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People complain about the new features and the new city in Hota. Let them complain, but I don't understand why they play The Shadow of Death with such complaints instead of The Restoration of Erathia, where there was no terrible city of Conflux and other "new unnecessary features."

Because this is the official version of the game. What is officially released is, in a way, sacred. Because the person has known this game for a long time.
Hota can position itself however it wants. But it will never become an official expansion.
And there are people who simply don't recognize fan-made creations, no matter how great they seem to their creators and their fans. I'm saying this very seriously.

In Hota, you have to study new objects, artifacts, monsters, etc. Personally, I don't like this. Neither the need to study them, nor the objects themselves. Moreover, many unknown things cause me internal disgust, resistance, and simply look ugly in terms of their physical characteristics. Even if Michelangelo drew them. I don't care.
Although I agree with many things regarding balance, like the fixes for Necropolis. But many things are also not to my liking. Moreover, the adequacy of various small details is questionable.
In short, in a situation of "I like this, but I don't like that," in the end, it will be "I don't like it."

Statements like "why are you adding new features to Hota and neglecting SoD," in my opinion, are equivalent to a complaint, say, to Baratortch: "why are you adding new features to SoD and neglecting The Restoration of Erathia."

You reason this way because you accepted this version of the game as the game. Many have not done so. They don't recognize it. As a game for themselves.
Some people like it - fine. Play it, who's stopping you?
And even the fact that they added tricky things like simultaneous turns (I'm talking about myself) won't make me switch to it. And not because of my love for restarts. I recently decided to play with a friend. The algorithm is as follows: Download, open, launch, look at what kind of crap it is. Complain, close, delete, forget.

In short, SoD as such is already dead, but I prefer the HD+ evolution branch. Definitely not Hota. And its pigmen with marshmallows. You can talk about how "all the cool guys" or "the strongest players in the world" play it, but it's all nonsense. Dog crap. Even if some followers can be found.

In general, I realized that the ND mod is its direct competitor. If it hadn't existed, and Hota had appeared immediately, then it might have had a chance. That is, sitting here with Heroes 800*600 without quick keys and trying it out, it would be "wow, that's something." But even then, it probably wouldn't be a sufficient argument for the masses. There's the example of TE/WoG.
And in general, it has its own community. And SoD has its own. Which I said earlier. - Another division.

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Yes, there was a cool post here that said that people will start respecting the creators of Hota more if they do something. Personally, I have no dislike for either Savu or Baratortch, because they are high-level programmers and experts in their field. And they are also adequate people.

Whether they add something to SoD or not, it won't add or decrease my love or hatred. Even though that first week saves a little time due to the OH, Heroes will still remain a game that devours real time. Nothing will change fundamentally.
If you have 6-8 hours, sit down and play; if not, don't sit down and don't bother with your saves. OH is not a panacea, in short.