2009 World Championship for Heroes IV Online.

I don't remember what percentage of players were testing it. Back then, there was little time before the start, and everything was done in a hurry. Now it's summer, and most people are on vacation. I don't understand what you're getting at. Should we only use familiar maps? But familiar to whom? Everyone will still want to push their own map.

Of course. I'm all for a reasonable balance between the old and popular and the new. The "Circle" map, for example, hasn't been played in tournaments for ages.

Well, for example, you're criticizing "Iron" for some reason. Why stifle someone else's opinion? I don't understand you here.

Am I stifling anything? I just expressed my opinion. "Iron" is a map with a single path, meaning there's no strategic depth (routes are figured out in two or three games), and for three weeks, you're stuck in a tedious grind of fighting neutrals, followed by one encounter, at most – a backtrack and a second encounter. As a result, you get a game against the computer plus a huge emphasis on guarding the bridge, which you won't even see or be able to restart on the first day. Get the Castle and that's it.

Regarding the draw. And an automatic one at that. What kind of beast is that? If it works publicly, tell me how.

We can program it. It won't take long, will it? ;)

Repeating maps in the World Championship cheapens Heroes. It's too easy. I understand, Oxi, that you still like to play in HoMM 5 and probably don't want to bother learning the maps from HoMM 4. I understand that. But it will be boring to play the same thing for another six months that you've been playing for years. To write and read reports that have already been written and read a hundred times. Playing new maps in every World Championship – that's success. I want to play in the HoMM'09 World Championship, not just autopilot through it.

I don't agree that repetition cheapens the game. They've been playing soccer with the same round ball on the same rectangular field for 160 years. And it hasn't gotten boring ;)

Some people even find playing the same map twice to be tedious and boring. It's an old debate between those who prefer randomness and those who prefer fixed maps. The former prefer to orient themselves on the terrain, while the latter prefer precise calculation and a detailed understanding. It's just a matter of preference. So, I'm for a reasonable balance of both.

P.S. Yes? And what's so pleasant about "Ekvi"? :)

About "Ekvi"? Fear the Buddha. :D They find your prize policy pleasant. ;)