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Thread: Dice of Destiny - Thriving on Randomness ? | |
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DonIgnacio
Tavern Dweller
newly hooked strategist
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posted March 29, 2006 12:42 AM |
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Dice of Destiny - Thriving on Randomness ?
So HOMM3 isn't chess, but it's no slot machine either. Outcomes don't depend on strategy alone. The computer rolls the dice in plenty of situations. I'd say balance and accessibility are at the core of the series success and the 3rd edition in particular. The balance between strategic planning and random outcomes is excellent and the situations, when those invisible dice are rolled, are pretty clear even to the beginner. Sure the damage calculation formula has its intricacies. So depth joins balance and accessibility.
But can strategy really be sustained, or do the random numbers require constant reevaluation. More specifically: Which rolls have a considerable impact on the heroes road to map-wide domination? Please give examples from your playing experience and name the culprits!
So all your refugee camps have been populated by imps and sprites for weeks? That dragon fly hive was filled to the brim, but you managed just to hang on, your wyvern monarchs shining in the sun after a subsequent visit to the nearby hill fort? You haven't seen a hero with logistics or pathfinding skills in tavern, inn, pub or bar for a while in an all swamp or desert map? That secondary starting town of Necropolis just matches so well with your Castle?
So what is good or bad fortune in HOMM3? And how much impact does it have, when you're cruising along with your perfect build order and tactical genius?
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meph
Adventuring Hero
Rampaging Rampart
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posted March 29, 2006 12:11 PM |
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Luck is easy to manipulate. Pick the right skills after gaining experience to fit the map's requirements and you're set. Of course, to get to random heroes is a second thing, but this is why the Nr. 1 hero must be the most balanced, and you can then seek out different heroes for other jobs (e.g. Castle Defending, Scouting and such). But all is manipulatable (Is that even a word?)
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supersonic
Famous Hero
being digested. E=mc^2, s=vt
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posted March 29, 2006 06:27 PM |
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Of course there are some spells that can wipe out all the luck. For example mass bless makes your damage constant, while spirit of oppresion an hourglass cancel out luck and morale.
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Zsa
Famous Hero
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posted March 30, 2006 08:12 AM |
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The better player usually wins, there are however a lot of situations where your bad luck just can't compensate for your opponent's good luck, even if you play better than him.
Same for fighting creatures on the map. You sustain heavy damage when fighting strong stacks on the map if they get moraled a couple of times. This is why spirit of opression is such a good artie. It eliminates a lot of the randomness from your battles, but then again, you'd have to be "lucky" to get it in the first place .
The randomness in the game takes its biggest effect when utopias, relics and high treasures are present on the map. They are the most unballancing element in the game.
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"You sound like zsa who only plays the game on forums" - Russ
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