A 2nd Chronicles Newsletter

Angelspit · Unread postby **Angelspit** » 06 Feb 2007, 15:52

<img src="/http://news.ubisoft.com/p/50047/64238/shadow.gif" align=right vspace=10 hspace=10>If you elected to receive communications from Ubisoft, the second edition of the <b>Chronicles of Ashan</b> should be in your inbox right now. It includes an article about The Skull of Shadows (written by Jeff Spock and Erwan Le Breton), an update on the Hammers of Fate fan manual, background information about the "Red Haven", Heroes of Might and Magic V wallpapers and a report on Nival Interactive. Also, our own Myythryyn answers a few questions about mapmaking:

<i>"Making a map can be compared to painting a picture. Except you don’t use paint, you use objects and terrain. With the terra morphing of the editor and the multitude of objects, I do find inspiration just from the editor itself. I also find ideas for maps from the lore of the [Heroes] universe. For the map Playground of the Gods, I used information from the Celestial Heavens website to create the dragon gods and to provide background information about the races. The Daughter of Sylanna provided me with the idea for the Fury of the Elements map. And for the map I’m currently making, the Undead Converter becomes a plot mechanism and an inspiration for story telling."</i>

If for some reason you did not receive the newsletter (the December issue never reached my inbox), you can <a href="/http://news.ubisoft.com/P/v3/Microsite. ... 1006">view it online</a> (thanks addicted).

If you would like to take a look at the original page visit this link:
https://www.celestialheavens.com/1170777130

Starbatron · Unread postby **Starbatron** » 06 Feb 2007, 16:07

Yes this newsletter was excellent. And the new manual is great. Does it come in a black and white version yet?

On a side note, I haven't yet been able to figure how to create allied maps in the RMG. When I change them to allied, it gives me a message about the RMG marker being lost and the map not regenerating in multiplayer. Anyone know what the problem is?

theLuckyDragon · Unread postby **theLuckyDragon** » 06 Feb 2007, 16:27

I read the French version of the Skull of Shadows story provided in that link and I have a question: does "World Coordinator" really translate into French as "coordonateur d'univers"?

AngelEyes · Unread postby **AngelEyes** » 06 Feb 2007, 16:40

The Undead Converter plot mechanism sounds very interesting. Can't wait for this map to come out.

Elvin · Unread postby **Elvin** » 06 Feb 2007, 17:08

Hmm when I try to edit my ubi account I don't see an option for this newsletter. Any ideas?

theLuckyDragon · Unread postby **theLuckyDragon** » 06 Feb 2007, 17:08

I'm sorry guys, if there were a forum I wouldn't be nitpicking... >:)

But if the Skull of the Seventh Dragon is that of a human, why do they use the outline of a real dragon's skull? Is it the same in DM? Did Sar-Elam *become* a dragon when he "ascended to the sphere of the dragon gods"?

arturchix · Unread postby **arturchix** » 06 Feb 2007, 17:20

Elvin, go to Ubi.com, login and edit your account. Click submit button and on the next page you will be asked to select various brands you wish to receive info about. Tick on the Might and Magic box and there you go! I didn't receive the first issue, did it and received the 2nd.

Elvin · Unread postby **Elvin** » 06 Feb 2007, 17:33

Thanks! I had done that a few days ago and seeing as I did not receive anything I thought there was something else I should do. Who knows...

But since it is online who cares!

Elvin · Unread postby **Elvin** » 06 Feb 2007, 17:36

@tLD

It's not very clear. Even in the history pages it is vague though chances are we'll learn something in an expansion

It would be a shame if obscure pieces of history had no impact on the game, don't you think? *grin*
Edited on Tue, Feb 06 2007, 10:37 by Elvin

Marzhin · Unread postby **Marzhin** » 06 Feb 2007, 17:46

@ tLD : I think that's the closest way to translate it. "Coordinateur du monde" doesn't really work. But even in english "World coordinator" doesn't mean much I think...

theLuckyDragon · Unread postby **theLuckyDragon** » 06 Feb 2007, 17:52

I suppose the "int." in the German version stands for "international"?

Darmani · Unread postby **Darmani** » 06 Feb 2007, 22:19

Heroes V has been critically acclaimed by fans and press? What fans? What press? Certainly not me...

I also have trouble believing Nival's philosophy is "fun," unless their definition of fun is staring at pretty graphics and doing as little reading as possible...

Gaping_MAW · Unread postby **Gaping_MAW** » 06 Feb 2007, 23:08

Starbatron, I've got allied maps going with the RMG, perhaps PM me once the forums are back up?

Kalah · Unread postby **Kalah** » 07 Feb 2007, 00:03

So... that's what J.S. was working on...? Disappointed.

Starbatron · Unread postby **Starbatron** » 07 Feb 2007, 01:52

Thanks Gaping_MAW! I'll do that. This is my first foray into the map editor.

Kareeah Indaga · Unread postby **Kareeah Indaga** » 08 Feb 2007, 01:55

Not sure where to put this, with the forums down, but the official site (in US anyway; haven't checked others) says Dark Messiah has had a price drop.

winterfate · Unread postby **winterfate** » 08 Feb 2007, 02:40

Myythryyn's making another map?

I have GOT to play that map when it's done!

Avalon-Eternal · Unread postby **Avalon-Eternal** » 08 Feb 2007, 05:31

You mean J.S was just working on this? It was ok... you shouldn't need a news letter to explain a games plot though... though it was better then watching one of those cut scenes.

*Darmani*

Who knows? Like every game does that, just because one guy on Gamespot gives a game a 10 they slap *critically acclaimed by fans!* and then they probably bribe one of the game rating sites to get *and press!* Bad joke sorry, but yeah, hate when games do that. If people actually looked at the market, took a lot of good game mechanics and actually (this may stun some people) give 2-3 years for creating the game then we wouldn't have terrible games coming out all over the place... now that a lot of games use already created engines they whip them out in no time, like COD 3, it came a *mere* year after COD 2, granted it was decent, but given some more time it would have been better, and in the world of games you can't go only half way, its either fun or not fun.

Done ranting, sorry. HOF was the best expansion for a heroes game though, so they get some points there, but make us another, the news letter was nice, but it was over in 10-15 min. And it kinda spoiled the plot for me too, I wasn't expecting them to have the entire H-5 plot in there when I opened it in my inbox, oh well, nothing special...

Elvin · Unread postby **Elvin** » 08 Feb 2007, 11:31

HOF was the best expansion for a heroes game??

Why is that? The sheer ammount of campaign missions? The astounding quality of the storyline? The absolutely not boring haven part? Oh I get it: The ending that showed almost NOTHING or the amazing intro cinematic.

Seriously it was fine but both armageddon's blade and shadow of death were miles ahead. Alright we got the dwarves but that's pretty much about it and alot more things could be done to surpass the previous expansions. As for the H4 ones it's no feat to do something better, is it?

CloudRiderX · Unread postby **CloudRiderX** » 08 Feb 2007, 20:00

@Avalon-Eternal

You have GOT to be kidding me. HoF is the WORST expansion yet. Armageddon's Blade and Shadow of Death were infinitely better, and I think the two mini-expansions Gathering Storms and Winds of War were better too. I'm not even gonna bother pitting it against Price of Loyalty.

One new faction(the rebels) is recolored models of another already existing faction; only with different abilities, you don't even get to use the dwarves until a good deal into the campaigns, and the campaigns themselves are lacking in storyline besides not being fun at all.

Heroes 5 is not any different than it was before the expansion.

It still sucks.

The Heroes Round Table