Posts from Heroes 5 developers answer questions.

This topic is divided into two parts:
1. From the first post to the second are answers from the developers before release (old topic).
2. From the third post onwards, there are answers from the developers after release (new and interesting topic).
3. There is also this topic for discussing the developers' answers -> /topic/565/

Because cheating is not a heroic thing to do.

1. "When will the first patch finally be released?!"

I won't use general phrases about how work is boiling over in a sweat... etc., and so on. I'll be brief: Patch DJNJUT:E - ..No, it's not Da Vinci's code; we are encrypting while awaiting the official press release. But you've guessed that there's only a little bit left, right? ;-)


2. "When will the editor be released?"

...As for the editor, you'll have to wait a bit longer, as work is currently boiling over to transform it from a professional tool oriented exclusively toward seasoned developers into one that is friendly to the average user.
We will try to release the editor as soon as possible, as we understand its importance for a prosperous heroic future, and we will try to do this no later than August.
By the way, in "Three," which is constantly cited as an example, the editor also didn't appear immediately ;-)

3. "And where is the map generator?"

We plan to release it after the editor. I can't say more precisely yet.

4. "The forum developers don't read..."

They read, they read... Oh, how they read! They even share the best examples of folk creativity with each other. Not to mention that targeted work is being done to collect and systematize comments and suggestions – so you really can help us make the game even better.
It's true that developers write almost nothing on the forum, but I will try to the best of my ability to correct this regrettable omission and answer your most relevant and interesting questions as much as possible.

5. "I started playing and I don't understand why everything is so easy; where are the enemies and castles that you can build up as much as you want?"

You will have enemies, castles, and difficulties. The first campaign is indeed largely tutorial-based, although you'll have to strain yourself toward the end. And it will get even cooler after that, so practice on the weak and defenseless first...

6. "Why are the maps smaller than in Three? Why are there so few single-player and Multiplayer maps?"

Quantity, in fact, rarely turns into quality; more often it's the other way around, which is why we first strove to make good and interesting maps, even if they aren't many or as huge. In any case, once the editor is released, there will be plenty of maps – for every taste and size, including those from the developers.

7. "By the way, about Three – you modeled the game exactly after it, didn't you?"

It's better not to ask such questions so that the fans of Two, Three, Four, and other parts of the heroic epic among the developers don't fight each other while trying to answer.

8. "Are there cheats in the game, or rather, why aren't there any?"

Because cheating is not a heroic thing to do.

9. "In what language was the game developed: Russian or English? Why are there text errors in the Russian version?"

Essentially, all in-game texts were made in English as soon as possible since it's an international language and the Heroic series enjoys fame and love worldwide, so the game was developed from the start with global domination in mind. Well, and our French publisher still understands Russian poorly.
Since for most of the development process the game existed in English and most developers worked specifically with the English version, those regrettable errors crept into the Russian version that we simply didn't have time to catch – but we promise to improve ourselves and fix these errors with patches.

10. "Where is the balance?"

It exists!
Don't rush to draw conclusions about the strength or weakness of certain castles or hero development paths simply by comparing the characteristics of individual units or basing it on the results of a few random battles. In Heroes V, every side has its own strengths and weaknesses and its own special tactics capable of leading to victory.
Of course, balance will still be adjusted and refined, and that's completely normal, as the release of the game and the subsequent involvement of the general playing masses is what allows all weak and vulnerable points of balance to be identified, which no beta test would show.

10. And finally, the most important thing: "What is a tank doing in the game?!"

Everything's fine – it's an elven one!

Quote:
Message from Garlok
Want questions? I have some.
...Will there be, as in Three, a second type of hero oriented toward development in another direction?

No, it's not planned for now.
...In general, the existing system is oriented so that the playstyle for different castles differs significantly: castles are tailored to heroes and vice versa. In principle, if you want, you can hire other heroes; you just have to keep an eye on morale.


Quote:
Message from Maximillian
Question: if the release date of the first patch is not being publicized yet, can we find out its approximate size?

The size of the Russian patch is ~ 39mb


Quote:
Message from Jonny13
I would like to ask a question: how do you feel about the already quite large number of same-made mods posted on respected resources (such as heroes.ag.ru and celestialheavens.com)? I still don't install them due to fears that the patch will then be installed incorrectly.

We feel good about it, in the sense that if people are making mods, it means the game is of interest. :-)
As for their functionality, naturally, that is on the conscience of their authors, and since the mods are unofficial, no one guarantees their compatibility.
The patch should indeed be installed on a "clean" distribution to avoid possible problems.

Quote:
Message from ArtX
Main question for the developers - will the interface be improved? After all, it's not the most convenient right now.

It will be improved, but not fundamentally redesigned.
Accordingly, we are interested in your feedback about it, but not in the style of "everything is bad," but with specific comments and suggestions. (Only, please, not here, but in the wishes and bugs thread)

Quote:
Message from ArtX
Second question: why are there so many "Test" folders in the resources - didn't you have time to clean them up before release? And there are untranslated texts...

Cleaning them up during the pre-release period was not our priority, as they do not significantly affect the size of the distribution or the consumer qualities of the product. Moreover, not all resources marked as test are actually so, and any cleaning conducted in a tight timeframe can lead to unpredictable consequences...

Quote:
Message from Gryph0n
Oh, could we have the generator earlier? Otherwise, we'll finish all the maps — and then what?

Don't worry about the maps: As I already wrote, we will try to release the editor within the next two months - and when it is released, plenty of maps will appear on the Internet.
A good generator is a labor-intensive thing, so it takes time to make one. For now, our priority is the editor.

Quote:
Message from Dracul
Will an option allowing alliance play via hot-seat be included in the patch?

In the current patch - no. Possibly, this will be done in subsequent ones.


Quote:
Message from Eilassie
Tell me, honorable sir, why not a word about the new castle??

What castle? (that's already two whole words)


Quote:
Message from march_cat
1. Will the informativeness of the interface be improved, specifically how many resources are missing for an upgrade - troop training, and the ability to actually read what buffs/anti-buffs are applied to a creature?

We are working in that direction :-)

Quote:
Message from march_cat
2. Regarding Ultimate abilities... At the moment - they are like communism - seemingly on the horizon - but practically impossible to achieve...?

Exactly: That is the party policy!


Quote:
Message from KFOSTER
1. Will there be an opportunity in a Duel to build and recruit an army yourself?

A similar idea is being worked on - but not in the near future.

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Message from Neutral Unit
1. In which patch is network play planned to be stabilized?
2. Is the introduction of set artifacts planned, and if so, when - in patches or add-ons?
3. Actually, I'd like to hear something about add-ons (Just don't tell me you aren't planning anything of the sort).
4. Is an expansion of spells planned (not standard, a couple or three, but something more significant)?

1. Game stability, including network play, will increase with each patch.
2. Maybe.
3. Neither Nival nor Ubisoft have officially announced any add-ons.
4. Which specific spells are you missing?
Quantity, as I already said, rarely turns into quality: the more spells there are, the fewer differences between them. It's like those same Dendy cartridges: "1000 games on one cartridge!" ;-)

Quote:
Message from Frig
"Bringing the ghost of a question to the appropriate topic form".
What will happen with cheats?
Will they stay, or be eradicated?

They will be eradicated as much as possible.

Quote:
Message from Gadji05
1. Will a hero "doll" (character sheet) be added?
2. Will there be an option to exit/load the game in combat mode?
3. Will the ability to view the "kingdom" be added?
4. Will there be mega-monsters in the game, like Azure dragons, fairy tale dragons, etc.?
5. Will it be possible to view hero specialization during scenario creation? Because synonyms don't point very accurately to heroes' special abilities.
6. Will set artifacts and specifically the cloak of the king of same-undead and cursed armor be added?
Thanks in advance for the answers.

1. Doll - Unlikely. What is its functional use?
2. The ability to exit/load the game in combat mode will be added in the near future.
3. Most likely it will be.
4. Not planned for now, although, in principle, it could be.
5. We'll think about it.
6. Sets will probably exist in general. As for which specific ones, it's too early to say.

Quote:
Message from LkGhost
I would like to know the fate of the "portal to city" spell; will it have a choice of city or not?

"Portal to city" with a choice of city is a cheat. Everyone will strive to have it, and where is the variety then?

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Message from Alfa-R
I would like to better understand the game mechanics.

A more detailed manual including game mechanics is currently being prepared. It will be posted separately for download in the foreseeable future.

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Message from Fog of War
Could an item fixing the battlefield size be added to Game Options?

Why? What's wrong with the existing system with two sizes: Normal\Siege?

Quote:
Message from Gryph0n

Will it be possible to use the spacebar to enter/exit the current building? Will hotkeys be customizable?

Why specifically the spacebar? Now, for example, "Esc" is a universal hotkey for exiting most interfaces.
As for customization, hotkeys are already customizable :-) In the Profile game folder, in your profile, there is an input.cfg file that is easily edited.

Quote:
Message from Woodcat
Will the interface be improved/changed to be more friendly:
Adding buttons (for example, wait -- in battle, sleep -- on the map)

Specific things in the interface that cause many complaints will be improved. Also, some new interfaces will be added in the future.

The Wait button will be there.

Why put heroes to sleep - this isn't a Tamagotchi :-) Turn off the reminder about remaining movement points, put the Hero aside and that's it.

Quote:
Message from Woodcat
Will the font change?

The existing font was chosen by UBISOFT. You can try asking them :-)

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Message from Stud_NPN
Do you play your own creation? Do you hold Heroes tournaments in your office?

Of course! Though we haven't held any tournaments yet.

Quote:
Message from [N
CTAC]Is work being done on the "hero skill wheel" specifically...

Regarding ultimate abilities, I already wrote - that's why they are ultimates.

Regarding balance in general and the balance of perks and abilities in particular - there is no limit to perfection here and it will still be corrected, but carefully.

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Message from Vormis
Will there be a hall of heroes (I think that's what it's called) in the patch as in previous parts?

You mean "Hall of Fame"? - In principle, it is planned to be added.

