Chronological order of missions? (spoilers)

[Sikon]

I must admit, I was very confused by the campaigns in the beta, back when the prologue and the Sanctuary campaign were the only ones available.

I think it's really weird storytelling with the narration scattered over five campaigns like that, and I'd like to play the missions in chronological order. Judging by events spoken about in the intro cutscenes, it seems that the initial order of missions is like this (spoilers hidden):

1. Stronghold 1 (Sandor rescues Irina)
2. Sanctuary 1 (Irina flees to Hashima)
3. Haven 1 (Anastasya kills Slava)
4. Necropolis 1 (Sveltana revives Anastasya)

Not sure where the Inferno campaign fits in all that. Its events seem completely disconnected from the other campaigns.

I think this is messed up storytelling, to be honest, and I'd be more comfortable with parallel campaigns (like in IV) or a linear sequence where you play one faction fully before moving to the next (like in V).

Can someone point me to the correct order of missions?

[Metathron]

I'm playing them in the order they are displayed, because I thought that was the correct one.

[Corlagon]

I'm trying to get an official word on the chronology of the missions. I'll post it here if I can.

[Elvin]

In the meantime I decided to play them campaign by campaign instead of jumping around. I admit that I love putting the pieces together after I have seen the whole picture

Starting with stronghold and sanctuary seems safer though, since they are outsiders and are less likely to be connected to the affairs of the world. I'd expect haven, necro and inferno to have a more prominent role in the main events of the game.

[Corlagon]

OK, so here is the correct chronological playing order:

- Heart of Nightmares (Collectors' edition map)
- Prologue 1
- Prologue 2
- Stronghold 1
- Sanctuary 1
- Haven 1
- Inferno 1
- Necropolis 1
- Stronghold 2
- Sanctuary 2
- Haven 2
- Necropolis 2
- Sanctuary 3
- Stronghold 3
- Inferno 2
- Necropolis 3
- Inferno 3
- Sanctuary 4
- Stronghold 4
- Haven 3
- Necropolis 4
- Haven 4
- Inferno 4
- Epilogues

[Avonu]

There isn't any chronological order - all these campaigns are played in same time. For example last missions for Haven and Necropolis take place in same time - when Anton is fighting last battle, Anastasya is doing the same - and to fully understand what has happened in Anton's final battle, you need to play both campaigns.

It's like in Disciples 1-2 - same events are told from different points of view and when you "collect" all these story pieces, you have full view for game plot.
But after you finish one campaign, you should already know game plot - ofc you still miss some details.

[Corlagon]

There isn't any chronological order

There is, but some missions do indeed occur simultaneously.

[Avonu]

Not really - do you rememeber Sanctuary campaign intro? It begins before Stronghold campaign... or better to say: before any other campaign. After all this event is what started HVI story.

[Corlagon]

Well ok, fair point, but I'm discussing the maps' gameplay, not dream/memory sequences.

[Avonu]

But it is also map content.
BTW - just finished Necropolis campaign and half of Inferno. It's me or Necropolis campaign has the most lore about what really is happening in HVI plot?

[XEL II]

What is the Heart of Nightmares map all about?

[Avonu]

It's expedition of Aguirre and Sveltana to naga temple to locate and free Mother Namtaru. It's generally map from first Gamescom demo (this one which was told it won't be in game ) where you are playing Sveltana and must defeat naga Akasha, Dragon Eel and Mother Namtaru (bosses are very weakened - maybe 10% of their full strengh).

[Metathron]

What is the "locked" item on the main screen of each campaign? Are those the Epilogues referred to in Cor's post above? I vaguely remember reading somewhere that there were going to be 5 missions per campaign.

BTW - just finished Necropolis campaign and half of Inferno.

What order are you playing them in? I'm asking because I just finished the Necropolis campaign and Anton's (haven) campaign is next.

Also, I've played one boss battle so far, and found it rather bland. They were much more immersive in King's Bounty.

[Avonu]

No, 5 campaigns, 4 missions each + 2 epilogue maps. It always was that.

After you finished one campaign, epilogue should be unlocked but still not playable until you finish all 5 campaigns.

[Marzhin]

What is the "locked" item on the main screen of each campaign?

If we're thinking of the same thing, once you finish a campaign you unlock the possibility to replay it with a custom hero (it only needs to be the same gender as the original character).

After you finished one campaign, epilogue should be unlocked but still not playable until you finish all 5 campaigns.

I'm quoting myself from the other topic :
You can see the epilogue without playing all campaigns. All you need to do is to click on the "+" symbol below the map of Ashan in order to select which character you want to use.

[Sikon]

If we're thinking of the same thing, once you finish a campaign you unlock the possibility to replay it with a custom hero (it only needs to be the same gender as the original character).

Didn't require finishing the campaign to me. At least, I was able to start Irina's campaign with a different hero, although her name was still changed to Irina. Oddddd.

[Avonu]

After you finished one campaign, epilogue should be unlocked but still not playable until you finish all 5 campaigns.

I'm quoting myself from the other topic :
You can see the epilogue without playing all campaigns. All you need to do is to click on the "+" symbol below the map of Ashan in order to select which character you want to use.

Thanks for clarification.
IMO it's stupid idea - Epilogue should be available only when you complete all campaigns, not when you complete only one. Epilogue should be award for complating game after all.

[Marzhin]

IMO it's stupid idea - Epilogue should be available only when you complete all campaigns, not when you complete only one. Epilogue should be award for complating game after all.

That's an elitist hardcore gamer point of view
Most players only play the campaigns of the factions they like.

[Avonu]

Hey, it's campaign after all.
I understad it was done because to encourage new players (who very often don't finished campaigns) but you can choose any campaign now (unlike in HV), so I think epilogue should be reward for these, who finish all of them.

@Corlagon
Could you please post here Inferno campaign maps names? I wonder if anyone will see what these names are refering to.

[Corlagon]

They're all references to William Blake's work, three of them derived from The Tyger. EvilP has already done an audit of the maps' titles' references (SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS).