HoMM3 ERA STALKER

Map Parameters

• Size: XL

• Levels: 2

• Human players: 1

• AI players: 5

• Teams: 3

• Victory conditions: 2

General Concept and Mechanics

The gameplay mechanics are similar to classic RPGs.

The player starts with a Hero (role: healer/buffer), whose group includes:

• Warrior — ranged/DD

• Commander — tank/DD

Later, the player can control three more heroes:

• Two heroes can join the Marked One's group as single units

• One hero (DD/control) — builds can be switched at player's discretion

• Second hero (ranged control/debuff) — parameters depend on chosen ending

Progression

Resources for developing the hero and companions are obtained by:

• Fighting neutral monsters

• Finding stashes with loot

Sound and Music

The author strongly recommends playing with in-game music enabled.

Unique sound accompaniment includes:

• Speaking NPCs

• Anomaly manifestations

• All story battles

• Musical themes in dialogues

• Some story dialogues

The sound system is implemented through scripts with MP3 files (music), not WAV (sounds).

Recommended volume levels:

• Music — first division

• Sounds — fourth division

Many standard sounds were "reassembled" with reduced volume to avoid drowning out new ones.

Difficulty and Map Structure

• Playthrough difficulty: Medium

• Map difficulty: IMPOSSIBLE

Map levels:

• Main story — upper level

• Additional story — lower level

The AI opponent can access the lower level only after a certain point in the main story.

Exception: parts of dungeons (reservations) involved in the main story.

Battles and "Random Heroes" Script

The player will face many battles due to the modified "Random Heroes" script.

• All resource banks (except Snake Enchantress Tower) can be auto-battled

• If desired, you can reduce the chance of heroes appearing in the script

• In this case, most monster battles can also be auto-battled

Anomaly System

The map features anomaly spawning mechanics.

• Anomalies randomly appear in free cells near the hero

• On first contact (moment of appearance):

  • Marked One loses 1 defense

  • Effect is cumulative

  • Removed at the Blacksmith

After appearing, anomalies can be interacted with and deactivated.

Types of anomalies (3 types):

• Carbonation

• Burner

• Electra

Anomaly Deactivation Effects

(Also listed in hero biographies)

AI player:

• Loses all movement points

Marked One:

• Loses 25% mana (from current value)

• +500 gold

• +1 morale and luck until next battle

Ghost:

• Loses all movement points

• Receives one resource (mercury/sulfur/gems) — up to 10 units

Vano:

• Possible loss of all movement points

• One of the options:

  • Artifact (elemental spheres)

  • "Golden Fish" artifact + 5000 movement points

  • 50% chance to find Legion's Boots + 1500 movement points

Guide:

• 10% chance to help Grom (base version) increase defense

• Effect also applies to Duty members

Armor Breakdown and Repair

Added armor breakdown and repair system.

• NPC Blacksmith available at Duty base

• When broken, defense doesn't drop below 2

• Repair cost: 2 crystals per lost defense point

Injuries:

• When hitting an anomaly, Grom may receive trauma:

  • −50 health

  • Effect is cumulative

  • Health cannot drop below 300

Treatment:

• Treatment available at Duty base in Infirmary building

• Cost depends on Marked One's level

• First aid kits: reduce injury chance or completely negate it

Spells and Journal

• Parameters of many spells changed (details in spellbook)

• Quest passwords automatically recorded in hero's Event Log

• On adventure map, journal displays only standard quests

Modified Standard Scripts

Emerald Tower:

• Changed name and story dialogues

• Used without time restrictions

• Single instance on map

War Machines

Ballista:

• Reduces creature speed by 1 at any Artillery skill level

Ammo Cart

• For each cart level: +1 mana per round in combat

• Effect lasts entire battle, even if cart is destroyed

• Upgraded in Skadovsk Workshop building

• When upgraded, receives: more health, enchantment, regeneration effect

• If cart was destroyed: Marked One can transfer accumulated upgrades if he buys base version before next battle

Verdict

• Ballista ability with Artillery skill

• 50% chance when finishing off last unit in stack with speed >1

• Sentenced unit: can be restored once; upon second death, stack is completely annulled

Random Heroes:

• Added spells and/or experience

• Changed parameters of some heroes

• All heroes enter battle together with commander

• Defending commander's parameters depend on Marked One's level

• Bonuses granted every 5 levels of attacker (up to level 50)

Known Bugs

Vano Quest Error:

Sometimes (not always) an error occurs:

• Unable to determine Vano hero's color

• Color not set even with cheat codes

• Hero physically present on map

Solution:

• Vano's side mission can be skipped

• Before freeing Guide from collapsed mine, player receives reminder to make checkpoint save

• Vano quest starts: after accepting Guide into team and after completing quest for underground garrison commandant Kuznetsov

Author recommends completing the quest, as the bug may not appear. If error occurs — player can load checkpoint save, skip Vano mission and continue main story.

Tips

• Recommended resolutions: 1180x664 or 1280x720 (Color highlights of text messages in dialogue windows are adjusted for these resolutions. Additionally, at higher resolutions, font readability issues may occur)

• Author strongly discourages attempting to update built-in HD mod to "latest" version (this may increase game crash chances)