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| Thread: [Petition draft] Improved MP | |
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RMS
Responsible
Legendary Hero
-ing yummy foods
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posted September 18, 2002 04:33 AM |
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[Petition draft] Improved MP
Here is yet another topic created by yours truly, doomed to disaster but here it goes anyway.
I suppose this is more of an idea brainstorming draft sort of thing to be formed into a petition, but I've been concerned about the progression of the Multiplayer system of HoMM4, at least generally aside from ToH.
It seems to me that NWC is making too many assumptions, and leaving too much work up to the fine people of ToH. Although probably some of my proposals would not be very financially beneficial, I believe most are.
What I believe is that by spending more resources into producing a better MP online ladder system and related features, it will improve the HoMM community and NWC itself overall in the long run.
I believe they there should be more investment placed into the development of an improved system, which I do not believe has really been improved significantly but rather only adapted to HoMM4 since HoMM3.
In my opinion, an official ladder system should be created and maintained. Perhaps there can be someone assigned to "monitor" the multiple channels during at least 15 hours of the day, on and off.
There can be different channels instead of one, each designated for different types of maps. ie. RP, action, arena, battling, newbie etc.
Also, for convenience, like in NWN just for example, the multiplayer option should be built right into the game along with everything else, so you don't have to change windows at any given time.
Additionally, with the ladder, there will be an option for standardized games and tournaments. Then as activity grows, and it seems like it would be beneficial to further increase it, some official and unofficial tournaments should be hosted through an automated system, where the top HoMM players worldwide can earn prizes and be listed high on the ladder as well as a hall of fame. There will be records kept of official matches and recorded to each player's account. There will be rankings affixated to them, according to your win/loss ratio. Although I don't exactly think too highly of the 3DO community, I love their ranking system thing, so that can be used...or maybe pics of creatures depending on what town you like to play more online.
To go along with that, I was thinking that Acromage would be a very good game to help boost the multiplayer further along. Since it's already made and I don't believe it's scoring any major sales, and that it was free in MM7 anyway, there wouldn't be too much sacrifice in editing and adapting it into the MP channels. Then it's free for HoMM4 MP players, but you have to have the CD in the first place to even play it. This I believe will help increase activity, giving people a more active, enjoyable and quicker route to entertainment than having to wait for a game to begin. Also, for hardcore fans who basically only play this game, that don't have the time always and usually settle for chatting and wasting time. Instead, they can join other bored players for a quick game of Acromage in the meantime.
Not to mention, if it wouldn't be altogether too difficult, since they are related games, a sort of HoMM chess could be made I suppose, with HoMm creature pieces. Then, for all chess players, there's yet another thing to do, and if it's easily made then it's a further advantage to buying the expansion or the game however it's released which I'm hoping through this, it will be encouraged.
...I'm kinda running out of time tonight to explain my logic behind it, but these are my ideas for now and I was hoping for input and or support for this.
Cheers. 
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This space for rent.
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Joel
Adventuring Hero
An Underdog (Version 2.0)
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posted September 18, 2002 07:53 AM |
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Why is this doomed to disaster?
These seem like good ideas to me.
Of course I doubt anything will happen considering how 3DO appears to be struggling these days.
It would be a good move to adopt even one of your ideas at least, imo.
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Romana
Responsible
Supreme Hero
Thx :D
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posted September 18, 2002 11:58 AM |
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I think those are good ideas too especially the idea to play a short game while you wait..
But is it feasable?
And if it is what should be done?
I guess we'll have to wait for some more replies
good thinking RMS
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The darkest skies show the brightest stars
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Nidhgrin
Honorable
Famous Hero
baking cookies from stardust
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posted September 18, 2002 12:05 PM |
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Great idea RMS. 2 days ago I've put a little heroes related game on my website. It's under the games section. Is this the kind of thing you're looking for?
