What is your opinion about Heroes IV?

Thank you, but could you provide a link to the mentioned maps (the author's map and Circle, if it's not a standard map)? At some point, I'll have more free time, and then I'd be happy to play on popular maps, especially now that I have some references.

options for initial unit placement

I meant something similar to Tactics in Heroes of Might and Magic III, where you could choose which units to move and where after an attack.