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the grid is just so basic. even heroes 2 had a more complex grid

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I wonder what the bar is up the top? It seems as though its some kind of health bar, and the icon of your troops slide down when they're attacked.

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@alloy: were do u see mind and body. we can clearly see the elements and light is shown when the hero levels up. dark is assumed to be the last icon opposing light. i dont see mind and body. where did u find it?

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The future of the Heroes of Might and Magic series is, apparently in very good hands.

The future of the Heroes of Might and Magic series is, apparently in very good hands. In the Ubisoft area at the last E3 presentation, a short video from the game was shown by one of the developers of Nival Interactive, and their vision looks impressive and amazing.
The demenstration began in the human city. the city view in HoMM V is unlike that of previous games. There are no two dimensional models of buildings that are low on animations that are viewed from a distant point of view. Everything is displayed in life-rich full 3D.
The city is lit by soft colors, browns and yellows, the sun is shining in the background and every single part of the enormous fortification can be explored, close up, so you can see the detailes and impressive animations and really understand the developement of the city, as it is displayed by houses and housing created around it.
All of the traditional buildings are back, including the archery range, for recruiting archers, and griffing nests, where the noble creatures can be drafted for battle. As always, the city's character and uniqueness compared to the other factions is preserved visually, and this time the details are richer and more exciting.
When switching to the map, the visual richness is preserved. The area is very colorful, green and filled with activity. The sawmill works at full speed, displaying an invigorating animation of logs being cut in half, bushes and flowers litter the lawns, and our hero, a noble hero, is ready to embark on the road.
At this point, we saw little of the great diversity excpecting us on the HOMMV world map. Every part of the map looks substantially different and rich in details. The human area, as said before, is green and colorful. The elves live in forests with high trees that touch the sky and beams of sign light shine on the ground, while the underworld force, in possesion of the Inferno city, lives between rocks, abysses filled with boiling lava and rumbling volcanoes of fire.
The world map can be zoomed in at any time as well, to watch up close every single object lying on the ground. You can see lawns, buildings and resources and even a field of sunflowers, swaying in the wind.
You can also identify magical items (Artifacts) before you pick them up. We stumbled upon a pair of cuffs (shackles), specifically designed for bedroom perversions, but in HoMM 5 they are used to cancel the white flag option (surrender) and prevent both the player and his opponent from leaving the battlefield while fighting.
The graphic detail will be very relevant for the gameplay itself. finally, you can, in one look, decide what cities to attack. Even on the world map you can see how developed each city is, by its details, and therefore decide wether you should siege the enemy stronghold. The heroes themselves will leave testemonies of their power when they move across the world map. Each hero is followed by a trail of movement specific to its race.
In the demonstration, the human knight left a trail of pixie dust, while his opponent, a warrior of the underwold from the Inferno fortress, turned every piece of ground he stepped on the molten rocks and boiling lava. The nature of the trail and its strength testify of the hero's power, and will therefore allow us to pick our fights carefully.
Not much long has passed until we got caught in fighting. The human army, including griffins, angels and archers among other troops, faced off against the underwold army, which included flaming black horses and demons. The fighting was very intensive and included several displays of purpose of the special move each creature had.
The hell-steeds, for example, strike the enemy with a black cloud, from which black bats fly, and the demons teleport themselves from place to place in great firesm like previous games, but with much more impressive special effects.
The battles run very similarly to the way they used to in the past. The battle grid didn't show up, but the developers promised that it will be found in the final version. The heroes, again, dont participate fully in combat, but they have special and impressive attacks, and they can still cast spells during combat.
The fight ended with a crushing victory for the good side, won thanks to the healing specialties of the angels, in combination of the griffins ability to fly above the scene of battle, disappear out of sight, and return two round later and land on the enemy by surprise.
At this point the demonstration of Heroes of Might & Magic 5 ended and left us feeling that the Nival crew deffintely understand and love the [HOMM] brand. Against that loyalty and incorporation of so many known and loved elements from the series, the question asked is what changed will the new development team put in the turn based gameplay, and will it be able to capture the spirit of the first and really magical games of the series?

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Dragons will be available as units. (It is not obvious if they are available in castles or as neutrals.)

There will be three skill levels.

The biggest battlafield is more than twice bigger than the smallest one.

Army trail is only a visual clue. It is not clickable. (So, it is unlikely to see skills or abilities conmcerning trail).

Four magic schools is nearer to reality than six magic schools.

The set of resources is not changed.

Fog of war is as in H3.

Retaliation is as in H3.

Inferno hero is so big that no horse (real or fantasy) can bear him. So he travels on foot.