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Message from razor515
I would like to understand why it wasn't possible in the official Russian release to allow the player to set English text if they wished.

Because this is Russia and Russian is our native language :-) Localized versions of Heroes for other non-English speaking countries also do not contain English - generally, this is standard practice.

Quote:
Message from ryran2006
Will there be new maps in the near future (meaning a couple of weeks), as almost all old ones have already been completed on the hardest level?
I'm afraid if new maps don't appear, interest in the game will vanish long before August, when you intend to release the map editor.

New maps will be in the second patch, so quite soon.
Regarding the editor, by the way, I didn't say it would come out specifically in August, but that we would try to release it *by* August, meaning June-July.

Quote:
Message from f1driver
Is the possibility of playing via direct IP planned?

With the first patch, you'll be able to play over a segmented network. As for direct IP, we aren't planning it for now. If there are many requests, we'll think about it.

Hello everyone!
1. What is the developers' policy regarding polishing the game?
Good question! :up:
Generally, the development policy for the series and Heroes V in particular is determined primarily by UBISOFT as the owner of the rights to this game universe and, even more so, as our publisher.
Development prospects, in turn, depend on the sales volumes of licensed versions of the game worldwide...
It's too early to talk about possible add-ons. As for patches, we actually plan to make them more than just patches; that is, they will not only fix technical bugs but also develop the game by introducing new features and elements. In general, we intend to release patches approximately once a month.

2. Why did it take so long to release the first patch?
Strictly speaking, this question doesn't belong in this thread, but since I've had to read quite a few fantastic assumptions on this topic—ranging from it being some kind of marketing calculation to us delaying the patch solely out of spite—I want to clarify that all this additional time was spent on nothing other than testing the patch (or to be precise, several patches for different versions of the game), identifying bugs, fixing them, and testing again... :) It is a long, painstaking process that isn't always easily predictable, as the most serious bugs tend to appear just when it's thought that everything is ready and press releases can be printed—that's Murphy's Law for developers ;-)

3. What will be included in the next patch? (The question was actually about the first one, but since it's already out, I'll tell you a bit about the subsequent second and third ones)
The second patch, which should be released toward the end of June, is mainly aimed at improving Multiplayer, both in technical aspects and Gameplay. New multiplayer maps will also appear in it. It's hard to say exactly how many new maps will be in the second patch itself, but essentially, from the moment of its publication, we will start regularly releasing new maps individually without being strictly tied to subsequent patches.
The third patch, planned for the second half of July, will primarily contain an editor. By the way, enthusiasts will be able to create not only individual maps but entire Campaigns.
Naturally, both patches will contain technical fixes and some additional game elements.
In the patches, we will also continue working on improving AI and balance.

4. Will the patches be cumulative or must they be installed strictly one after another?
A final decision has not been made yet. Most likely, they will be cumulative.

5. On the world map, some objects are often covered by others—is there a plan to add a transparency setting?
Not exactly a transparency setting, but we are thinking about an alternative solution.

6. Is the current map size in the game the maximum size, and is there a plan to increase maximum map sizes in the future?
In the editor, maps of the following sizes can be created:
Small – 72x72
Medium – 96x96
Large – 136x136
Extra Large – 176x176
Huge – 216x216
Currently, Small and Huge sizes are not used in the game.

7. Will there be female character models?
No, none are planned for now.

8. Is it possible to create an in-game encyclopedia of the heroes' world, i.e., one that can be called up directly from the game?
The idea is good, of course, but considering the expected volume of such an encyclopedia, I'm afraid it would be difficult to implement... In principle, if you print the most relevant pages of the detailed same-game Manual currently being prepared, it would probably be even more convenient than constantly switching to a separate screen for a hypothetical in-game encyclopedia.

9. Doll! Doll! Doll! ...Slots! Slots! Slots! ;-)
As I've already said, we see no practical sense in having a character "doll" in the inventory window—let me try to explain why: The thing is, Heroes is not an RPG, where such a "doll" is standard because collecting various loot and constantly equipping and re-equipping your character is practically the core Gameplay. It must be understood that artifacts in Heroes are not the same as armor and weapons for characters in a classic RPG. In a classic RPG, a character without armor and weapons is not just incomplete, but practically non-viable, whereas in Heroes any hero can exist wonderfully and even win without any artifacts—meaning artifacts here only serve as bonuses; accordingly, the hero's inventory is nothing more than an auxiliary screen.
As for artifact slots, their number was consciously reduced because a situation typical of large maps—where a hero carries several boots, swords, etc. simultaneously and all of them give various bonuses—is not only strange but quite detrimental to balance, allowing for the creation of completely absurdly powerful heroes.

10. Is it true that Nival studio did the voice acting itself?
If you mean whether the developers themselves spoke into the microphone—no, those were actors :) And generally, the Russian voice acting was done by our colleagues.

