Author: ceceron (Krakow, Poland), 07-01-2025 12:06 So many secrets :) - [HotA] The Four Horsemen - 1 - Famine Thanks for the remarkable map! I have some feedback after beating it with two players (red and orange), I hope you will find it useful.
The map has several strong points:
1) the secret paths are very cool — they are tricky to give a feeling of satisfaction when uncovered
2) the game tempo is very slow / relaxing due to the sheer size of the map. You can spend a lot of time uncovering secrets without worrying about the AI :)
3) the map is well-designed, the landscape is pretty to look at;
4) every faction has a vastly different start, still all seem to playable;
5) I really liked the idea that you can block an early coming of the main villain.
To so-so points:
1) the map is unbalanced, e.g., I have played red and orange. The red color has a clearly better start. It's not really a problem as long you play vs AI. Still every color can win.
2) There are only a few quests, and I am not even sure whether it is possible to complete all of them (the artifacts behind the sorceress?)
As for the weak points:
1) the map is huge, still the TP is *very* difficult to get. I understand that you don't want players to abuse its power, but in the later parts of the game, playing without the TP is just cumbersome.
2) Seer's huts for the famine seem pointless, could be replaced by events. There are no many quests on this map, and still most of the seer's huts are useless.
3) the "outside outpost" of the purple player is too easy to defeat. In fact, in my gameplay, the tan color (played by AI) has managed to defeat it. It should be a bit more protected.
4) Famine is too strong, compared to the rest of the map. After clearing the whole map, I was still too weak to fight it face to face and had to spend too much time preparing for the final challenge. It artificially prolongs the game, but doesn't bring anything to the table. IMHO Famine should be super strong if you allow it to get out early, but if you do everything right it should be beatable without wasting months for preparations. I would make the outside outpost stronger and make the Famine weaker (slashed its stats at least?).
Anyhow, the map is very high quality, one of the best in its category :)
Kevin Moloney (Ireland) writes:
07-01-2025 15:50
famine - [HotA] The Four Horsemen - 1 - Famine
Hi
You make some valid points,.
I did make the players slightly unbalanced to allow for different difficulties if players want to try each faction. The same should be true for the second map. Also the town portal would be restricted only in this map and the rest in the series would not have it restricted. The second map allows it, and so will the 3rd 4th 5th but I'm not sure if I will ever get around to the third. I forget how much times these take to do.
The outside outpost is supposed to be weak, to prevent very early movements in there, and some aesthetic.
The only way Famine can get out early is if the weak purple part of his army capture the castle in the underground west and transports himself through demon castles. so better not let purple take that.
Thank you for the detailed feedback
ceceron (Krakow, Poland) writes:
07-01-2025 16:18
Just an idea - [HotA] The Four Horsemen - 1 - Famine
This early escape is a great idea but IMHO you should make it more probable. In my game, purple wasn't even near capturing this castle. Maybe it should be already purple, but without a tavern. Then it would be developed by timed events, adding more and more buildings to it every week or so... There would be a global event that the Citadel is being built and the player should hurry to capture it before it's completed, because it would open Famine a way into their land.
Just idea :)
Kevin Moloney (Ireland) writes:
07-01-2025 16:32
R - [HotA] The Four Horsemen - 1 - Famine
I believe there is a times event to built the gate in the castle but he does not start with ownership. I like the random possibility of him possibly capturing it
Author: Gamer (N/A), 27-12-2024 22:05 Terrific map - [HotA] The Four Horsemen - 1 - Famine Excellent map, would love to play more from you
Kevin Moloney (Ireland) writes:
07-01-2025 15:51
pestilence - [HotA] The Four Horsemen - 1 - Famine
the second one should be available also but not quite as large
Author: Irene and Vasily (Moscow), 27-12-2024 11:57 Like The Four Horsemen - 1 - Famine - [HotA] The Four Horsemen - 1 - Famine thanks a lot for the pleasure!It's an awesome map. Good luck.
Author: Garri, 16-12-2024 20:21 Like Thanks - [HotA] The Four Horsemen - 1 - Famine Decent map.
Author: Bence (Magyarország), 05-05-2024 21:41 Like Famine is a tough one - Famine This was a very good map, thanks for it. I tried to beat Famine 5-6 times with quite powerful armie, but 80-80 attack defence with that army (30k skeletons and 300+ devil and dragon + 1000+ lich) and a hardcore resistance was unbeatable. So I conquered all the map, gathered a big army, which for some reason Famine didn't want to attack and for a week I TP-t to the town nearest to Famine. So he just wanished without a fight after 7 days. It was so fun :)
Author: Michael (Czech Republic), 24-03-2024 18:10 Like What the ACTUAL hell? - Famine Hello and let me start with...what the actual hell is this map???