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The elves live in forests with high trees that touch the sky and beams of sign light shine on the ground

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....
but with much more impressive special effects.
....

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Q. CragHack:
Quantity of [skilov], places under [skily] and their gradation (BASIC, [adv], expert or as into 4- [ke] still master and [grandmaster]?)

A. On the system of [skilov] in detail we will describe only later. For the present I can say that it underwent new development… – not last role in [skilakh] and skills will play the class of character.

Q. CragHack:
The statistics of [junitov] are distinguished the types of attacks and the types of protection… (In 4- [ke] [razlichalisrukopashnaja] and remote)

A. No

Q. CragHack:
Will in 5th [ke] possibility use chains of forces as in 3- to [ke]? Or is planned limitation to the [pdobnuju] tactics…

A. They will be

Q. _Maximus_:
Heroes in the locks, only that race, by which you play or everything without to the selection

A. The probability of appearance in this lock of the heroes of title race is more

Q. _Maximus_:
How many forms of the troops each race has

A. seven

Q. _Maximus_:
How many levels of upgrades the troops have (two as in the third, or more)

A. two

Q. maiorov 3d:
There will be underground level?

A. Yes

Q. stealth_nsk:
Will [junity] adhere each day, or once a week?

A. Once a week – each day was b not so interestingly

Q. stealth_nsk:
Army will be able to be moved without the hero

A. No

Q.D'sparil:
They [ubirut] selection system, which was in Iv? Or hydra? or dragons?

A. yes, they will remove

Q. Dust_HL:
In a command of developers there are people which took part in the championships, tournaments under this or that version of Game!?

A. Majorities in the command of developers are the old fans of a series Of heroes of Of might and Magic, many of them participated, also, in the championships.

Q. Dust_HL:
That for the majority of them there are the heroes: [Singl] or [Multiplajer]?

A. For whom as Therefore we try to do so that both [singl] and [multipleer] would be each in their own way good

Q. AlexS:
Will be increased battlefield?

A. The dimensions of battlefield will vary depending on the sizes of th armies e meeting on it

Q. AlexS:
There will be new not standard incantations (not the usual shielding or bringing damages, but something unique)?

A. Yes, incantations will be the most different, including besides those attacking and shielding

Q. AlexS:
You have actually free beer after eight? But with what purpose?

A. Yes, actually free beer with the purpose of [raspitija] in grow prettier the company

Q. Darth Of kernel:
But the editor of maps is possible more clear about the generator of random maps/. It is not clear from your [predidushchego] answer to this question that it will be realized from this

A. Of [sorri] there will be the generator of the random missions of – will be and the editor of maps. Boy i. the boy

Q. Darth Of kernel:
There will be the editor of campaigns?

A. it is not thus far solved

Q. bigpapa7777:
Where that in the news rushed by, that [Nival] so works at the universe Of m&m. So here a question is planned in the near future the continuation of this remarkable idea as M&m ' from the company Of [nival]?

A. [Nival] actually works at the universe Of might and Magic of – since into it it enters the universe Of heroes of Of might and Magic of the V. [Jubisoft] plan creation by the united integrated universe M&M.
What our further plans of – thus far the secret

Q. [druk]:
will see we in the game the beautiful [risovannye] portraits of heroes and monsters?

A. It is compulsory!

Q. _ `Doc `_:
How many levels of monsters will be in the game?

A. the question is not entirely intelligible

Q. Drakeus:
There will be the possibility of the editing of [junitov] in the editor of maps?

A. Thus far the possibilities of editor were not discussed

Q. bloodvessel:
What platforms will be supported, is it possible to expect [portirovanija] of the fifth heroes to Linux/Of mac?

A. Thus far similar technical questions were not discussed

Q. Sniper85:
Will be present in the game the collections of artefacts with the eventual result (helmet of tiger, the armor of tiger, frosty hammer = the force of dragon and regeneration, etc)

A. There is no precise answer as yet.

Q. ventus:
Will be motion along the global map achieved immediately afterward the clique of mouse or will be first shown route, and only after [storogo] cry, hero will begin to move? (from video not very understandably, the second cry if it is, in the cursor in no way it is reflected)

A. Route at first will be shown, and that is small, brings difficult…

Q. Quaker_KLN:
Is it possible it will be, just as in the third heroes, all actions with the ease carry out by one mouse, without resorting to to keyboard?

A. It is possible

Q. Snegovik:
Do read creators this forum, and will be some one of the subject here ideas personified? Or all zh people here without to sense does dream?

A. Certainly, we read everything and it is very attentive. To answer, unfortunately, is obtained not as frequently, as it would like… Concerning the ideas of – yes, possibly some of them will be personified, in one or other form or another.

Q. