Let's be honest - the plot for maps is not important at all if they are made in an interesting way.
An interesting map in terms of tactics, concept, and battles is much better than kilometers of text in an XL map, where there is nothing else.
There are few interesting S maps in terms of tactics and development - in this regard, M maps are better, but not XL maps. Although S maps can sometimes be very rich in content. And a battle of 10 Champions against 10 Titans will hardly differ from a battle of 10,000 Champions against 10,000 Titans, except for the ambition of the player whose army had 10,000 of these monsters.
Справочник по НоММ-4 http://handbookhmm.ru/pamyatka-dlya-heroes-iv.html
Памятка по НоММ-3 http://handbookhmm.ru/pamyatka-dlya-homm-iii.html
и HotA http://handbookhmm.ru/vyishla-obnovlennaya-pamyatka-dlya-homm-iii-hota.html