- by Pol
This month I have four topics concerning the Toadish Intruder, Game AI, HoMM3 gameplay, and a new ‘HoMM3 Recollection’ about HoMM2 Gold.
CH Note: "This is a bit abbreviated version of Greg's letter, if you wish to see original, check here."
Fanstratics Troop: Toadish Intruder
Toadish Intruders are a difficult Troop to engage under any circumstance. Wielding a long, heavy rapier, doused with toxins derived from their wart-covered skin, the Toadish Intruder specializes not in killing, but in applying poisonous debilitation. If they are unable to pierce their targets and administer their contaminants, their own thick hide has a chance to apply a pollutant to any Troop brave enough to Assault them. As expected, this Troop is immune to the very contagions it produces.
Justin asked if he could conceptualize and render this Troop on his Twitch stream. I said, “Sure.” This put us on an accelerated timeline as Justin had the last two weeks of the month scheduled for other things. Considering how this Troop turned out, perhaps we should ‘rush’ more often. Another favorite.
For those who want to see Justin create the drawing, there are two VOD’s from his Twitch stream. First is a conceptualization, with the second being the final render.
Toadish Intruder - Colorized by CH
Fanstratics Question: I really like HoMM III and HoMM V (as it close to third part), but I have one major problem with both of them. Mainly we play with my wife in hotseat mode with teams (humans vs AI). And at some level of our skills it becomes quite boring to play against AI (especially in HoMMV). AI becomes predictable or even stupid (for example, AI heroes run back and forth until the end of movement points). So, did you consider such a problem? As I understand, today machine learning can dramatically change the situation.
Regarding the AI, I can only speak to HoMM3. Overall, for something programmed in 1999, I believe it does what it is supposed to do, and I think it does its job quite well. Is there room for improvement? I believe ‘yes’.
Where Fanstratics is concerned, I suspect we will take a traditional approach when building our AI. Still, if time and budget permit, I would like to add additional 'AI profiles' at a later date. This is where machine learning could possibly play a role. We'll see what happens. AI is quickly becoming the newest frontier in game and technology development.
Read on: Fanstratics Newsletters #35
| Comments (2) |
- by Pol
Ok, folks, this is definitively not Babylon V. 
But they hopefully will be bearing the same level of coolness. We might be witnessing turning Master of Magic into Steampunk game. More to be seen after DLC Rise of The Soultrapped, which will be on at 28th August (2023).
Read full annoucement at Steam.
Don't forget that even MoM is discounted now.
Fourteen words to make someone fall in love with you forever. Seven words to make them go without pain. How to say good-bye to a friend who is dying. How to be poor. How to be rich. How to rediscover dreams when the world has stolen them. That is why we are going away—to preserve that knowledge.
~Babylon V
| Comments (2) |
- by Pol
A verbosely very nicely quiet reminder, that period of summer sale madness is back! 
Even Master of Magic is finally discounted
- Heroes VII Deluxe for 9.99€
- Heroes VI Complete for 29.99€ (With individual packages discounted for 3€)
- Songs of Conquest - definitively cheapest 14.99€
- Master of Magic as well 27.29€
- Thea: The Awakening 14.99€
Happy Summer Time!
(Better in nature though. Water is calling.. )
| Comments (472) |
- by Pol
Who could say, that this game would be still alive? And yet, it's.
It does live and prosper, parting not only in "Limited Edition at Gog" but also bashing in continuous modding support to be playable, enjoyable, comfortable and getting some extra love from the fans.
There are several famous modifications:
- M&M Merge678 - Playing all these games in one go with MM8 engine. Collaborative work. See the thread and the links.
- Chaos Conspiracy Redone Enhanced - Based on the original "The Chaos Conspiracy" by Big Daddy Jim, now being cherrished by DaveHer.
- Open Enroth Project
- Immersion Mod - Music Modification
Where you can explore and check various links to other projects. As there's more of it. 
To rephrase from our past:
Introduction, by Vox Clamant
Might and Magic VI is a classic. Perhaps more than any other, certainly more than MM7 and MM8, it is a very non-linear campaign with a lot of flexibility in how you play it. It also seems to have key quests spread over a much wider area leading to a real premium of spells like Town Portal. Indeed, for the first third of the game until you are at a level where you can know the Town Portal spell, one of the two NPCs you will find early on who have that skill are critical.
In the Mandate of Heaven, King Roland has locked himself in his castle, with hordes of demons infesting the land, and a well-hidden traitor thwarting every plan to regain control of the lands. The only hope is that a small band of adventurers from the town of New Scorpigal can accomplish where the great heroes of the land have failed. You must somehow enter The Hive -- a terrible place swarming with demons and worse! -- and kill the Hive Queen in her lair. Only then, can you finally stop the flow of demons into the land.
