The Best HOMM Clones or games influenced by HOMM

[Rymbeld]

Hi,
I don't really know a lot about various HOMM clones, but I'm sure there are many of them out there. So I'm starting this thread to find out about them! So talk about good HOMM clones and their pros and cons.

I'll kick it off with one HOMM clone I have played: Lords of Magic!

Pros:
-Units can gain experience and rise to fifth level. So you can defeat larger armies provided your units are very experienced!
-You can train new heroes so that they can begin at a higher level.
-The soundtrack is really good.
-A hero can control three combat units and an army can consist of three heroes.
-You can see the combat units traveling with a hero on the adventure map. So the larger your army, the larger your entourage: you aren't just one guy on the map.
-Greater variety of factions: good, evil, life, death, law, order, chaos, air, water, fire, earth.
-Diplomacy: you can request or give troops to allies and trade with other players.
-Thieves can capture other heroes and then interrogate and torture them.
-Some buildings on the map were multi-level dungeons.

Cons:
-Lack of a substantial player-made-map community. there are some out there, but there aren't as many.
-The battles are real time. boo!

Overall I thought LoM was a pretty solid game.

[Pol]

With exception of graphics, which today looks way scattered.

LoM SE was great game, principially better than Homm3, maybe comparative to Homm4 but this is much newer game so it wouldn't be fair. However it wasn't released in most part of world outside US. Like in some europian regions and some other "minor" locations.

Here are patches (unofficial) for LoM SE allowing to see your units magic resistance, interrogation factor and many other useful things. Unforutnatelly with more things to control AI cannot compete. So, comparsion to Equilibris would be pretty exact. But variability is greater. For multiplayer here servers kali (another patch).

Next game is legendary Master of Magic from Microprose. Even older and even better. Sky Dragons rocks (alas here was also relased multiplayer patch by fans)

Wiki says:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lords_of_Magic
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Master_of_Magic

[Chai26]

games influenced by heroes? i think the best one i ever played is disciples 1 and 2, played disciples 1 a little while after i played heroes 3, both games have brilliant combat system which focusses more on leveling units up than unit numbers , the campaign was brilliant and the combat animation IS PHENOMENAL!

[Humakt]

both games have brilliant combat system

I wouldn't personally call Disciples combat system brilliant even in wildest dream, but otherwise it is the best "HoMM clone".

[Omega_Destroyer]

I wouldn't call Disciples a clone really. I think it's distinguished itself enough from the Heroes series with the spell system, creature evolution, land capture, etc, etc.

[Chai26]

i feel quite at home when playing disciples series and kept reminding me of heroes

[ThunderTitan]

Yeah, when ever i play chess it reminds me of Heroes too... damn cheap knock off.

[Rymbeld]

I wouldn't call Disciples a clone really. I think it's distinguished itself enough from the Heroes series with the spell system, creature evolution, land capture, etc, etc.

Maybe not a "clone" but, having read about the game now, I think it's obviously heavily influenced by HOMM. Here's some review excerpts fro Disciples I:

At a glance, Disciples looks a lot like New World Computing's turn-based strategy hit Heroes of Might and Magic III. The resemblance isn't purely coincidental either - Disciples is clearly modeled after the Heroes games' basic structure. As in Heroes III, you'll hire heroes and armies, explore a vast overland map for treasures and resources, and wage turn-based combat against either neutral monsters or the roving armies of your enemy. In fact, the similarity between these games is such that if you keep your eyes glued to the isometric overland map, you might think for a moment that you've just booted up another game of Heroes. (Gamespot)

You will recognise Strategy First's Disciples immediately, if you have played New World Computing's, Heroes of Might and Magic series. It is a turn-based strategy game and contains many of the elements seen in other games of the same type.(Game Boyz

But there do seem to be a lot of cool innovations in the game, too. I really want to check it out now. I'm glad I started this thread since I hadn't heard of it before.

Of course, I don't think that a game's being a "HOMM clone" is a bad thing, since I really like HOMM. If there are more games out there that are a lot like HOMM but with cool variations, then I'd like to play them. HOMM is my favourite game.

[Pol]

Purged. Discussion about human logic is inessencial in that thread.

I see Chai is traing to get leadership... so here's one big NO NO to that style. It's completely irrevelant how much posts do you have, it's quality what counts. Improve.

[ThunderTitan]

I think it's obviously heavily influenced by HOMM.

They're both TBS.... jeez.

[Chai26]

still, i find no other TBS for similar comparison than heroes and disciples series

[ThunderTitan]

Tada:

[Chai26]

i presume that is Age Of Wonders and yes that is also another good comparison.