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~Vegetables don't spam~
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RMS
Responsible
Legendary Hero
-ing yummy foods
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posted September 19, 2002 03:31 AM |
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Well I know that they are fairly valid and good points at least in theory, or I wouldn't have even brought them up. However, my point is being proven by the lack of response. I do appreciate those of you that have though.
Those who are reading, whether you agree or disagree, in part or in full please do add your own input to give us a better idea of just what it is that the people of HoMM really want.
...well Nidhgrin, it seems that you need to change your link in your profile, but yes that seems to be exactly the type of thing I mean 
It doesn't have to be anything especially fancy, but just pretty fun, fast and easy.
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This space for rent.
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RedSoxFan3
Admirable
Legendary Hero
Fan of Red Sox
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posted September 19, 2002 04:08 AM |
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Your ideas are great. Unfortunately 3DO opted to believe that the multi-player was a were bonus to the game. Most people I know never play Heroes online. This is very opposite to games like Diablo and Starcraft. Although this is probably because these games have battlenet. Perhaps if heroes had something like battlenet the activity would be much greater. This is what you meant. Right RMS?
I agree with you a lot. But the zone has its advantages. Although the zone doesn't attract as many online players, because it isn't built into the game, the zone is a much friendlier atmosphere compared to battlenet or other online systems.
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Go Red Sox!
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RMS
Responsible
Legendary Hero
-ing yummy foods
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posted September 19, 2002 11:11 PM |
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Precisely my point. Any game that produces any sort of game that can create a potentially decent multiplayer setting should take advantage of it and make it an integral part of the entire game overall.
Multiplayer is becoming increasingly important to the spirit and lifeblood of the game itself. Usually unless it's a game like...well M&M (which should also be changed btw) most players will start off with single player, but after they finish the campaigns once or maybe in twice, and some of the maps, they want to tackle online gaming and stick with the game for only the sake playing online with other people who they have become friends with, and the exitement received from chatting within the game of all different sorts. The possibilities provided by any game is endless, but one major outlet is easily the improvement and maximizing of efficiency of it's MP system.
There should be one main, tasty and steady staple crop provided with minor chances in incremental installements to give it more flavor.
The ability to produce a stunningly realistic and powerful identity within any given system can entice and keep many permanent fans, just waiting to see and experience more. To be able to show off one's own abilities is important to pretty much everyone, and in many different ways possible. Both the power as an individual fighting spirit and a member of an order of potentially great importance that cannot be gained in most cases in real life.
Perhaps there should even just be one whole room for all the online HoMMs and then different divisions of channels for the games that are easily accessible to anyone who is running one of the games but can only play for what disc they have in. Then there can be some easily accessed and used functions to chat to different account names and the like. Although my personal regard for the Blizzard games aren't as high as HoMM4, I greatly admire and envy the battlenet system. It seems highly effective at what it is meant for...although , so much online support and screening is a bit uncomfortable. However, with a healthy balance, hackers will still be cut off, and everyone's happy.
Just my 50 cents.
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This space for rent.
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Largo_LeGrande
Promising
Known Hero
from the Carribean
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posted September 20, 2002 10:58 PM |
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A naibe idea for a community
We all know "the might and magic guild" and how poor it is? Next time I hope they would give us a new, better community. You could gain acces to it when you buy, and then register the game online. Free! Only information you need to say are username you want, password you want for the username (confirm), password you get inside the game and e-mail. Then they send you an e-mail that says all the above and gives you ANOTHER password (not sure if this would be too much) that you use to activate your username (other information can be added later if you want like real name, homepages, things like that). You can get only one username per that CD-code. I don't know how would be handle sons, sisters, wives etc. Community's name could be something like Heroes Metropolis
Well the community itself can be accesed by a internet program anywhere or through the game itself. When you have signed up (of cource it would have those "sign in until sign out" and "public/shared computer" things) it opens either a normal webpage or a "better version" that would look like a normal town. All the buildings would have their own purpose for the community. I'll list some:
Tavern (where it normal is): surprise, surprise! It's a place that contains forums and chats with some improvements. It would support web camera and/or microphone chat.