Might and Magic VI: The Mandate of Heaven
- Released: April 30, 1998
- Synopsis: With Sheltem death Xenofex is approaching
- Five years were worthy of waiting :D
- New Continent Enroth, bye bye Xeen
- Easter Egg Dungeon, go find!
Please discuss that at our forums or you are also encouraged to peek at Mandate Mania site.
Other sources: Mobygames, Eurogamer
- by Pol
Archon games are letting your know, that "Pledge Manager" is now open, for you, to late join in. And it includes even one more faction in, which is Inferno. On popular demands.
What is "Pledge Manager"?
It's a website that works like an online store and is completely separate from Kickstarter. Here you can choose the Pledge you desire the most, purchase any additional Add-Ons and provide us with your postage address. At this stage you can also choose your language version.
| Comments (5) |
- by Pol
Dotemu is all of suden striking with revival of Might & Magic: Clash of Heroes in Definitive Edition. This summer on your PC/PS4 or Nintendo Switch. Users of Xbox were pushed out. 
What will be refreshed or added?
- Art Style, portraits, characters
- Rebalanced MP (online, offline supported both)
- Free DLC, to play for one of 4 villains
- & MP Boss from that DLC
- Story mode
Let us know what you think/expect from the refresh and if you are going to play it again?
See the official trailer below.
sources: Eurogamer, Techpowerup
Also thanks to EvilP to brings that on! 
| Comments (5) |
- by Pol
Age of Wonders IV were released at 2nd May. Reviews are positive and you can expect a tons of funs and hours immeresed in the game.
Game itself is taking over 20GB on the HDD. Minimal requirements seems to be modest too, CPU: i5-2500K/Ryzen 5 1600X, GPU: GTX670/HD7870, OS: Windows 64bits.
As the game is far too complex, I'm linking reviews down. The important message is: "Modding support is in!"
Reviews:
- https://www.ign.com/articles/age-of-wonders-4-review
- https://www.pcgamer.com/age-of-wonders-4-review/
- https://www.polygon.com/reviews/23699360/age-of-wonders-4-review-races-rpg-paradox-interactive
- https://www.eurogamer.net/age-of-wonders-4-review-a-4x-for-the-curious
- https://www.npr.org/2023/04/29/1172672761/age-of-wonders-4-review
- https://butwhytho.net/2023/04/age-of-wonders-4-review/
- https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/age-of-wonders-4-review
And with the Spiff on the end:
| Comments (1) |
- by HeroWO
A new HoMM engine has recently emerged, this time written for browsers and with features rivaling VCMI and fheroes2
- Fully parallel multiplayer (one player's turn or combat don't lock out everyone)
- Flexible combat (any number of heroes, dimensions and stacks per hero)
- Maps with the unlimited number of levels
- Tri-state fog of war (added "terrain explored" state)
- Focus on modding and extensibility
- Potential support of HoMM 2 as well as other classic TBS
- Replays, spectator mode and many more
Project's web site is herowo.game (try playing the Tutorial).
Current version is very bogus and works slowly but the project is actively looking for beta-testers and skilled contributors!
GitHub | Forum | Discord
- Custom combat with larger field, 4 heroes and 10 creature stacks per hero
- Map with three levels
- Adaptive UI for desktop/tablet/phone screens (teaser!)
- Multiplayer with a spectator
- by Pol
Lavapotion together with Mod.io announced Map Contest, running from April 3rd to April 28th, to celebrate their new Map Editor update.
Contestants should provide Large Map (125x125), sticking to default values, when working with entities.
Criteria:
- Large
- Fun to play, good visuals, and best overall fit with the game.
- No need to focus on lore or story, like a classic skirmish map.
- Tag your map with “spring map contest” after uploading your map to Mod.io
Lavapotion will announce the Winners on 12 May 2023 via the Songs of Conquest Twitter.
And the winner can win $1000. Runner-ups can get some rewards too. ;)
src
| Comments (1) |
- by Pol
The Heroes III Castle recreated with the Unreal Engine, simply breath-taking:
Heroes of Might and Magic III - Castle Town UE5 Castle Town from the Heroes of Might and Magic III game rebuilt in UE5. I started with very precise low-poly recreation of the original town in C4D and then used it as a blocking layout in the Unreal beauty phase. Entire project took around month of work.
Can you spot where there's dog in the video?
Who looks like a town mayor?
If you want to see screenshots from modelling the town in UE5, see his ArtStation profile.
Radim Zeifart's ArtStation | YouTube Hurricane profile | And animation company, where he works
Thanks for the alert to Julien "Marzhin" Pirou & Angelspit
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