Posts from "HW rulez" mod (add-on) for HoMM3.

Hotkeys are interesting; you just need to choose the most optimal and convenient ones for a specific action. You should test them out yourself before implementing them. Maybe it's possible to make them customizable?

That makes sense. I've already experimented with several of the features mentioned above, and I liked them. I think each player can express specific wishes here. Then, they can be summarized and implemented. I was thinking about customizable options. I'm not sure yet how to best implement them. The simplest option is a separate executable in the Heroes folder with a settings window.

By the way, does the HD mod have a hotkey for swapping troops between two heroes? And are there buttons to transfer troops back and forth between stacks? I know the rest.

I don't remember if those were available.

I don't remember seeing those options available.

So, buttons on the exchange screen – for swapping armies (swapping on the unit tab, or on the spacebar for artifacts, for example – would be useful if they weren't already assigned) and for moving specific stacks back and forth – also need to be added. Ideally, customizable hotkeys for everything would be great.

It's strange that Tower with its relatively expensive parapet and Necropolis are not included in the list =). Level 2 is needed by all towns for construction, except Castle and Rampart, and the cost of level 2 is different for each town; spending 1k on Harpies or 1k + 10 wood and 5 stone on Wolves is a big difference at the start.

You can immediately see the Jebus Cross enthusiasts. It's only there that level 2 is not needed at all for Castle. On other templates, archers are the main striking force until week 3. Imho, Castle needs level 2 even more than anyone except Conflux.

Two hands up for the table for quick reference!!! It should be attached to the town selection.
And also in favor of a mandatory level 2. Personally, about 50% of my restarts are due to the lack of this.

And saving the list of town/hero/bonus selection. Sometimes it gets downright annoying to have to click through everything manually each time, especially on templates like Minosty or Diamond.

I don't care about the 2-stack limit; I'll still play without these extra levels for the town or hero. But it would be nice to have an option to enable it; it wouldn't hurt anyone.
A table for the Dungeon faction would be very useful.

A sign like this would be very fitting for the Dungeon faction.

I agree! It's a pretty good idea!

You can immediately spot the Jebus enthusiasts. It's only there that a Castle's second level is utterly useless.
And the same goes for a mandatory second level. Personally, 50% of my restarts are due to the lack of this.

I do not consider myself a Jebus enthusiast =). The second level for Castle can be skipped even on a mininost template. If the second level were mandatory, other reasons for restarts would emerge (only two stacks arrived or only one native hero in the tavern). You have to play with what you're dealt.

Having only one native hero in the tavern is a good reason to restart the game :smile04:

Having only one native hero in the tavern is a good reason to restart the game :smile04:

Of course, it was said in an exaggerated way; the point is that you can always find a reason to restart the game.

Judging by most of the posts, my opinion on this matter doesn't align with the majority, so I won't argue it too much, I'll just state it, in case there are any like-minded people after all :) The less randomness at the start, the more equal the conditions for the opponents, the better. That's why I really like HotA - because of the mandatory three stacks and the mandatory second-level buildings. Of course, we can't remove all the randomness from Heroes, and even if we did, it would be a different game, but I just can't understand the point of such randomness when one player chooses, for example, Valeska, and another chooses Kal'Hak, and Valeska arrives with three stacks and built-up archers, while Kal'Hak arrives with one stack and no Gogs. These things can and, in my opinion, should be balanced and made equal from the start.

one takes Valeska, for example, another takes Calh, and Valeska arrives with three stacks and built-up bows, while Calh arrives with one and no gods.

If restarts are available—use them; if not—don't take Calh or risk ending up in such a situation.
With 3 stacks and level 2, you can set Calh and restart, for example, if you got a bad artifact at the start (like Eagle Eye, etc.). In a starting situation with random stacks and level 2, you might, for instance, get Calh with 2 stacks without level 2, but with a necklace for +1 speed, and such starting conditions would be acceptable.
In the case you described, people will eventually get used to the luxury and still want more.

