HoMM V: Island of One's Own scenario question

[xhepera]

I'm playing the scenario called An Island of One's Own in HoMM V standard. The map is composed of several islands in an archipelago. I'm having a major problem with travel. I use the shipyard to build a galley to take me to other islands but many times when I go back for the ship after completing whatever I'm doing, the ship is gone and I'm stuck on an island away from my fortress. Thank god for saved games. The Ship of Shalassa spell that I have doesn't seem to ever work. Instant Travel, likewise, doesn't seem to do anything.

I suppose that I could hire a third hero and run her or him to pick up my stranded main (tho' I'm not sure if the main could use the galley at that point) but all that would do would be to leave the newly hired hero stranded at that point.

Am I doing something wrong? Is the game doing something wrong? lol! Be kind. I'm a rank newbie here. And thanks in advance for any help.

[Grumpy Old Wizard]

Are you standing at the very edge of the ramp leading down to the water when you cast the vessel spell? I never had a problem with casting it on the map. Just edge closer to the water. And be sure to take those lighthouses so you can sail around the ocean quickly.

[xhepera]

The main problem is really why the devil my boats are disappearing.

[Grumpy Old Wizard]

The main problem is really why the devil my boats are disappearing.

Because enemy heroes are summoning them.

[xhepera]

Because enemy heroes are summoning them.

Seriously?!? Okay, I had no idea that was possible. hmmph Why those. . .

How does that work exactly? Like I said, above, rank newbie here. Thanks for the heads up.

[infael]

The enemy has the Vessel of Shalassa spell too.

You need to be in the water to cast Vessel.

[Lord Lakely]

If your boat is lost, let a secondairy hero visit a shipyard a build a boat. Then cast Vessel of Shalyssa

[danhvo]

Instant Travel, likewise, doesn't seem to do anything.

After you cast Instant Travel, if you hover the cursor around the hero, it has a certain shape that indicates that if you click there (you must select a point to Instant-Travel to), the hero will jump to that point, bypassing any intervening barrier. If you hover too far, the cursor changes shape to indicate that that point is out of reach for Instant Travel.

If you can move to the new square in a straight line, it will usually cost you less movement points than Instant Travel, unless you're on difficult terrain and have no skill in Logistic. So mainly the only time it's useful is when you want to jump across something to avoid going around it. The distance allowed by Instant Travel is very short, which is a major complain people have about this spell.

[Asheera]

The distance allowed by Instant Travel is very short, which is a major complain people have about this spell.

Complain? It already is broken at times

[Grumpy Old Wizard]

Yes, in HOMM5 instant travel is more of a utility spell than something you use to beebop around the map.

[John.Galt]

How to fix instant travel: Have it move a lot further (Whole screen-ish, depending on your resolution) but have it take a full day's movement.

[Asheera]

Do you think that changes much? It will allow you to pass large mountains even more easy. (mountains which couldn't be passed with the small radius we have now)

[John.Galt]

I know :-P

It's underpowered :-P

[Grumpy Old Wizard]

Expanding the range of Instant Travel would break some existing maps. Barriers (mountain ranges, seas, forests, ect) are a big part of game play.

And on new maps map makers would be forced to make huge areas that are just for barriers or else disable the spell.

[John.Galt]

Yeah, it would, but what's wrong with that? Just disable the spell.

(This is why you don't magically institute it now, but rather wait until H6 to change it.)

[Wolfsburg]

Hi there,

Just to explain something that wasn't clear for me in the beggining as well. Vessel of Shalassa doens't create boats out of thin air. It basically summons an empty boat which happened to be lying around your current location.

Although it sounds cute, this allows the most stupid abuses you can imagine. I have personally experienced in a multiplayer game, the opponent, being much weaker then I was, leaving me stuck on an island for he had cast this forsaken spell, leaving me no exit but to watch him taking everything I had and parading around with occupied boats, just to irritate me (leaving of course, not a single boat empty).

The computer uses this exact spell, although not necessarily as an abuse, but simply because it comes out cheaper then building a new boat. As mentioned above this can get you into very... VERY bad circumstances. A possible way out of this would be hiring a secondary hero, building a boat and leaving it empty on the shore, so your main hero can summon it from abroad.

Another solution would be, playing maps with either no water (or at least no small desert islands). Which is MY usual way to circumvent this stupid spell.

Last but not least, about instant travel: this spell is both absolutely useless and one of the most imbalanced spells at the same time. What do I mean by that? Well, the distance you can cover with it is at most, laughable. You waste a whole day for a five step teleportation, which doens't improve with hero leveling or wathever.

So why is that, that it is so imbalanced? Because in many maps a five step teleportation range is exactly the distance needed to: bypass garrisons, small mountain chains that were not meant to be transpassed, and basically ruin whole logical orders of many maps. (Reason why it is often removed by mapmakers)

Trust me, in your case this spell simply doens't translate solution.

Take care, and nice games!
W.

[xhepera]

Hi all. I haven't had a chance to post recently, but I just wanted to thank everyone for the great help. explanation, tips and advice that you've given me. It's much appreciated and y'all are fantastic! Thanks again.