Patch 2.1/1.5

[PhoenixReborn]

I see that i wasn't clear enough in my previous post. Here goes. If they could cut down the time that it takes the a.i. to pass it's turns they already would have. I don't mean how the a.i. plays or general bugs.

I simply mean what dark raider was talking about in his/her post which is 5-10 minutes before he/she gets another turn.

I thought they had done better in HoF but it still isn't great. Still, I was able to complete the XL map Four Kingdoms.

[BDragon]

So where i can download patch 1.3?

[PhoenixReborn]

So where i can download patch 1.3?

http://patches.ubi.com/heroes_might_magic_5/

make sure you get the correct version.

[Elvin]

Here:http://www.celestialheavens.com/viewpage.php?id=611
1.4 is also available.

[aulfgar]

I see that i wasn't clear enough in my previous post. Here goes. If they could cut down the time that it takes the a.i. to pass it's turns they already would have. I don't mean how the a.i. plays or general bugs.

I simply mean what dark raider was talking about in his/her post which is 5-10 minutes before he/she gets another turn.

I thought they had done better in HoF but it still isn't great. Still, I was able to complete the XL map Four Kingdoms.

No no you were clear about it, I kinda danced off the point I guess.

Here goes, the time it takes the AI to take its turn is determined by the algorithem it uses to make decisions, if said algorithem takes a large amount of CPU cycles because it involves division or percentages it will take longer on a computer turn because computers do not divide well. Thus a cleaner AI algorithem would solve the Comp turn problem, but and heres the clincher, they would have to overhaul the AI in order to do this and not just tweak it.

With modern processors many software developers instead of trimming the code to run effeciently will just make sure it works and not worry about optimizing the code to reduce the amount of divisions and other mathematical processes which computers are poor at doing without massive system resources.

Sorry if I was pontificating, I am a mathemitician at heart.

[Capt_Tripps]

There are many things that can't be fixed by a patch, such as shoddy programming that makes the program take up about 2 times the space it needs to. However AI is something that can be fixed by the patch as is shown from 1.3 to 2.0 or 1.4 as they modified the AI to cheat more and to aggressively enter your area to bother you but never attack your castle...

This makes no sense whatsoever. You have no way of knowing what the can and cannot easily do in a patch without looking at the code and it's structure, and seeing what the changes involve.

Here goes, the time it takes the AI to take its turn is determined by the algorithem it uses to make decisions, if said algorithem takes a large amount of CPU cycles because it involves division or percentages it will take longer on a computer turn because computers do not divide well. Thus a cleaner AI algorithem would solve the Comp turn problem, but and heres the clincher, they would have to overhaul the AI in order to do this and not just tweak it.

Maybe they should hire you to go through and replace all the nasty "/"'s with "+" signs. You seem to know an awfull lot about the internal code for H5.

[aulfgar]

There are many things that can't be fixed by a patch, such as shoddy programming that makes the program take up about 2 times the space it needs to. However AI is something that can be fixed by the patch as is shown from 1.3 to 2.0 or 1.4 as they modified the AI to cheat more and to aggressively enter your area to bother you but never attack your castle...

This makes no sense whatsoever. You have no way of knowing what the can and cannot easily do in a patch without looking at the code and it's structure, and seeing what the changes involve.

Here goes, the time it takes the AI to take its turn is determined by the algorithem it uses to make decisions, if said algorithem takes a large amount of CPU cycles because it involves division or percentages it will take longer on a computer turn because computers do not divide well. Thus a cleaner AI algorithem would solve the Comp turn problem, but and heres the clincher, they would have to overhaul the AI in order to do this and not just tweak it.

Maybe they should hire you to go through and replace all the nasty "/"'s with "+" signs. You seem to know an awfull lot about the internal code for H5.

Pardon me for offering an opinion, which is informed, as I have programming skills and an understanding of algorithems and mathematics. The fact that the AI for Homm5 is dumb and takes a year to complete a turn is evidence of a bad algorithem. You will note however that I used qualifiers for the info I gave such as IF they used division or percentages. This goes back to basic knowledge of encryption which is that RSA is hard to break because computers are VERY bad at dividing.(This is a very simple description of RSA)

As for the shoddy coding comment, we have a game that is still felt by many to be in a beta testing form, it has many bugs and a really poor AI. If you think Homm5 is a shining example of coding thats great for you. I on the other hand feel the game needs a lot of work on the AI and some UI modifications. Also Patches rarely will make a program smaller.

Sorry if I offended you Capt_Tripps, but this was a discussion and thus I gave my opinion based on facts I have observed. Fact is that almost all games are rushed to production these days because companies want to get money for the game quickly instead of releasing games when they are ready.(Again this is my opinion)

I love HoMM5 I play it pretty consistantly and it has replaced HoMM3 for me which is surprising to me.

[Capt_Tripps]

RSA algorithms divide large prime numbers to arrive at a fractional numeric sequence to work with to generate a unique, random, unpredictable encryption key. Generating a key requires very little computational power. It has nothing to do with the computational limitations of modern computers and is unrelated to attempts at crack the decryption key. Given that a key is random, unique, and unpredictable enough, it will take a long time to decrypt the message without being given the key. This has nothing to do with divide signs and percentages. It's related the number of possibilities and the unpredictable nature of the solution. Using a couple of divides or percentages is not going to bring the H5 AI algorithm to a crawl.

My H5 exe is about 15 megs. The current map I'm playing uses about 200 megs while playing. Given the ammount of assets that H5 is working with and the size of the exe, it's more likely it's management of the assets that creates problems rather than the size of the exe. Given the sheer number of things that could be causing H5 performance issues, it's impossible to say what they are without studying the code.

I never said that H5 was a shining example of anything, but as a fellow coder, you should know better. My intent was never to offend, although it was quite sarcastic. I hope there are no hard feelings.

[aulfgar]

I may have been overly sensitive.

[Arogance1]

Will the new patch fix the RMG so you can choose starting factions?

[Blaze85]

Let's hope so. It would be good to set teams too.

[gaspi2]

Several things I hate on this game:
1.)long AI turns(well, where's problem? PC don't need to make graphics of black terain so why it isn't so fast like in heroes 3?
2.)AI dimbness - really dumb...u know about what I'm talking
3.) It's hunger 4 memory...first loading is quite fast but when I want to go to main menu and start another one...it takes around 20 minutes instead of 5 to load the game.
4.)Gate crushing:((((
5.)memory problems again:)
6.)and a lot of minor bugs...

However, it isn't so bugged as some other games I have played(like 1 that has completly crushed when u tryed to move backwardsXD)

[Blaze85]

1, I agree this should be improved.

2, The biggest problem is that the ai can't retreat.

3, Harddrive swapping is slow, and in a longer game h5 uses a lot of swap space.

4, I've never experienced gate crushing in 1.4/2.0...

6, By now they've fixed the most annoying ones.

[aulfgar]

AI is definately a problem, the RMG needs an overhaul, lots of minor bugs to fix, like not being able to have level 5-7 critter dwellings on the map editor for Dwarves. (this is without using a random dwelling that matches the derf player)

[insatiable]

Eeer.. i guess having 1/2 games go de-sync isnt much of a prob. Talking of HoF multiplayer..

Neither that somtimes autosave just stops working, and last auto gets to be 2 week turns old

[winterfate]

Neither that somtimes autosave just stops working, and last auto gets to be 2 week turns old

Tell me you're kidding...please!

Truth be told, that's never happened to me before (that would bite...having to reload then suddenly realizing your last save is over three weeks old ).

[Elvin]

How much time has it been since 1.4 came out? Or HoF for that matter? Jeez, by now we should have gotten 2.2...

[omegaweix]

Any day now! Sir Charles said the patch was 99.9% ready just before new year! I have a good feeling about this!

Sorry, I HAD to quote that....

What do you say now?

[Grumpy Old Wizard]

Any day now! Sir Charles said the patch was 99.9% ready just before new year! I have a good feeling about this!

Sorry, I HAD to quote that....

What do you say now?

Now it is 99.901% finished.

GOW

[Elvin]

Yeah, a bit embarrassing! It was one more reason for me to be angry...Oh well.