Tim Lang on Aeolwyn's Legacy and Game Design (Celestial Heavens Interview)

Posted 08 September 2020

by HeroOfPunk

Hey all! It's HeroOfPunk here!

I just wanted to let you all know that I, on a mission from Celestial Heavens, interviewed Tim Lang, lead designer of Might and Magic IX. Now a days, he runs DungeonByte, which is currently working on a game called Aeolwyn's Legacy, which is really interesting for anyone who enjoys Might and Magic!

We ended up talking for over 2 hours, which lead me to split the video up in 2, so for now, you will have to settle for the first part, the second part will come out soon! I tried taking as many questions possible from you guys, the community, because you all deserve to get your voice heard.

So, this marks the first video for our Celestial Heavens YouTube, don't forget to SUBSCRIBE!

What did you think of this first video? Who would you want us to interview and what are you hoping for in part 2?

Hits: 1461

Fanstratics - A First Newsletter!

Posted 01 September 2020

by HeroOfPunk

Greg Fulton's Fanstratics, which he describes as a spiritual successor to the well-renowned Heroes of Might and Magic III just sent out the first newsletter (you can subscribe by clicking here) featuring all new concept art and some interesting news!

We currently have confirmation of the following:

• Tile based, square grid adventure map
• Townscape will be full-screen and feature interactive structures
• Hex-grid full screen battle system.
• Game is built 3D, but will be presented as 2D
• Game is built for PC, "no mobile F2P shenanigans"
• Creatures, factions etc will be familiar, but not ripped off
• There will be a Map Editor
• Paul Anthony Romero and Rob King MAY be doing music/soundtrack
• David Mullich is also a potential candidate for future partnership

"Nevertheless, moving forward, my goal is to publish every month.  At the very least, I expect to showcase 1 new Troop concept sketch, but I assume there will be new and updated information (design details, production progress, occasional screenshots, community Q&A, etc.)."

Greg Fulton makes sure that he understands that the word "Spiritual Successor" has been tossed around quite a lot, especially with a game like Heroes of Might and Magic 3, but makes sure that he isn't using it for marketing, but as a "game directive".

"Hopefully, as Two Point Hospital is to Theme Hospital... Fanstratics will be to HoMM3."

"For the past 20 years, the HoMM community has been clamoring for a true sequel to HoMM3.  With Fanstratics, my goal is to give them what they want... and more.  Anyone with any knowledge concerning video game development, knows the opportunities for failure are far greater than the chances for success... but I am hopeful."

Many people have discussed and expressed their dislike of the name Fanstratics, but it will stay, as per Fulton's newsletter.

"All I ask is, please keep an open mind, and give it a chance.  You never know, it might grow on you.  If not, don’t let it prevent you from potentially enjoying the final game.  Besides, it’s only a matter of time before a nickname is coined.  I’m already calling it ‘Strats’."

Fulton also seem to push that he wants to keep the communication with the community strong, which is something, at least I, do appreciate A LOT!

Anything I can do to help?

As of this writing, the Newsletter has over 700 subscribers.  Not bad for an ‘accidental announcement’, but for a successful crowd funding effort, I estimate we will need at least 50,000 subscribers.  Why?  My research shows, around 20% of Newsletter subscribers (10,000) will convert into paying backers.  With some mainstream publicity, I expect an additional 5,000 ‘non-newsletter’ backers.  This turns into 15,000 supporters, which puts us within reach of my low end budget approximations."

You can read the full Newsletter HERE

Fanstratics - Hammersmith

What are your thoughts on this?
I sure hope that the hammersmith will be mightier than the HoMM III Dwarves, which sure looks like it's the case!

Anyone else feeling the hype?!

Hits: 3673

Celestial Heavens YouTube Channel

Posted 29 August 2020

by HeroOfPunk

What do you think will be our first video? What sort of videos would you like to see on our Celestial Heavens YouTube?

Intro by: HeroofPunk (Who would love to get some feedback and thoughts about what you think of this video)

Hits: 2640

Back to School with Creature Quest

Posted 20 August 2020

by Pol

Nothing, really nothing could you prepare for this sudden event. The Creature Quest strike violently with +1000 diamonds combo. Let see what they says 'bout it:

Back To School Event!
Log in anytime during the next week (until 8/26/20) to receive 1000 FREE Diamonds!! Summon Creatures, refill Energy, upgrade your Kingdom – whatever you need! Quest on!

That's call to arms! Come and join, there's nice community of players. Look for M&M Guild, to be with us.

But it's probably not so random. The Back to School motto was around already twice, wringling in the air, with School or Hard Knocks and Kingdoms introduction.