11. Will the overall informativeness of the interface be increased?
- Descriptions of creature abilities (? )
Descriptions of creature abilities should appear in the second patch. (Actually, these descriptions already exist in the game, but unfortunately, they are not displayed anywhere yet)
- Descriptions of magical effects cast on creatures (? )
Double-clicking the right mouse button on a selected creature shows the magic effect cast upon it. As for a detailed description, we don't plan any for now.
- Tooltip: where units will shift on the ATB when a spell is cast (? )
There definitely won't be such a tooltip.
- When viewing abilities, show which other abilities they are needed for (? )
Actually, we consciously hid information about hero upgrade paths because, in our view, it's roughly the same as reading Walkthroughs before playing missions. Therefore, we don't plan to introduce such tooltips directly into the game, but corresponding information is planned to be added to the user manual describing game mechanics that we are currently preparing for release.
- Clarifying information directly on heroes, specifically their initiative and damage dealt (? )
The initiative of all heroes equals 10. The damage dealt by a hero is shown when selecting the attacked creature.
- For some heroes, specify in the description exactly how their innate ability modifies with level (? )
This will be done in the future.
- Will spell power be shown in the spellbook outside of combat as well (? )
Unlikely. I understand this refers to combat spells; accordingly, information about their power is primarily needed during combat.

12. Why are there so few neutral monsters in the game? Will there be mixed neutral squads?
Neutrals—that is, creatures not belonging to any of the castles—are no fewer in Five than in the originals of the third or fourth parts. As for mixed squads, perhaps we'll do it (At least personally, I like this idea :) ).

13. Will there be rated duels, or only practice?
Rated duels will be available. In general, by the end of summer, we plan work on a serious improvement and development of the duel mode. We've already gathered quite a few interesting ideas regarding this—one of the highest priorities is, of course, introducing the ability to create your own same-duel presets.

13. Will there be new castles/units? Will there be an additional alternative upgrade for creatures? Will the appearance of some creatures change?
In patches, no new units, and even less so new castles, are planned to be introduced, for quite obvious objective reasons, I think. It's too early to talk about possible add-ons. :cool:
Alternative upgrades (i.e., a situation where you can choose which creature to upgrade an existing one into) are bad because, in reality, it would likely end up being own "no-alternative" choice, as between two creatures to choose from, one will still be better than the other (otherwise they would be practically identical).
Appearance of some creatures? - Well, I don't know :-)

14. Will it be possible to use the same sophisticated scripts in the editor as those currently used in Campaigns?
Actually, when I said that the editor is being brought into a more user-friendly form for ordinary users, I didn't mean that we are now busy diligently cutting its functionality :surprise: . All existing capabilities will be preserved, including the ability to use "sophisticated" scripts and create entire hero campaigns :up:

15. Will the game be further optimized for laptops?
As I mentioned earlier, the first patch will fix a bug preventing Heroes V from launching on many laptops and generally on hardware with integrated video. As for optimization itself, laptops as a whole are objectively inferior in performance to desktop computers of formally the same level, and some special optimization for laptops is unlikely to be possible. Check this: If other modern games also run poorly on your laptop, then the problem is clearly not Heroes. So it's more a question for hardware manufacturers... As for general game optimization, we have certainly worked on it, and will continue to fix corresponding bugs as they are discovered.

16. Will other field sizes be introduced besides those already existing?
In the foreseeable future—no. Field size very strongly affects balance and the game as a whole, so you can't just add or change something here. It's enough to say that existing sizes were selected over quite some time and through fierce arguments.:insane:

17. Will some creatures hate others?
Possibly, we'll set them against each other in the future, but not for now. :)

18. Will new hero classes be introduced?
No, none are planned for now. This would require a serious balance overhaul.

19. Will duels be returned to Hot-Seat mode, and LAN to Ghost Mode?
Unlikely.

20. Will HOMM 5 be released for other platforms? For example, Mac OS?
For Mac OS, yes. None are planned for other platforms yet.

21. Will there be changes in creature characteristics? Why are level 7 creatures so expensive and weak?
In principle, individual changes are possible for the sake of balance, but they're unlikely to be fundamental.
As for the cost and relative weakness of seventh-level creatures compared to previous games in the series, this was done consciously. The thing is, in previous parts, highest-level creatures were so ultimate that simply possessing them practically guaranteed victory over an opponent who didn't have them, not to mention defenseless neutrals, and made lower-level creatures unnecessary. In the fifth part, however, you can win by betting on a large number of relatively low-level creatures, meaning you can choose between a numerous or high-level army, and this choice is not always obvious. The appeal of seventh-level creatures, considering their price, lies more in their special abilities than in being the main striking force.

22. Is it possible to make an optional disable for the castle fly-over when entering a city? Will the building interface in the city be redone/improved?
Disabling the fly-over will be done. There are no plans to radically redo the city interface. Fixing something—possibly...

23. Why aren't there beautiful texts in frames saying an artifact was taken, etc.?
The thing is, such texts were read once, maybe twice, and then simply skipped by most players, so it was decided to sacrifice them to speed up the Gameplay.