Cartographer's Guild (instead of mage guild): database of maps. Here you'll send maps and the rewievers rewiev them, it has map making tips, will run contest, later maybe mods (they should allow mods AND/OR custom creatures/artifacts/objects) and custom objects... things like that.
Caravan: a database of heroes and other link too. And reviews for them.
Strategy Tent (where thieves gauntlet is): share your strategies and tips here. Also walkthroughs here. To custom maps also!
Prison: in prison you can see the community members that are bannded (in jail) or warned (wanted list), their mistakes and how many warnings they need to get to the jail
Capitol (city hall): it has all the basic news (detailed news are in their sections f.e here they say that 4 maps were added, but they say their names and details in the Cartographer's guild), rules, sitemap, credits, search...
Fort: the place of the community members. Here you can edit your profile (custom avatars, information), handle you IM/mail, and search players and get information on them, handle buddy list...
Marketplace: share you're heroes based downloads here from skins to windows thinghies
Library of Enlightment (level 3 creature): all information about the game, mythology on the creatures, game/community/company history, quizes (time based where you get more time for every right answer; conditional choose or writeable answers so we can add highscores), polls, interviews...
Art Museum: (level 2 creature): share your fan art/comics/jokes/sounds/novels...
Arena of Honor (level 4 creature): the most important of the buildings we have here: all the ranks, division, clans and other multiplayer things. Also the MP games played here decrese/increase your battle rank except on training grounds. Betting, also highscore list for some maps...
I would like to say more but I don't have more time now. I'll post more next time, ok?
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 -Largo has spoken-
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RMS
Responsible
Legendary Hero
-ing yummy foods
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posted September 21, 2002 08:35 PM |
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Yes! In fact, actually I have too thought a bit about how to change the silly guild thing. (not to mention how infuriated I am because I can't join the map contest because I have no way to get a membership!)
I think that at the very least, there should be at least "two guilds". Have one where it costs maybe $15 per year to join or something, for those people who really want tons of stuff or something. However, also have a "free" guild lifetime membership for whoever purchases the game and registers with their cd-key and stuff online for it. This should be formed together with the improved MP and form a excellent pair. I'm not sure about all the things you mentioned to go into it, but I do agree with the base concept. The existing guild is pointless needs to be badly fixed.
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This space for rent.
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Largo_LeGrande
Promising
Known Hero
from the Carribean
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posted September 22, 2002 10:00 AM |
bonus applied. |
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In this post I'll be telling more about this community thing but I leave the registration out this time. Only problem with it is now that what if your brother wants a account for the community. I also think that there should be only one, great, free community: this metropolis.
***Hero Metropolis***
Basic
Metropolis can be entered by an internet browser or through the game itself. When you enter it by an internet browser it opens a small site where you have to log in. You can choose that it will either sign you in automatic until you log out, normally, or with increased security if you're on a public computer or on a computer of another guy. Here you can also choose do you want to enter the normail web view or the town view (if you have the game installed). The autorun window would have a link to the site.
There would be a object for the community in the main menu of the game. It'll open a small window that asks you about logging (the same options like above) but here you can enter only the town view.
Webview
It's just a regular website, where the sections will be in the frame. Well I don't think I need to explain more about this view.
Townview
This is would be like a town screen in the game with some small moderations. The buildings would mark the different sections. The cursor would be the hand and there would even be that "frame". That what usually says the name of the town says now information based where your cursor is. Like the sections name and meaning. Of course you can keep/double right click on the thing you want information at or wait for that little yellow information box.