I play HOMAM3 with my nephew from time to time for more than 20 years and its over 10 years (I think) since we are searching and playing created maps by you guys from this site. This map... THIS MAP is next next next NEXT level! I have never seen such an amazing work of art!
The look is incredible, the balance is amazing, storytelling is engaging, structure of gameplay is so smooth and after that you added easter eggs, references and puzzles I have never seen in any of those hundreds of maps I have played!
I am really really thankfull to you for creating this masterpeice and I hope to see more in the future from you (: thank you!
If there is way to support you in any shape or form let me know! You deserve an avard for this!!
Thank you
Michael (Czech Republic) writes:
24-03-2024 18:18
Post scriptum - Famine
The entrance for the turquoise portal with the added step was mindblowing. Well played sir! (:
Kevin (Ireland) writes:
24-03-2024 21:48
re - Famine
Your feedback is much appreciated and I am so glad you enjoyed.
my email is kgmoloney@gmail.com but I don't think we can post methods of payments or otherwise to this site but it would be a good idea to have a bitcoin address or something and if people like maps they can buy the maker the price of a coffee or something :)
I did plan on a map for each horseman but it takes such a long time and I have normal work :(
I would love to work on part 2 sometime.
Michael (Czech republic) writes:
25-03-2024 13:13
Yep - Famine
Hell yeah I agree. I would love to see here "buy me a drink" button :D
The selfish person in me would love to courage you to quit your job and focus on creating more maps because you clearly have a huge talent, eye for details, mind of a genius and patience of a God.
But the other half in me knows very well that life isnt always about doing what you like or wanna do.
So keep up that good work, take care and dont forget to enjoy your life (:
Sincerely,
Michael
Kevin Moloney (Ireland) writes:
14-12-2024 07:52
new - [HotA] The Four Horsemen - 1 - Famine
new map up for second part
Michael (Czech republic) writes:
14-12-2024 09:24
- [HotA] The Four Horsemen - 1 - Famine
Omg, omg, omg yeees!!! Thanks you so much for telling me (: We will have Heroes3 weekend with my nepfew in one week so it is such an amazing timing. I love this! Thank you buddy and take care (:
Author: Andy (UK), 03-11-2023 17:02 Like Will we see the other horsemen? - Famine I'm hoping this is the first in a series of maps :)
Author: Andy (UK), 03-11-2023 16:43 Like Great quests and secret areas - Famine Thanks. Brilliant map. Loved the quests and secret areas. Spent time solving these rather than rushing to complete.
I managed to solve everything apart from get through the turquoise portal and get the artifacts for the water seer tent (behind light blue gate). Are these meant to be solved or just teasers?
Also I hunted for ages for the citadel in the East only to find out where it really was ;) Was that deliberate?
I never found the town portal scroll either - very well hidden. Any clues?
Kevin (Ireland) writes:
04-11-2023 07:42
Map Maker - Famine
Thank you for the feedback, glad you enjoyed it. I had begun work on the second map 'Pestilence' as the second horseman but i don't have the time, perhaps in the future I will work on it. It takes a long time.
The citadel city is actually on the west, i think the latest download has that changed,
The portal entrance to the hidden scroll is in the center near the pirate city, but hidden there very well. I cannot reveal the secret ;)
To find the turquoise portal there is another portal hidden behind a tavern which leads into the are where turquoise is.
there are many hidden events also.
Kevin (Ireland) writes:
04-11-2023 07:44
clues - Famine
The tavern has clues if you check every week to see what the bartender says.
Andy (UK) writes:
06-11-2023 13:31
Very Clever - Famine
I had seen the portal entrance by the pirate city but not worked out how to reach it. Finally figured it out. Very clever!
I can imagine it took ages to develop such a detailed, payable map. I hope you manage to find time for pestilence some time in the future. Thanks again for your time to develop and share this one.
Kevin Moloney (Ireland) writes:
14-12-2024 07:53
new - [HotA] The Four Horsemen - 1 - Famine
new map up for second part
Andy (UK) writes:
14-12-2024 08:52
Great news - [HotA] The Four Horsemen - 1 - Famine
Thanks for letting me know. Will download and look forward to playing
Author: Miloš (Belgrade Serbia), 19-05-2023 02:31 Scholar - Famine Hello. Now it's more challenging, but I found one mistake. You banned scholar skill, but you didn't ban heroes who have scholar skill, especially that teal tower heroes who have scholar skill can learn TP from Solmyr in the early game.
Kevin (Ireland) writes:
30-05-2023 18:50
scholar - Famine
I will allow this, the game map editor engineer really should allow this setting to be inherited all the way down.
Author: Kevin Moloney (Ireland), 15-05-2023 23:36 Like Updated - Famine Updated today 15ty may
Fixed some mad bugs and slight redesign. Boosted enemy
Author: Miloš (Belgrade Serbia), 15-05-2023 03:30 Noticed - Famine In the previous map Famine, Famine hero was a bit weaker, and there was also only only TP scroll hidden very good, and you needed to be tricky to find it. On the last updated map Famine hero are much stronger, for TP scroll you also need to be tricky, but teal player hero starts with filled skills and TP, thats a big advantage.
Author: Philippe Barreaux (Canada), 15-03-2023 12:09 Like famine - Famine Opinion after several run on the map.
An original map, with an excellent realisation. Highly recommended.
Author: Philippe Barreaux (Canada), 25-02-2023 21:50 Like prebuild starting heros - Famine Like I didnt completed the map, it is just thoughs.
There is something strange with starting heroes.
First is ; Why is it necessary to denie to players, heroes choice.
After that we have the barbarian heroe, Crag hack, who is almost scuttled because of its secondary skills, which even dont make sense for a barbarian. Wisdom is not something we expect for them, nor fire magic. It is more air magic if any. For artillery it is a very bad one, like eagle eyes and first aid.
Point even barbarians land is strange. I dont expect paved road nor techno building such as canon foundry in such realm.
Rampart ; Starting heroes is Mephala, speciality armorer ... but she start without armorer. It is a bit like crag hack who have wisdom at start but no spell book.
Tower heroe ; all skill are filled. Starting heroes is not that good, and you have no flexibility in her build.
After that we have the barbarian heroes, Crag hack, who is about scuttled because of it s secondary skill, which even dont make sense for a barbarian. Wisdom is not something we expect for them, nor fire magic. It is more air magic if any. For artillery it is a very bad one, with eagle eyes and first aid.
Point even barbarians land is strange. I dont expect paved road nor techno building such as canon foundry in such realm.
Rampart ; Staring heroes is Mephala, speciality armorer ... but she start without armorer. It is a bit like crag hack who have wisdom at start but no spell book.
Tower all skill are filled. Starting heroes is not that good, and you have no flexibility in her build.
Kevin (Ireland) writes:
26-02-2023 02:31
Prebuild starting heroes - Famine
Thanks for the feedback, will take those points into consideration next version.
Author: Julian (England), 23-11-2022 23:07 Like Good map - Famine Nice map. Nice design
Author: Kevin (Ireland), 16-11-2022 14:18 Like Update - Famine Many updates and balances 16/11/2022
Famine 1.0
Author: Kevin (Ireland), 26-10-2022 13:11 Like Map Maker - Famine Just to note for players - There is a way Famine can get out early and wreck havoc - this is per design and you must figure out how he gets out - you can stop that method pretty easily - he doesn't have Town portal spell or fly dd etc. :)
Regarding the secret places - the tavern rumours can give you tips.
Author: Сергей (Tyumen), 22-10-2022 15:34 Отличная карта. - Famine Классная карта, большое внимание к деталям, не заметил не проходных элементов. Мне рано достался артефакт рог бездны, поэтому Famine я встречал с 30к фангармов, это можно пофиксить. Выпал он с могилы воина.
Kevin (Ireland) writes:
23-10-2022 06:05
Famine - Famine
That has been removed from general drop and only available via a secret now - thank you :)
Author: stefanita (Romania), 19-10-2022 23:43 Nice map - Famine Hello, where can TP be found ?
Kevin (Ireland) writes:
20-10-2022 19:02
TP - Famine
Hi,
You will have to redownload latest map, but the town portal is there but very hidden. The town portal spell is not something I think is a good thing in the game - same with dd and fly, they can invalidate certain positions, distances, and barriers which sometimes are important. But that said there are three town Gates stones you can use if they help in any way. In any case good luck finding the TP spell. :)
Also the latest map fixes a bug which would change the difficulty to easy for some players so I would recommend to download current one.
Author: Kir (Russia), 19-10-2022 16:56 map - Famine Okay. I defeated a hero named Famine, but I didn't finish the game. Too long on a size H map without moving spells and with enemies advancing from all sides.
I have to note the individual locations for each player and the many clever contrivances. Hidden passages, etc. Recommended for fans of the long and laborious game.
Author: Peter (UK), 18-10-2022 13:36 Like nicely detailed - Famine I found some secrets and I love the placements of them :)
Author: Kir (Russia), 17-10-2022 18:34 map - Famine Why does the red player have such a big bonus? The hero of Mirlanda with a huge army.
Kevin (Ireland) writes:
17-10-2022 20:33
Baron - Famine
Hi,
I have sent a new version, that was a testing army I forgot to remove. New map should be up soon.
Kevin (Ireland) writes:
17-10-2022 20:55
Baron - Famine
Hi,
I have sent a new version, that was a testing army I forgot to remove. New map should be up soon.
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