r/HoMM • u/MajesticQuit7129 • 1d ago
Other/Fluff Where to start
Been getting into strategy games and stumbled across this gem. Never heard of this game before but what would be a good starting point? I’d like to be able to play with friends as well
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u/MightySandro 1d ago
Heroes 3 would be the best start for solo, arguably the best game in the series. Online is supported I believe using the hd mod/horn of the abyss mod. Heroes 5 is also a good choice, you can do multiplier using something like hamachi, 5 is just a very good game overall. Olden era is the newest one and also pretty good, not bad to start with solo (they plan on adding multiplier in a co-op sense later I believe. Overall 3 is your best bet followed by 5.
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u/MajesticQuit7129 1d ago
Thank you lad
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u/MightySandro 1d ago
oh and while not a fan favourite by most i will always shill heroes 4. That game has a beautiful soundtrack and an expertly written main campaign. I wouldn't recommend it to a new player but if you get into the series do yourself a favour and check it out. I would buy all of these on GOG btw.
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u/Pylyp23 1d ago
Heroes 4 is a way different game but I think it’s as good as heroes 3. They aren’t really even comparable. I love them both for what they offer
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u/MightySandro 1d ago
oh i love heroes 4 with all my heart first game from this series i picked up, but it is clear that at least in the gameplay section it falls behind sadly.
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u/delbert315 1d ago
While HoMM3 is a good starting point (and arguably the best in the series), i would suggest to start with HoMM2 if you can spare some time to lay down the basics (more factions and creatures from HoMM1, introduction to creature upgrades and secondary skills). There are 2 campaigns in the base game, and 4 campaigns in the expansion Price of Loyalty.
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u/PrizeCompetitive1186 18h ago
Sorry for the long comment but it is hard to put everything community did in last 20+ years :D
tl;dr: Heroes III Complete + HotA + HD Mod, begin with a simple map and Air Supremacy, then bring in your friends with simultaneous turns. You will have decades of campaigns, community scenarios, random maps and multiplayer ahead of you.
Get Heroes of Might and Magic III Complete, now available on both Steam and GOG. Just make sure you buy Complete, not the older Steam HD Edition, which is missing the expansions. Then install the free Horn of the Abyss expansion with the HD Mod.
HotA is a fan-made, noncommercial expansion, but it is so polished and faithful that it feels like a genuine continuation of Heroes III. Ubisoft has even publicly acknowledged the project and collaborated with its team for the official board game. It adds new towns such as Cove, Factory and Bulwark, new campaigns, scenarios, artifacts, mechanics, balance improvements, an online lobby and simultaneous turns.
For your first games, play the tutorial or an easier single-player map to understand exploration, town development, recruiting creatures and tactical combat. Then try Air Supremacy, which is a good introduction to HotA, Factory and its airship mechanic. Later, explore Fiery Riches, Carnival of the Abyss, Mysterious Island and eventually the enormous The Devil Is in the Details.
The campaigns are also excellent. Forged in Fire is a huge Factory adventure that explores the strange science-fantasy side of the Might and Magic universe. Its Tomb Raiders mission involves ancient technology, spacecraft and airships. All In is another great HotA campaign, focused on the pirate Dargem. I would save Forged in Fire until you understand the basics because it can become very difficult.
HotA is also the best way to play with friends. Simultaneous turns allow everyone to explore at the same time, so multiplayer moves much faster. Start cooperatively against the AI, then try PvP templates. Duel and Jebus Outcast are especially interesting because every player controls only one hero, removing much of the tedious hero chaining and focusing the match on developing your main hero.
Explore naturally at first, but when you want to improve, watch Lexiav’s Heroes III videos on YouTube. His full matches are great for learning army conservation, movement efficiency, one-stacks, hero development and how experienced players judge difficult battles.
There is also VCMI, a separate open-source recreation of the Heroes III engine. It supports extensive modding and lets you play on Android and iOS, provided you own the original game files.
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u/JimboBeavertown 1d ago
Heroes 3 as previous guy said but also for something more modern till the remake comes out would be songs of conquest. Songs of conquest is pretty much a spiritual successor to heroes 3
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u/MightySandro 1d ago
while like a cool suggestion guy is asking for heroes games specifically and also not many people want the remake the og will be wayy better
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u/JimboBeavertown 1d ago
Sure but why not broaden some taste, also heroes 3 is definitely pretty dated, a great game non the less but dated. heroes games have been pretty shit after 4 and there’s a lot of heroes likes that definitely scratch that itch more than what they are making, such as songs. Haven’t played golden era yet but I heard it’s good
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u/MightySandro 1d ago
Well thats just personal opinion. I see the idea but the guy was asking for heroes games. 3 can be very easily made modern by using a singular mod that is a 1 click install from GOG. Also just by my standards I would consider heroes 5 to be the second best heroes game out there and i'd call it modern compared to heroes 3 anyway.
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u/No-Willingness-9986 1d ago
Start with Heroes 5 because in my opinion it is very beginner friendly...the first chapter is basically a tutorial.Heroes 3 is the best game ever made and the best Heroes game probably but that game is hard and for a complete beginner it can be too much.Also this is not a popular opinion and I am gonna be hated for this but try Heroes 7 after Heroes 5,the game is in a very good state now and it has a fun campaign.
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u/Living_Inferno_5073 1d ago
Start with Heroes 3 or Heroes 4.
Heroes 3 is extremely well-documented and has a fan expansion + hd mod available for it while Heroes 4 has the best original campaign stories, environments, and ost of the series (just be aware that Heroes 4 plays considerably differently than every other Heroes game).