Posts from Esports Federation and Heroes 3 Auto-translated

Are you asking again? Ask for twice as much this time!)

Thanks to everyone. I've got the main points sorted out in my head. Let's see what comes of it.

Added 11 hours and 48 minutes ago
Dilvish is sick; we agreed to call on Tuesday.

Regarding balance in Heroes, I see a few options:
1) Someone should pre-generate and balance maps for players (this approach has already been used).
2) Games should be played on fixed maps, similar to Dota, which would be balanced and tested. (You could even create a generator that randomly selects one of these maps – this would add some randomness).
3) Games could be played on "Arena" type maps, where the game can also be quite well balanced.

But these options lean more towards fixed maps, which, in my opinion, would reduce player interest.

As for specifically random maps, I see only one way to balance them: banning a large number of objects, artifacts, and so on in the game. This is certainly feasible, but it might make the game too limited and uninteresting to play. And introducing a large number of complex rules for players is not a solution. This is what puts many people off, and at the same time, you constantly need to monitor compliance with these rules, which are violated both intentionally and out of ignorance.

Regarding reducing game duration, this could be achieved by holding blitz matches with extremely short timers. I've seen Chinese players play with timers of 1-2 minutes. But this would reduce the quality of the game and annoy the players. It's a kind of degradation...

In general, the idea of esports is good, but for now, it's more or less feasible only with fixed maps, in my opinion. In any case, good luck to you – it's worth a try!

Playing with fixed map scripts creates a completely different game.
The player who puts more effort into carefully crafting the map at home will be the one who wins.

Armageddets, what don't you like about the mirrored map templates? Why do you need fixes? Regarding esports, the idea is utopian. The gameplay won't allow it.

The one who puts more effort into carefully planning their map at home will win.

as if something bad.

as if something bad

I repeat, this will be a completely different game where you won't have to solve problems and plan based on incomplete information about the map. With the fix, you will know exactly what, where, and for how long you can take. Also, much more than skill will determine how well you can methodically explore the map, saving every step of each hero to choose the ideal path of development, and how much free time you have to engage in this nonsense.
In my opinion, this will result in a subpar Heroes and a subpar chess game.

In various Starcraft esports, players practice tactics on pre-defined maps, and no one seems to complain. In LAN tournaments, we can reduce the timer to the Blitz level because everything is practiced beforehand, which shortens the game time and brings us one step closer to esports. Not to mention that random artifacts or guards on the map introduce randomness that cannot be predicted, making it impossible to choose the ideal development path for your castle. There's also an opponent who can make adjustments to your development path. Also, there are fixed maps where the starting positions of the castles are randomized, so you can't predict in advance where you and your opponent will be. You can also include several fixed maps in the map pool to limit the possibilities for everyone to develop perfect tactics. And you can give players several months to prepare, or announce the maps right before the tournament so that no one can prepare in advance. But Vic says that the future lies in mirror matches, and we have to believe him. So, that's the situation.

Armageddets doesn't seem to be aware of the existence of mirrored templates. :) Fixes like those for PotC are perfectly acceptable for expanding the range of options and can even be used for promotion, but they shouldn't be the main focus.

Agreed to meet on the weekend.

Armageddets probably doesn't know about the existence of mirrored maps :)

Wicc, I do know about mirrored maps, of course. But as far as small mirrored maps are concerned, we seem to only have skirmish (S-M). And large mirrored maps (L-XL) will take longer to play. Although, if you set a blitz timer, maybe a match could be completed within a reasonable time (this needs to be tested, of course). In general, I'm all for it – if mirrored maps are played. They're a good way to test skill. This is perhaps the ideal random option. We just need to bring the game format for them to a certain time limit. I see good potential in them in this regard.

Heroes is not an esport – obviously, just like card games, but that doesn't prevent us from holding tournaments for the latest versions.

To the topic of balancing, a poem:

Heroic Balance

Oh, in Heroic skirmishes,
Everyone's either lucky or not.
Some accept it as it is,
While others complain and bark...

Gurnisson suddenly without a ballista,
Elementalists are imba,
Gervulf and Pir — one problem,
Like Gurni — that's the system...
Verdish, Rion, Gem heal everyone,
Often they throw without a tent.
Valeska, Ivor, Calh, Wystan
Without sharpshooters — like a gun without bullets.
Shakti — three stacks of troglodytes,
Nimus buffs the pit fiends.
Bron comes in without Basilisks
In this endless list...
There's Galtran — the opponent cries,
Kyrre, Gunnar jump across half the map.
Dessa — quite the logistician.
Stig — a specialist in magic.
Mephala, Tazar — defense specialists.
Crag Hack, Gundula — everyone's dead.
Solmyr and chain lightning,
Luna — and all enemies burn.
Jeddite, Alamar — now
all battles go without losses.
Ellesar and Andra know
how much magic matters.
Gird and Sandro with magic,
Dimer, Aislin with meteor shower.
But one thing stresses them —
Torgrim doesn't give a damn.

Necropolis — a piggy bank for troops,
Inferno engulfs like sprat :)
Marius and a pack of Demons —
A problem for the opponent.
There's a conservatory, a Dragon Fly Hive nearby —
Super stacks, what a reward.
Dragon Utopias — auto win,
if the delirium didn't get in them.

And in the towns — imbalance,
But everyone has a chance.
Fortress — all faith in wyverns
and gorgons as seasoning.
Castle with archangels, champions,
so loved by newbies.
Rampart — elves and dragons
and HP in abundance.
Citadel — bears, thunderbirds
and it's faster to run from home.
Conflux with growth, magic protection,
speed, and hits like a bat.
Tower with a super magic program,
mages, nagas, and titans!
Inferno — devils, efreet,
demoniacs and pit fiends.
Necropolis with the darkness of bones —
Expect all guests for a visit!
Dungeon — portal and double mana,
Minotaurs and Dragon from the clan.

That's why we love random,
Since we don't know what comes next.
And on a Rogue, and on a Queen —
Carry us, brother, on skill!

Actually, I was at my country house over the weekend and completely missed everything; I just got back. I'll call Dilvish during the week and let you know if there's any news.

It seems this topic is best suited for this kind of information: https://news.mail.ru/society/26050228/
"Honored Tester of Russia" - that sounds impressive! :smile44::smile52: