04-2005, 21:20

Originally Posted by Simon Appleton

I really liked the story telling and writing in the Order campaign - Emilia and Solymer etc. It seems to have a lot of role-playing elements.

This is clearly intended to be the best and largest campaign in the game. It is really well done. The mission before the last one let you play Solymr solo and Emilia with only heroes - kind of like a "fellowship of the ring" party. You can see from the intro movie that this campaign is the main driver of the game's storyline.

Originally Posted by Simon Appleton

The Nature town campaign was fun too. I really liked marching my kick-ass druid hero up to the gates of a city alone and then watching him smash up the defending army solo.

The nature magic-using heroes are the strongest, IMO. If you managed to rank up to Grandmaster Summoning your lone hero can take on anything, given time. However, I am GREATLY disappointed by the lost of the Gold dragon (replaced by the equally powerful, but somehow less attractive fairy dragon - I think it gave away to feel of military might associated with those precious Golden dragons) and the weaker looking elves they have. The original grand elves (and the special unit Sharpshooters) look really cool, compare to these weaklings. The campaign, though, was good - it had a lot of romance story in it, and I actually decided to use Elwin as my only hero all the way to the last scenario (I know it's harder this way, but it gives the "adventure" feel).

Originally Posted by Simon Appleton

The "introductory" campaign - the Life town one - really dragged, despite it being for my town of preference, I couldn't get past the first map.

I hate that campaign, despite my love for the Life/Castle faction. Order is now far more dynamic, as Haven fails to capture the "Arthurian" glory of the old Castle. The campaign is unbalanced, IMO. With too much heroes to start with and unbalanced enemies, and especially the unattractive story (Lysander doesn't make such an impressive character - I'd rather think a campaign to establish Palaedra would be much better to play as a Life faction) makes it quite a chore to play through.

**Mithrandir** · 09-04-2005, 22:40

I'm playing the life campaign now, can't wait to train phoenixes again :).Btw. aren't they imensely overpowered ? I haven't played another faction extensively yet, but what I've noticed is that you can build a summoning portal which can summon mantisses, which is a superunit, if you can build phoenixes as well, you'd have 2 level 5 units , no ?

Things which I don;t like so far :

-Having to chose between creatures, this would've been fun if it was just the highest level creature.
-Where are all the upgrades ? I didn't see a single upgrade for a unit yet...
-the castle sieges

Thing's which I do like so far :
-armies don't need heroes anymore to move
-Caravan's --> GREAT

Neutral on :
-Unit spawning, I was really used to having units available once a week...
-Heroes fighting, overpowered indeed,then again also fun.

Are there any good sites for HOMAM 4 ?

**econ21** · 09-05-2005, 00:30

Originally Posted by Mithrandir

I'm playing the life campaign now, can't wait to train phoenixes again :).Btw. aren't they imensely overpowered ?

It's been a while, but you may mean Nature - Life is like the old Castle town. Phoenixes are good, but not vastly better than other level 5 stuff, IIRC. Black dragons, for example, must be competitors for best level 5 troops even taking into account their rate of lower production.

I haven't played another faction extensively yet, but what I've noticed is that you can build a summoning portal which can summon mantisses, which is a superunit, if you can build phoenixes as well, you'd have 2 level 5 units , no ?

I think you get rather less mantisses than normal level 5 troops but they sure are welcome. Every town is supposed to have some special features - this is one of Nature's (summoning being the other, I guess). Most of the other factions get good unique stuff too - e.g. raising Vampires (Death), tons of hard units (Might), lethal ranged/magic attacks (Order) etc. Look out for the water elementals, though - they are nice additions from the portal too.

Are there any good sites for HOMAM 4 ?

I just went to the old Homm3 ones at the time, though some have closed. I printed out a few useful things - one was a list of all the advanced hero classes and their bonuses. But it took me time to understand that you should work towards an advanced class that gives you the two skills (generally one active - magic or combat - and passive - tactics, scouting, nobility - is best) you want to develop rather than fixate on their specific bonuses.