What type of map(story-wise) do you prefer?

[DaemianLucifer]

Since we have such a heated discussion between two of the mapmakers that will stay unnamed here,I decided that the public should cast the final vote.So,what type of map suits you the best?A linear hack and slash,or a completely opened story driven map?

PS:And dont worry about offending either of the unnamed mapmakers,theyll behave.Honest.Cross my heart and hope to die.

[Corribus]

Is this a scientific poll?

-unnamed mapmaker

[DaemianLucifer]

Nah.This is the Shut-Those-Twos-Yappers poll

Oh,and I just realised that it might be better to put this in the Hereoes I-IV area in order to get more responses.But its up to mods now.

[theLuckyDragon]

From my experience, the solution to such problems is usually at the middle. But it really does depend very much on taste, and everybody counterbalances everybody.

[ThunderTitan]

I just want to read it,I dont have the nerves to play

BEST.OPTION.EVER....

[Wildbear]

A linear hack and slash,or a completely opened story driven map?

That's completely wrong, most "hack&slash" maps aren't linear when story-driven maps usually are.

Vote.. err the second one not much story.

Only the "Your neighbour is dumb, you must take his castle" and that's the story. A good level only needs an interesting environment to choose a strategy.

[Veldrynus]

This could be a fun poll, but the results of it can hardly prove anyone's points. I bet, there will be no more than 20 votes. The vote of much more people is needed. We also shouldn't forget that the CH community is only minority.

[Grumpy Old Wizard]

I chose heavily story driven. I do find other types of maps enjoyable as well however.

GOW

[Wildbear]

Guys you should play RPGs, not TBS games.

[Corribus]

Why?

[Angelspit]

We do play RPGs as well, but HoMM is a strategy game with lots of role-playing elements. That's certainly one of the reasons why we like it.

[Wildbear]

It looks like you like stories, that's what RPGs are about. If what you like is the story and not the strategy, you'd have more fun playing most RPGs around.

That's what I disliked with the campaigns in H4, some H3 maps and the few WoG things I tried, it's all about the story. You're following a path drawn by the mapmaker, are given the necessary resources to beat army A or monster M.

Then all the strategy remains in the combats, which is exactly how it works in most linear RPGs, so you would enjoy a good RPG just as much as Heroes with such maps.

I'm not telling "go away from my playground", I actually like RPGs more than strategy games. I just think you'd have more of the fun you look for with an RPG, just as I do. When I play Heroes, it's for the strategy, not only in battles but on every choice made in the game. If I have to focus on what the mapmaker wants to make me do, I don't have any little moment of fun.

One of the best example is my favorite map in the whole Heroes serie: Broken Alliance. Not story driven, several strategies possible, a virtually infinite replay value. That's the kind of map I like to play in a strategy game.

[Wildbear]

We do play RPGs as well, but HoMM is a strategy game with lots of role-playing elements. That's certainly one of the reasons why we like it.

Many RPG elements, right, but what keeps it away from being a full RPG is that most maps in the serie are not story-driven. So IMO if one likes story driven maps, he likes RPGs, not TBS.

[Corribus]

It looks like you like stories, that's what RPGs are about. If what you like is the story and not the strategy, you'd have more fun playing most RPGs around.

To my mind, the beauty of Heroes is that it is versatile enough to be anything you want it to be. It can be an awesome strategy game, but it can also be a great vehicle to tell a story. Sometimes within the space of a single map. Some people like it more for its strategic elements. Others like it because it offers a relaxed RPG atmosphere. My guess is that the people originally responsible for conceiving of the game probably only saw it as a strategic game and never thought it might be used for RP purposes. But look at some of the great role-playing story maps that have been made over the years! Some of them are downright incredible... and there have been many incredible strategy scenarios too. The success of one type of map does not preclude the success of another type of map - Heroes is different things for different people.

[Corribus]

Many RPG elements, right, but what keeps it away from being a full RPG is that most maps in the serie are not story-driven. So IMO if one likes story driven maps, he likes RPGs, not TBS.

I like RPGs a lot, but one thing that is often missing from RPGs is a good strategic element. Heroes offers both, which is why I like it so much.

[Wildbear]

I didn't like any of those maps. Any RPG I played is much better on that point than Heroes.

And you wrote that Heroes 'offers both'. That is not true on the most story-driven scripted maps around. It removes the strategy. That's why in my opinion, having a story can be good, but being fully story driven is a bad thing.

[Corribus]

And you wrote that Heroes 'offers both'. That is not true on the most story-driven scripted maps around. It removes the strategy. That's why in my opinion, having a story can be good, but being fully story driven is a bad thing.

Then maybe you just haven't yet played a good story-driven strategic map. Maybe they "are not so popular" because good ones are so hard to make??

Btw just so we're clear, when I say I have played many good story maps, I'm referring to pre-H4 maps. Because I have not played any good maps that fall into this category for H4. For that matter I have not played many good maps (IMO) at all for H4, although to be fair that's through no particular fault of the mapmakers.

[theLuckyDragon]

In conclusion: Heroes is anything you want it to be!

Really now, it can't be defined as exclusively TBS or anything. There are as many views of it as there are players, as each of us percieves it differently. The differences between our views might not be many, but in essence, each of us enjoys it in his/her own manner.

Everything is possible, that's what I always say.

[Corribus]

Everything is possible...

Except the impossible.

[Angelspit]

That's what I disliked with the campaigns in H4, some H3 maps and the few WoG things I tried, it's all about the story.

You are probably referring to the Life campaign. Other campaigns, such as the Nature campaign and those in the expansions, just give you a couple of descriptive events (that can be skipped without any problem) and let you go on with the fighting.