In the far right of the frame where usually are the creature stats and the covernor's picture is your "home screen". Your avatar is in the covernor screen (avatars would be square but this would show the middle of the avatar). On the stat corner is your username, link to profile (you can click on your avatar also; you can edit your profile and options here), link to mail and instant messages (and the number of new mails), link that opens "what's new after your last visit here" (it says when you last visited, and shows all news, posts (only names for the topic thou),and added stuff for every section), buddy list and link for log out. You can also log out by clicking esc and so.
There where usually are the garrison/camped creature rows now is "who's online" part. If someone from your buddy list is online and in the town, he's avatar would be seen in the circles (if you have more than 14 buddies and they all online, those "from garrison to camp" buttons get activated; by clicking them you'll see the other ones on "under" row). You can enter their profiles by clicking on their avatars. Below the rows are the number of registered members, the number of the online users (link) and number of the online buddies (link). It also shows date and clock (seconds too).
The far left corner is for some most used options like search, help, faq and contact. When you click on the scroll, you'll get the link for the every sections. If the section is updated, it'll have small "new" icon next it.
In the far right of the frame where usually are the creature stats and the covernor's picture is your "home screen".
Sections
As said, the sections are just as links the web mode but are as buildings on the town mode. I'll bescribe the sections more than in the first post. When you open a section the frame would stay but the screen would change, loyal to the theme of the building, like lot's of maps on the backround in Cartographer's Guild.
Capitol
(It should be familiar to the capitol of tower or castle in H3 and it's where the city hall is - news, search, rules etc.)
Capitol says the community news on it's homepage. You can searh old news in news arciheves or sign up for newsletter as ususually.
In search you can search (!  ) the site. You can select the section(s) you like to searchs or use some special search maschines on maps, posts and players. The normal search scripts would work here. You can also tell in what order you want them to be shown (1st for the size, then for the name f.e) and would contain other luxus as well.
Also the fag and the rules can be viewed here. Also the crew who is behind all this (moderators, guild masters) and how to contanct them.
Fort
(maybe like the castle in castle in H3, where the castle in the H4 is - users)
Homepage is you own profile. Your profile includes:
Username:
E-mail(s):
Avatar:
ICQ and AIM:
Contry/State/Town:
Homepage(s):
Occupation:
Birthday and age:
Languages you speak:
Other information you like to add:
Biograpy/Description:
Player photos:
Maps/fan-art/medals/achievments/quality points/description by other guys...
You can edit your profile (you can upload custom avatars from your computer/net whenever you like) at fort. Also your options (timezone, can you be added on buddy list without authorization, stealth mode, normal message order...) and your buddy list can be edited here. You can also search alll the users and check their profiles and check how's buddy list you're on, add yo buddy list... Avatar list is here too (the normal avatars are creature/hero avatars from the game, could be reserved).
Prison
(like haven prison, where it is - bans and penalties to warn the othe ones)
Prison is where you will get your name if you'll do the crimes. The shame is creater that the crime or the bann! Prison also lists all the sins and the penalties for them.
Marketplace
(like tower or castle marketplace, instead of blacksmith -downloads)
Well every site must have a download section. Here you can share all windows stuff, program skins, music for the game (you should be able to add music to the game same style like in H3)... almost everything
Caravan
(stronghold style, where it is - links)
Do you know a good heroes OR any other kind site, post it here. The links will be checked for "nonwanted sites", put in categories and added with a description.
Library of Enlightment
(heroes 3 style, instead of level 3 creatures - information)
Library of Enlightment contains almost all the information on the game. You'll find creatures stats (and mythology), artifacts, buildings... Also interviews, history of the game/company, reviews of the game, credits...
There's also a poll section that has all those favourite creature/aligment/heroes/etc. polls that can be answered when ever you like. Only one vote per user but if you choose another in the poll, it'll change your vote. They would add more polls every week.
Also quizes are here. They would all be time based. Every right answer would add your time. There are 3 guiz diffilculties and 2 guiz style (ABCD and writable answers). There is also highscores for the quizes.