On one hand, I agree with the philosopher; on the other hand, if there will always be 2-level creatures, it will create an even faster pace and further strengthen already strong castles (for example, upgrading harpies in the Hell level provides a good speed boost to everyone, and the Castle can immediately upgrade archers, etc.), which I don't like. We should strive to strengthen the castles that are weaker compared to the others, which can be done by giving outsiders, for example, Inferno, a permanent advantage, such as always having Gogs available (just an example, or increasing their chance of appearing). Having 2-level creatures everywhere will help already strong castles more than it will help a Tower, Citadel, or Inferno, in my opinion; always having 2+ stacks will also help both, but "weaker" castles will benefit more from this because the start will be easier – Inferno will have a ranged stack, Barbarians will have Gobs and dogs, the Tower will have a sufficient number of gargoyles, and they can also be upgraded if desired, etc. That's my opinion.

SKD exaggerates too much :D

If there are restarts — use them; if no restarts — don't pick Calh or risk ending up in such a situation.
With 3 stacks and level 2, you can set Calh and restart, for example, if you got a bad artifact at the start (like Eagle Eye, etc.). In a starting situation with random stacks and level 2, you might, for instance, get Calh with 2 stacks without level 2, but with a necklace for +1 speed, and such starting conditions would be acceptable.
In the case you described, people will eventually get used to the luxury and still want more.

In my (possibly incorrect) view, restarts are ultimately intended to avoid generator glitches. There are some random things, such as the possibility of bad generation, that we cannot influence. And then there are those that we can.

shameonyou, you're making a good point; it didn't occur to me. Indeed, perhaps setting level 2 immediately leads not to better balance, but on the contrary, to strengthening the strong Castles even further. That is worth thinking about

Well yes, one got Valessa with 3 stacks and an empty respawn, while the other got Calh with 1 stack and 3 cons. Let's give Calh 3 stacks and an upgraded 2nd level, because it's just not balanced otherwise.

And why the talk about respawn? Can't you scout other respawns and find it there? Or are you generally against changes of this kind, and nothing needs to be done, let everything stay as it is? Some towns are weaker, some are stronger? Why limit Conflux, Galthran, necro power-ups, necro resource gathering? Why not do the same in the opposite direction? (slightly buff the towns that are weaker than the others)...

Or are you completely against such changes, and nothing should be done? Should some factions remain weaker and others stronger?

Exactly. And in general, I would remove half of the restrictions from the rules. Vic, as I recall, quite accurately described the real overpowered strategies in the game; if I'm not mistaken, they included Necropolis builds, Diplomacy, 4 damage dealers, and stealing control from under fortified units, as well as hit-and-run tactics. Everything else doesn't have such a big impact on the game and could quite easily be allowed. For example, Mullich and specialists of level 4 were unbanned; did anyone suffer as a result? No one did; it just means there are fewer rules to remember. Are they better than Gunnar, Kirr, or Crag? That's a rhetorical question. In my opinion, it would be possible to allow Fae, Mages, and Vampires. And Isru and Vidomina, but only prohibit them from being chosen as starting heroes, like Gosh. At least they finally removed the Red Rush strategy. Also, remove Cartographers and Forts from the map. And allow the Grail, in all castles. And all these 2-level buildings and 3 stacks at the start are just catering to the small, heroic weaknesses of people who want a relaxed game, where everything goes smoothly and the game is under complete control. This is the same as the absence of morale, global skills, experience for troops, overpowered scouting, replacing scrolls with gold, etc., in the World Tree expansion. And as a result, you get those very "knife-throwers" that were mentioned above, who need the sun to shine at the right angle, the knife to be of the correct weight to the gram, and the wind to blow exclusively in their favor, and not in their face, in order to hit their target. And if this player suddenly finds themselves in a normal environment after this castrated experience, they immediately panic and start swearing, saying that the damn SOD is to blame, that he placed obelisks near the castle, and now they will lose 5 more marks and won't be able to take that max-cons with a level 121 hero, as they are used to. And if the morale of a stack of Gremlins is also low, then the chair will burn out in an instant. I'm exaggerating here, of course, but I hope the point is clear. I wouldn't want the younger generations of players to repeat the mistakes that the former top players made.