 A few tips:

•  A fool and his diamonds are soon parted.
• Go for Mantis, Swan, Ant, Rat, Bat, Sabre, Kobold, Hippogryf, Hyena, Kitsune and Nymphs, Dark Elf, Pegasus, Ettin, Walrus, Baboon, Asura, Colossus, Behemoth, Sun-Wu-Kung and Anubis whenever you will have a chance!
• Save gems to update your creatures fully, before evolving to next levels.
• Bonuses in Guild Wars counts only for defense. For max offense have fully leveled, awakened and totemized. Units can deal a critical dmg too, that's displayed with a green number.
• Wait for night to get a higher chance for Killing Blow!
• Learn where and on what difficulty you can get your resources
• Upgrade castle and shrines to get BT51 early, ofc, your Legs too. Remember that only Green, Yellow, White and Black can be useful here!
• White, Black, Red and Blue are easiest to gather resources for. In this particular order.
• Support your guild with garissoning your army for defense, and at least twice attack and share ship (min level 40) . Sharing is caring and there's a reward for it too.
• Get bonuses from the shop, upgrading speed points - permanent (3x times for 200/300/500D) -  and getting more exp and gold before you gonna rush.
• Never invest into creatues below 2 dots. Aim for 4 dots or 3 dots. Below are good for awakening only.
• Ask you guildmates or players in the game or Discord or in our Forums, if you would like to know more! :D

Hits: 3340

Short News 20' - August 16

Posted 16 August 2020

by Pol

Mistrzostwa Polski - (Jaskinia Behemotha + HotA)

Heroes III. Tournament: Mistrzostwa Polski - took place yesterday, the top of the day was final match of Szopa666 vs Venefiz, you can watch it here:
(scroll almost to the end, it's very long):


Tournament was arranged in H3: Horn of the Abyss. Video have english commentary. But let say, that for english the championship would need much more support and advertising.

Heroes 3 Comic Adventures annouced it too :D
(Click to see their comics)

Heroes Orchestra

is slowly moving to Heroes I and II repertoire. Today they released "Heroes I Battle", you can listen to its beautiful arrangement below. With love, from our homes :)

Continuing in AB Walkthroughs

We have two more Armageddon Blade walkthroughs, thanks to ithacor! You can read them in our walkthrougs:
Shadows of the Forest and Seeking Armageddon

Questions for Time Lang bout upcoming game Aeolwyn's Legacy

Max started collecting questions for Tim Lang and his new Aeolwyn's Legacy, come and join with yours there.

Heroes 2 Ironfist

team left here today some teasing images, these appears exactly like ...Cyber Town. Good to hear from them, it was about a time!

Free Heroes v 0.8

Project Free Heroes was resurrected, and it's now released in version 0.8, take a look on the post from sir Dranik. Don't mistake it with Free Heroes 2 Enhanced, that's different project and it's still available here. When being reworked to java.

Ubisoft

continues in borrowing his heroes. Ezio from Assasin's Creed was again lincensed to mobile game, this time to AFK Arena. As this become more and more common practice, god bless Sandro and Crag Hack to be just sitting in their own games, even in mobile realm.

Thankfully Heroes Dynasty, which is fourth mobile installement after Era of Chaos, Chess Royale and Elemental Guardians is probably never going to be spread outside of China.

In all these games is typical, that they revolve about Heroes of Might and Magic but pick from there only exclusive patterns. When being quite serious about microstransactions support. The Dynasty so much, that it seems to be not plausible even within China. On the other end, the rest is still adapting to world wide market, wallets, customers.
 

Did you know?

heroes3wog.net released another "Did you know edition", based on thelazy.net. Do you know that towers damage depends on built buildings? No? Check it!

Arrow Turrets Damage ,Lucky Double Strike, Did You Know the 2nd Edition

Hits: 3738

Fanstratics - A Spiritual Successor from the lead game designer of Heroes of Might and Magic III

Posted 30 July 2020

by HeroOfPunk

Fanstratics is a work in progress from Gregory W. Fulton (lead designer of HoMM 3).
Scouting the website of the so far quite mysterious project we can spot a mighty cavalier (as depicted in the picture in this article) with arrows piercing the ground around it.

While not much is known about the project so far (except it being in pre-alpha production) it seems to be combining fantasy, strategy and tactics, much like what we see in the Heroes of Might and Magic-series. That in combination with the fact that Gregory Fulton himself calls it "A Spiritual Successor" to the classic Heroes of Might and Magic 3 is enough to get our hearts racing.

Signing up to the newsletter on the website does give us something of a road map, stating that Pre-alpha is next, followed by financing, then going on to Alpha and after that heading into mid-alpha (with possible early access) and so forth.

To receive news from the project, there's a newsletter to sign up to which is found here!

In case you are struck with Greg Fulton fever just like we are, you can check out this interview

 What do you think Gregory W Fulton is up to? Will we see something similiar to Heroes of Might and Magic, or maybe something completely new? 
Can you spot any more references or any hidden easter eggs in the picture? Let us know in the comments!

Hits: 6317