It's amusing to see players of the HD mod (formerly SOD) still complaining about the direction of some changes, for example, in VT. You haven't played the original SOD for a long time – the map generation has changed, the objects have changed (Naga Bank), not to mention the transfer of troops. Let's just calm down about this (or admit to ourselves that it's time to move on from building second-tier structures, having three stacks, and removing water artifacts).
Don't confuse things. HD only provides minor bug fixes and interface improvements, while VT implies a completely different game dynamic, primarily the absence of morale and Global Skills, the addition of 3 stacks and 2 levels. Secondly, experience banks, etc. Banning water artifacts, gold instead of scrolls, etc., are all minor things that SOD players could easily accept, but many will never be able to accept the absence of morale (which is a sacred canon in VT, unfortunately).