24. Why is it so hard to level up ultimate abilities? Why can't all heroes level them up? Why aren't they equal to each other?
Roughly speaking, ultimate abilities are summoning abilities—a pleasant but not mandatory bonus that can be obtained by the end of the game as a reward for extra effort; that is exactly how they should be perceived and that is why they are so hard to get, and why no path leading to their acquisition is shown in the game. Getting these abilities is like hitting 10 out of 10 targets at a shooting gallery :super:

25. Did we have ideas that for some reason didn't make it into the game but could have improved it?
Ideas, of course, there were. For example, simultaneous turn mode, which was originally planned, but simply ran out of time due to its complexity.

26. Where should we write our suggestions for the game if not in this thread?!
Actually, this thread was intended not so much to collect endless lists of game suggestions (there are more suitable places for that http://forums.nival.com/rus//topic/28106/), but rather for answers to the most relevant, interesting, and concerning questions, for direct communication and direct speech, and as a place where we could share our vision of the heroic past, present, and future, slightly outside the boundaries of official press releases ;)

Private:
1. Warlock cannot get Resistance because the prerequisites for it fill all 3 slots in Defense and there's no room left for Resistance itself or Counterspell, for which Resistance is a prerequisite.
Yes, this is a known bug. We have already fixed it.
2. What does the "Weakening Strike" ability do in the Knight's ability tree? Doesn't it improve a demonic ability?
For the Knight, it improves an analogous knightly strike. In the Russian version, it is called "Oversight".
3. Will Axel (Klaus in the English version), the Haven hero specialty, be corrected anytime soon? Currently, it looks like a legal cheat (at level 20, cavalry bonus of 50% damage for every cell traveled).
I'm not sure about "anytime soon," but we are working on it.
4. Will the bug preventing reaching level 4 of ancestral skills be fixed? For Academy—Greatest Artifact Master. The same "Pendant of Mastery" artifact solves the problem... Meaning the ability works.
This is not a bug, it's a feature :shuffle:
5. Will personal skills for some heroes be changed? For example, Nura's "Mana Replenishment" blocks all hopes for career growth. Same as Maahir and Necropolis Zoltan.
We will check and fix if necessary.

PS. "Calm! Just calm...!" (c)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Eilassie "melancholy and sadness" For the third time I'm asking - will there be snow and an engine change?

Well, since you're asking for the third time...
There will naturally be no changes to the game engine (how do you even imagine that ). Snow will be added.

NecroFill1. Is it planned to allow playing duels over a hotseat connection, and not just over LAN?
2. Is it planned to add the ability to create your own hero and assemble an army for a certain amount in duel mode, instead of only playing with pre-set combinations?

P.S.: These questions may have already been asked, but I haven't seen any answers... although, in principle, this problem is obvious...

Greetings everyone!

Apologies for the slight delay in responding - there were reasons for that...
And, by the way, a sincere request for the future - do not write your questions in capital letters - such questions will be ignored.
...Now let's continue:

1. Why is it impossible to sell artifacts?

One of the features that we simply didn't have enough time for. Perhaps we'll do it in the future…

2. If artifacts are not a vital part of the game, then why do they repeat? This point has always been irritating. An artifact is called an artifact because it should be a single specimen.

That's exactly why they repeat – because they aren't the most important :) They repeated in previous parts too…

3. Will artifacts that give, say, +1,+2,+3 mana per day be introduced into the game, as well as artifacts giving +1 sulfur or crystals or mercury etc., or an artifact analogous to the "Horn of Plenty"?

It's hard to answer such questions definitively, as similar things are not planned far in advance, and if they are, they can change several times. When it comes time for new artifacts, that's when we'll select bonuses for them. Theoretically - everything is possible ;)
By the way, regarding artifacts giving +1, +2, +3 mana per day: currently there are artifacts in the game that give +1, +2 Knowledge, which provide +1, +2 mana per day (besides simply increasing its pool)

4. Is it possible to remove the default abilities given to heroes? Skills are normal, but some abilities deprive certain heroes of the ability to level up their ultimate.

I repeat: leveling the Ultimate is not mandatory at all. It was intended specifically as optional. It can realistically be leveled only in greenhouse conditions, i.e., playing on a large map against a computer opponent – playing against a human, you're unlikely to develop that way. Playing the campaign, if you manage to get it at all, it will be around the last mission, which is quite beatable without it. We do not plan to make obtaining it easier, as it is specifically ultimate, and if there were guaranteed ways to get it, everyone would immediately focus on getting it, and any game would boil down to a race for the ultimate. For the reasons described above, we see no problem in the fact that some heroes cannot obtain it at all, and we do not plan to specifically fix this here.


5. Why did the esteemed developers come up with a new world and scenario instead of using the old one? Why reinvent the wheel? Especially since the old scenario had its own advantages, as well as many beloved heroes.
Old heroes like Crag Hack and Sandro are often mentioned in the game. What is the connection between the old and new worlds?

The new world and scenario were created by UBISOFT, based on the fact that the history of the old world had already become quite tangled in previous parts, and so many contradictions and inconsistencies had accumulated that continuing it was becoming problematic… The connection, as you noticed yourself, is mainly in the heroes.

6. Tell me, why does the description of units and their capabilities on the website not match the game?

In the game, during the balancing process, unit characteristics and their abilities often changed – I imagine it was problematic to constantly track this process on the website. In any case, the website is not a detailed manual for the game; it only gives a general idea of it.

