Heroes 6 - Discussion

I didn't quite understand the meaning of what was written. What does the visual effect have to do with it? And what spells in the third game were "different in appearance" and "the same in essence"?

Dividing into four
At the very beginning of the project, the idea arose to divide all spells according to the mechanism of their action (more details below). To clear our conscience, we, of course, carefully considered and systematically rejected other possible options. For example, we had to abandon the division of spells by schools of elements (remember Heroes of Might and Magic III). As you know, in that game there were four magical groups corresponding to air, fire, earth, and water. But what, in essence, was the difference between "fireball" (school of fire) and "lightning" (school of air)? Nothing! They had practically the same effect on the enemy; the difference lay only in the visual representation. And we, at our own risk, decided to go our own way, which, perhaps, will evoke associations with the fourth part of the series in a sophisticated reader.

One thing is the general development of a hero, another is a build planned out turn by turn.