Posts from A program for determining luck/morality in Heroes 3!

For example, if you don't have this program, then a map with 20 elves is suitable for you (as an example), but if you download it, then you need a map with 40 elves.

Oh, I'm dying of laughter... :D :D :D

If it were that simple, no checks would even be needed; you could just ask:
- What was the result?
- N days
- Did you cheat?
- Of course not.
- Well done, you're the winner.

:D :D :D

I think the use of the program can be tracked; it modifies parameters, so it leaves traces. You just need to find out what it changes and at what address.

The problem is that the game's current working information is stored in RAM. And if you substitute the desired number (information) into the random number generator (and the formula for calculating morale and luck), you can probably achieve a 100% chance of getting good luck and morale in battle, specifically for you. However, I don't know if it's possible for the same unit to get morale twice in a row (i.e., whether a unit can attack three times in a row). Unfortunately, this isn't Heroes 3 or 4, where you can save during a battle, or Heroes 5, where you can record a battle replay. But with a battle save or replay, you can determine whether you used the program! If you repeat the battle fairly, even with the same time intervals and moves, the result will most likely not be as LUCKY. However, as already mentioned, it depends on what computer and operating system you are playing on!

And I also think that it will be possible to track.

Why do you think it will be possible to track?
If the algorithm indicated by the respected AlexSpl is correct, then it will not be possible to track the program's operation. :(

You're an adult, yet you play a children's game, and not just play it, but after completing a map in a couple of hours, you spend much more (many times more) time trying to complete the map in n-1 days. Do you consider yourself a healthy person? ;)

Yes, I do. After all, no one has banned me yet:smile40:

Alpha version is ready. The interface is clunky, but it works. Should I release it?

2wolf64: Can't move the same unit three times.

Let's get started... we'll be ripping each other apart. ;)

And how will it be possible to play online after creating such a program? Let's imagine a situation: Castle versus any other faction, the main battle between the players' armies. Archangels go first, and with high luck, they can eliminate the fastest enemy stack in one hit. Bam! And then the morale drops! And again, luck!!! So, we'll eliminate the second-fastest enemy stack as well. And if we add the Implosion spell (-1 to a unit) or Haste/Slow to this, what do we get in the end? When the turn passes to the second player, he will have, at best, 3-4 functional units left. Half of his army. How much chance does he have to win? And this is if the units are fast, like Conflux, for example. In the worst case, he won't even get to move; you can just sit back with a bottle of beer and watch a video of your army being destroyed. Or surrender before the battle even starts, thinking, "Why bother... the opponent has the fastest unit, and there's no chance of competing with it." Inferno is the second strongest faction, followed by Rampart. In my opinion, the decisive factor in any game will be who goes first in battle. And heroes like Isra, Vidomina, Galtran, and Shahti will no longer rely on luck. Taking the Undead faction on the second week, and the Necropolis on the first, will become the norm. These are just superficial conclusions about the advantages of the program. Offline, the changes are less radical. You just need to get used to the fact that if there's an Azure Dragon in front of a faction, it's not a big problem! We gather one strong attack stack, add a tactic, for example (so that we don't get eliminated on the first turn), and there are no problems. Creating such a program will turn the tactics in Heroes upside down and become the biggest discovery in all the years since the game was created (well, maybe I'm exaggerating a bit :)). With hope for a positive outcome, with respect, Senator.

to Senator
I'm certainly not an online expert, but I think that even without any additional tools, having the first turn is one of the main advantages for any player.

Why do you think it will be possible to track?
If the algorithm indicated by the respected AlexSpl is correct, then it will not be possible to track the program's operation. :(

At first glance, yes, but I think AlexSpl himself can explain more simply how it is possible to track.

There's one remaining issue. Does anyone know how to get the process ID by its name in Delphi (currently, I'm manually entering the ID in the source code)?

GetWindowThreadProcessId(H: HWND);

Yeah... It seems like we can forget about Heroes of Might and Magic III. Personally, I think the "ballista killer" (or whatever it's called?) is a cheating program, and this is even worse... Guys, if this program is used, Heroes of Might and Magic III will definitely die for most players.
Heroes of Might and Magic III, like all Heroes games, is primarily a strategy game, but you'll reduce it to a simple game of catching Black Dragons and relying on luck. And the question is, why? To win a tournament, to beat someone else? This really seems like madness, sorry...

Yes... It seems we can forget about Heroes III. Personally, I think the "ballista killer" (or whatever it's called) is a cheating program, and this is even worse... Guys, if this program is used, Heroes III will definitely be dead for most players.
Heroes III, like all Heroes games, is primarily a strategy game, and you'll reduce it to simply catching powerful creatures and relying on luck. And why? To win a tournament, to beat someone else? This really seems like madness, I'm sorry...

Exactly, just like Vanechki said, with "soft edges"...

Exactly, just like Vanechki said, with rounded edges...

:smile04:
Listen, you probably misunderstood me.
I said two things:
1. Banning Battle Discipline and Luck is nonsense. I won't even elaborate on why.
2. I don't really care, but if a program is released, I'll use it to the fullest. And I don't think it's good or bad. I'll just assume that everyone does it, you know?

These are two completely different thoughts, and they shouldn't be linked together, like, "Don't ban Battle Discipline because a great program will be released" or something like that.
If a program is released, what will change? Nothing. All units will always deal increased damage when Battle Discipline or Luck is active. There won't be any mental breakdown because of this, in my opinion. What used to be random will become a pattern. And that's it.
If it's not released, well, so what!
Again, I'm neither for nor against the program. I don't care. And you shouldn't care either. In any case, you and I (for example) will be on equal footing in an offline tournament. We'll just keep in mind that Battle Discipline and Luck always work.
Life goes on, right?

And if you ban Battle Discipline out of fear, do you realize what a headache it will be to check saves? Do you realize how everyone will start suspecting each other? It will be the end for many secondary skills and artifacts! And if you cover everything with Cursed Earth, it will be a disaster...
NOTHING TERRIBLE!!!

The introduction of such a program can be compared to computers and chess.
With the advent of computers, there is no need for books anymore, and you don't have to analyze games for hours... You open the program, press a couple of buttons, and the computer shows you all the variations and the best moves! And it all started with a small computer that played, due to its weak second-class level...
Many believe that computers have ruined chess, while others believe that they have simplified it!
The same is true for Heroes! It all started with the appearance of a "hero digger" program, then a program that renames autosaves, then a "ballista killer"... And it's not surprising that such a program appears... Moreover, I think it won't be the last!
And on what day would you create a revolution if not 08.08.08? Huh? :D

Added 4 minutes later
I completely agree with Vanechka! Nothing has happened for offline play! It's not a big tragedy! And all the strong players already know how to "guess" morale and luck in their own ways! But for online play, this program will be a blow... although, no, it won't, because online players already rely on private servers anyway :D