Strategy Tent
(blue key tent, there where thieves gauntlet f.e is -strategies)
Here you can give your tips for different categories, write strategy articles. Walkthroughs for the campaigns and even for some hard custom maps (those custom map walkthroughs could be written by the users).
Art Gallery
(library of enlightment H4 style with some statues around it, there where level 2 creatures are - fanart)
This is the section where you can share, discuss and rate fan art. The categories would be fan pics, animations, cartoons, jokes, sound/music and novels. There could be also some theme contest in there.
Cartographers Guild
(like the fog of war tower in H4, there where mage guilds are - maps)
Well this is one of the important sections. Is the database for maps. You can send them here and they will soon be reviewed/rated by the guild masters (they'll send you mail that says you what did they like/dislike in your style, ideas of improvement for future) and commented/rated by other users. The map stats would be shown little like in the maphaven. The map search is here too.
Also here you can share map making tips, read articles/tutorials... Also if there will (and there should) be custom objects/creatures/artifact, you could find them here too. This section would also make some contest.
The guildmaster could make every month a campaign with animations between them that tells story on the game. For example, they would make a campaign that tell from Emilia and opens new events on the continent. The next campaign could continue this tale of Emilia, tell what other aligments like and react or a plain new campaign.
Arena of Honor
(a big colosseum with some tournament field near it, there where the level 4 creatures are - playing skills)
This is too one of the most important sections in the game! This building includes league, clans, highscore, the fighting zones, rules for fighting, medals...
The top ten higscore section is where you can submit higscores (not sure how) for the campaigns and maybe for some certain custom maps that have got the "highscore map" rank.
Figting zones are the home for MP. Fighting zones can also be entered through the multiplayer button. They are familiar to gamespy arcade (player list, wait for player/game chat, the games). The zones would be training grounds (the stats here wouldn't be recorded - no certain rules, maybe place for schools), newbie zone (can only be entered by guys that have their stats below a certain amount - only 3 easiest difficulties, no need for time limit), grand zone (can only be entere by that those guys that have their stats above a certain amount - 3 hardest difficulties, time limit between 1-10 minutes), all open zone (no special rules), guick zone (SM maps, time limit 1 minute). The wins and loss would be recorded and affect your rank the same way like in tournament.
League can be entered only by those that can enter the grand arena. League would open two times a year. It's familiar to the football MM competitions. So there's a play off and finals. The fights have some certain days and have a certain map. You could bet on these fights.
Well clans are what they are, no ideas for them bow
Tavern
(haven style, there where it is - chat and forums)
Well they would be familiar to these boards with more luxus (don't know yet what would this luxus be). The forums would be devided one for every "special" sections (art gallery, library of enlightment, cartographer's guild, strategy tent and arena of honor), one heroes forum, one for suggestions/ideas/wishes and one for chit chat.
Chat would have only 3 normal rooms. One is heroes chat, one is chit-chat and one is "wait for player or games" room. But you could add more temperary rooms, make the visible/enterable for some certain guys, password them... The normal chat would be like normal chat with the normal things like private... There would also be support for web cam and microphone chats.
***
Well this was the basic. Now I'll wait for comments and ideas, then I will post even more!
ADDED: Aww c'mon! I want at least SOME kind of comments!
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-Largo has spoken-
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Djive
Honorable
Supreme Hero
Zapper of Toads
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posted October 06, 2002 07:39 PM |
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In short...
You want 3DO/NWC to run a forum that supports the gamers and playing the game on-line (tournaments etcetera).
Sounds like a nice wish to me.
And off-topic. Bonus applied. I've noticed that Largo has come up with a whole lot of wishes and ideas lately, where this is one of several. Keep up the good work!
Moderator's note:This topic has been closed, as it refers to an older version of the game. To discuss Heroes 3, please go to Library Of Enlightenment, to discuss Heroes 4, please go to War Room Of Axeoth.
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"A brilliant light can either illuminate or blind. How will you know which until you open your eyes?"
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