7. Can we get an exhaustive answer regarding the return of Dark Knights?

We do not plan to return them to the Castle.

8. Will it be possible to capture enemy siege engines?


Unlikely

9. Why do vampires restore their numbers when attacking undead?

In our game, as you may have noticed, vampires don't suck blood, but feed on energy – life energy, in the case of the living, or magical energy that makes dead flesh move, in the case of the undead. One could even argue which energy is more powerful.

10. If for some reason you cannot make a doll, then I beg you, tell the truth!!!

Truth about what? Why it wasn't made? - I already explained: you may not believe me, but we didn't make it because we didn't consider it important whether there would be a doll or something else in this interface… Perhaps we will still make it later, although we don't guarantee it.

11. Why does the hero ride through walls on a spirited horse during a castle siege?

If this weren't the case, heroes attacking from a distance would have an unjustified advantage over melee heroes during a siege. And depriving all heroes of the ability to attack during a siege would be unreasonable. One could, of course, come up with some complex scheme, but we were limited in time to reinvent the wheel where it wasn't necessary

12. Necromancy: is the possibility of raising zombies or ghosts (in smaller numbers than skeletons) foreseen?

We had similar ideas before and perhaps we will still implement them…

13. Why were "donkey" ears given to "good" dragons? For a joke?

Perhaps the dragon ate too many elves, perhaps in childhood it was often pulled by its ears… And in general, how do you know what the ears of a real dragon should be like? :shuffle:

14. Is there any plan to update the game to version 1.5.4.3 (1.543)? Are there people on the development team who understand the essence of my question?

There are no such people. There were several assumptions. Thank you for the quiz. The question remains unanswered.

15. I just can't understand what animate dead is doing in summoning magic? It would be more logical to put it in dark magic.

Oh, that's a long story… In short, that's how it happened historically :)

16. Was the gameplay specifically turned into a wall-to-wall action with a stupid computer that loses when outnumbered 5-6 times? Yes, certainly, tactical possibilities are slightly wider, but in practice this manifests in the fact that by the tenth reload I KNOW EXACTLY when and what needs to be done... otherwise - only on major holidays. I assume a review of the model is not planned?

The AI is, at the very least, no worse than in previous parts of the series. And by abusing reloads, you can win even against a supercomputer. I didn't understand what was meant by "stupid wall-to-wall action" given "expanded tactical possibilities"… :rolleyes:

17. Why is stone skin, for example, cast on all units, but the same destruction beam only on an area? Although when selecting the corresponding skill, it says the spell will be mass.

Because the destruction beam is fundamentally more powerful. Its effect stacks. As for the description, we'll check it, and if there's a mistake – we'll fix it.

18. Is it possible to introduce "Ambiguous" spells into the game that improve some unit parameters and worsen others? Is it possible to introduce a corrosion spell that would deal increased damage to mechanisms and elementals?

The same as with artifacts. If we add new spells, then theoretically their effects could be anything, including those listed above, but since we aren't adding any for now, fantasizing about this topic is pointless.

19. Why does your vision not involve dividing heroes into warriors and mages within a single faction? After all, the entire skill system is conceptually aimed at the fact that different types of heroes can be raised. In practice - ONE effective strategy in each faction and practically no options... What kind of warrior, for goodness sake, is a hero with 12 attack, 0 defense, 10 spell power and 3 knowledge... We know how to hit, but not how to block... We can cast magic reasonably well, but only a couple of times, we don't know any more...

Firstly, you are exaggerating: it takes effort to develop such an unbalanced hero.. - Although, of course, he will most likely have an advantage in attack or defense, but that is exactly normal. Secondly, you can perfectly well hire heroes from other castles who have the specializations you need. And if, as you want, all castles initially had both warriors and mages, then the differences between castles and their original tactics would be partially neutralized.

20. Hello, I want to know from the developers what program was used to create 3D characters?

To create all 3D objects, including characters, MAYA 6 was used

21. Tell me, is this intended or just a flaw: when you try to upgrade creatures in the Tower of Upgrades (I don't remember how it's called in the original) and there aren't enough resources for an upgrade, it doesn't say which resources are missing and by how much?

It can be considered a flaw

22. Esteemed developers! Could you briefly formulate (if it's not a secret, of course) the task Ubisoft set before you (for example, maintaining some connection with the previous series, refining the skill system of 4, leaning towards multiplayer and so on)?

It's no secret: The main task is the revival of the series after the well-known events. Uniting fans of the third and fourth parts, and attracting new players is desirable. Initially, the publisher wanted a revolution in gameplay, but gradually they agreed on evolution, synthesis, and combining the best from previous parts of the series.

23. If, as you write, "the Russian version was crept into by those annoying errors that we simply didn't have time to catch – but we promise to improve and fix these errors with patches", then maybe you could help people like me (there are many of us) and give a person who bought the licensed game the ability to CHOOSE the language?

Do you know many licensed games published in Russia (excluding MMORPGs, which aren't localized in principle) where such a choice exists? I personally don't recall a single one (although perhaps there were a few once). Such are the rules of the market and the terms of agreements with publishers. And it would be strange to release a Russian game on the Russian market in English. As for text errors, most of them have already been fixed in the released patch.


24. In interface design there is a whole set of CONVENTIONS that have long been established and recognized by all. For example, [Enter] = OK, [Esc] = Cancel. Why are this and many other conventions violated by you? Similarly with right-click tooltips - they are almost everywhere (even over the OK button), but not where needed (number of creatures in an outside building etc.).

Actually Enter and Esc are used exactly as you say in most interfaces. I find it difficult to answer regarding other principles since you didn't specify them. As for tooltips on the number of creatures in buildings, I might be wrong now, but I think they weren't in previous parts either – at least not in 3. I agree that the more tooltips, the better, but everything takes time, and by setting priorities in development we are sometimes forced to sacrifice such things or leave them for patches.

25. Why does the main road to the Haven castle end up against a wall section when approaching it, with neither a gate nor a door there?

Perhaps such an unpleasantness happened on some map, but generally the castle has gates and usually the road leads exactly to them.

26. You said you would support modders. How is this manifested?

In the editor, which we will try to release by August, it will be possible not only to make maps but many other things, though it's too early to say specifically what ;-) Furthermore, we specially made the game resources open so that they could be edited without additional difficulties (with some restrictions regarding network play). After the release of the editor, we will try, as much as our strength allows, to answer pressing questions related to it on our forum (naturally a manual for making maps will be attached to it). As for official support and its forms, the publisher and I are still thinking about this issue.

27. Will anyone from Ubisoft be here (naturally, Russian-speaking)? Since you cannot answer some questions, like the one about the addon for example, let them come and answer themselves. At the same time they will see suggestions.

If we cannot answer some questions now, it means that TOGETHER with UBISOFT we are not yet ready to answer them for some reason.
I would also note, by the way, that thanks to this topic the Russian gaming community currently knows a bit more about the future of Heroes than everyone else, because we naturally try to share as much possible information with you.
As for Russian-speaking French colleagues, firstly, as far as I know, there are none, and secondly, I wouldn't count on their talkativeness ;)
As they say: Everything in its own time

28. Question-suggestion: can a "Use System Font" checkbox be added to the settings - then the player could choose themselves? By the way, a system font would likely help offload the processor on "minimal" machines.

Implementing this as a setting is technically difficult. Moreover, the existing font was chosen and approved by the publisher as the only correct one…

29. What about building your own castles, like in HOMM3.5? (i.e., a hero can destroy any city and build a city of their race in its place, with 2 conditions: A. break 1 building per 1 day (just like construction). B. absolutely all buildings must be broken to change the castle's race).

Although this was done in HOMM3.5, in our view it somewhat contradicts the original concept of the series, so for now we do not plan to introduce such a possibility. Although I think that modders, configuring the game for themselves, will be quite able to add such a possibility to the game…

30. A question arises about the hero. Why give him the ability to shoot/hit? It's somehow unclear: if we take HoMM III he should peacefully smoke on the sidelines, occasionally casting something; judging by 4, when is he supposed to charge into the field to receive and deal damage left and right?

Well, we weren't making 3 or 4, but 5! :super: Therefore, having analyzed the advantages and disadvantages of both approaches, we hope we found the most balanced solution, where the hero is active enough in battle, but nevertheless cannot do without an army, as was the case in 4.

31. Are the developers, i.e., Nival, entitled to influence the success of the Game, express disagreement with some ideas/prejudices of the publisher, introduce (at least for consideration) their own ideas aimed at increasing the popularity of the fifth part of Heroes and so on?

Yes, of course! We worked together on this game and argued a lot about various issues, which in the end only benefited the game. In some places we managed to defend our point of view (like keeping the turn-based mode), in others we accepted the publisher's point of view (like increasing the arena size), but more often we came to a good joint solution.
There are enough fans of the Heroic series among the developers, and in general we have always put more into our games than just money or time, otherwise why would we do this? – After all, there are easier and faster ways to make money. And in general, differences in points of view on some things and related emotions are absolutely normal when people care about what they do.


32. How accurate is the skill wheel currently used by everyone?

A localized "skill wheel" available for download is posted on our website – we can vouch for that one. In those I've seen online before, there were some errors.

33. Will a function to disable animations on the world map be introduced?

There is no particular point in this, as by our estimates it consumes few resources and even on weak machines its disabling will not give a noticeable performance boost.

34. A question for the map makers: do you play what you make yourselves? Because I have no words regarding the Legacy map - only emotions!!! You leave the castle and almost at the entrance there's a guard of solid dryads and archers. And guarding mines with druids and archmages on Exile is just funny... and sad...

