UPDATED LANDSCAPES – “NVS_Landscapes.pak”

The new NVS module is dedicated to changing the original landscape and environment in the game. The main references and sources of new textures were primarily Might and Magic Heroes VI, to a lesser extent materials from Might and Magic Heroes VII, as well as materials from the mod by the Spanish master Xuxo, who created the GEMs series of graphic mods (red, orange, etc.).

My respected Spanish colleague was one of the pioneers who began to radically change the original visual component of Heroes of Might and Magic V, with the exception of units and heroes. He is more interested in landscapes, environments, buildings, and other objects on the adventure map. This is a huge amount of work, multiplied by skill and desire.

It was his GEMred mod that inspired me to create my own NVS project. Initially, we collaborated, and I included his global mod in the download recommendations. However, we had different approaches to work and decision-making. And, as sad as it was, we parted ways like ships at sea.

But I am still very grateful to him for the communication, advice, and secrets.

Nevertheless, I borrowed some models created by Xuxo from GEMred 0.5.2 for NVS 3.0, and I will describe below what they were and what I did with them:
- models of oaks and birches, as well as huge trees. In them, I significantly changed the textures, brightness, and contrast of the crowns and, in general, all the foliage, so that there would be a contrast against the background of the overall landscape and the trees would not dissolve in it;
- models of flowers, bushes, mushrooms (from the grassy landscape), sunflowers, corn, and pumpkins. I slightly changed the color scheme of the plants so that there would be at least some difference from the original version from GEMred;
- a model of a garden scarecrow, the textures of which I also changed;
- texture of water (both ordinary and special);
- texture of liquid lava, which I reworked, reducing its fraction;
- tree roots in dungeons, the textures of which I also adjusted;
- the lower part of the textures of bridges.

All the other work was done entirely by me independently, without borrowing from other mods. It was difficult for me to create new landscape textures. After all, the imported textures from Might and Magic Heroes VI had to be processed and adapted to Heroes of Might and Magic V. A lot of texture mixes from the sixth part of the game were used to create each new texture for the fifth part of the game, so that they would be interesting. In subsequent games of the Heroes series, the set of textures is quite diverse, which cannot be said about the fifth game. Therefore, this creative work was necessary. And I think I succeeded.