Firstly, of course they play, and more than once. Secondly, I specifically looked at these maps now – everything is normal there. Dryads and archers are only level 1-2 creatures. Druids and Archmages on "Exile" guard gold mines, which also fully corresponds to the balance: such reward - such guard…

35. How many people do you have working on testing? And especially, testing the patch?

Both we and UBISOFT are involved in testing the patch. I find it difficult to name the number of testers at UBISOFT since I don't know exactly (but there are many), and our number is also difficult as such information is usually not disclosed, but they exist ;-)
Another thing is that unlike consoles, where everything is the same for everyone, computers and software (drivers, current OS state) are different for everyone, and many bugs encountered by certain users we haven't seen ourselves and cannot reproduce. Naturally we work on fixing errors, but not everything here is as simple and fast as one would like.

36. Why can other races, having captured a Haven castle, effectively use training?

We will fix it.

37. Approximately how much time went into creating the plot for the campaign (in my opinion this is the most successful part, just super)?

It's hard to say how much time was spent directly on it at UBISOFT, but in general, its development and approval took several months. Then, of course, it was further corrected during implementation.

38. Why does the "Defense" skill (10%, 20%, 30%) turn out to be cooler than "Offense" (5%, 10%, 15%)?

Not cooler :) In reality, the first strike already has a very great significance in battle, and receiving an additional 30% bonus on it is too much. Now, for defense +30% at maximum is normal. Offense, in general, is always by definition stronger than defense, which is why the bonus numbers are corresponding.


39. Will there be a converter for old saves so they can be loaded after the patch? If yes, then when? If no, then why?

Actually they can be loaded now - it's just that if something was fixed on this specific map, you probably won't see the fix. But in the next map (if we are talking about a campaign) everything will be normal, so there is no need to start the game over. Therefore we see no need for a special converter.

40. Would it be better to remove the "possible damage" tooltip in battle mode? I look at the scale of who moves when, I look at possible damage and whether they will retaliate, I skip the weak ones, I choose stronger warriors and - kill without losses; isn't that too much?

What you described is exactly tactics, where having certain information you decide when and whom to attack. It's just that before some people played Heroes with a calculator or calculated damage in their head, and now this information is available not only to hardcore players but also to ordinary players, which, in my opinion, is fair.
Winning without losses against weak neutrals is, of course, possible, but against a hero with a comparable army and especially against a human – that's unlikely.

41. Is it possible to put a close button (cross) on all windows you open in the game?

Most such windows can be closed via the "Cancel" button and the "Esc" hotkey. Adding a cross everywhere is problematic.

42. In screenshots from a year ago, a luxurious, magnificent, stunning sky was visible. Where is it now?!

It's reflected in the water :)
In reality, it didn't fit well with the actual game (more precisely with various camera angles) and we had to give it up…

43. Are you going to add hotkeys to the game menu?


No

44. Why does the "Sworn Enemy" ability not use non-upgraded/upgraded troops as a single enemy?

Because in that case, it would be easy to define almost all of the opponent's creatures from the corresponding castle as sworn enemies, which would leave this opponent no room for maneuver when dealing with a human, or simply give too strong a bonus if dealing with AI.

45. Will the upcoming editor be only for maps, or are variations possible (with possibilities to edit hero abilities, troop stats, racial abilities, etc.)?

Variations are possible… :super: We cannot tell you more in detail yet.

46. Why does the tent heal a certain number of times?

Otherwise, with it one could wipe out all (or almost all) neutrals without losses, simply leaving a few unfinished and cycling turns with the tent. And since we don't want stupid turn-cycling in battle waiting for full restoration, nor overly easy battles without losses, the number of charges is limited.

47. Will creatures be able to move without a hero in the future, as they did in part 4?

On their own – no. But alternative ways of delivering reserves to the battlefield are being worked on…

48. Will the possibility of playing as the same heroes be removed in duels? Yesterday I played Ossir against Ossir, and the opponent spitefully set up almost everything mirror-image... In the end I spat and left...

It is the players' right to decide which heroes to play against whom in duels – why deprive them of this right? If they want to play as identical ones – let them play as identical ones :)

49. Will a pause be added to network games with limited time per turn? Because if you need to step away, you can't even stop the game.

If people set a time limit per turn in a network game, they probably want to play dynamically. Your opponent on the other end of the wire is unlikely to like it if you drag out your turn for a reason not obvious to them, especially since pausing could be used simply to think over some action better, i.e., to cheat. Moreover, Heroes are turn-based and you can attend to your own affairs during the opponent's turn.

50. Will a mode be added (I forgot what it was called in 3), which would show the location of resources, artifacts, buildings on the open part of the map?

Unlikely - It seems no one really asked for this.

51. Is it possible to add the ability to switch players to AI in multiplayer games?

We'll think about it…

52. The Elf Hunter kills the target immediately on the first shot, why does he shoot at it again?!

That's a coup de grâce :cool:

53. I strongly ask you to comment on the following AI actions noted by us during four consecutive hot-seat games on xl-maps on the highest difficulty level: after about four game months, the computer stops showing activity on the map (having previously run quite quickly and developed well), locks itself in castles and just sits there until the balance finally and irrevocably shifts toward us, while we are generally trying to make life as difficult as possible for ourselves to make it more interesting. It feels like he's getting scared

This is most likely just a bug. We'll look into it - fix it if necessary.

PS. "He flew away, but promised to return!" (c)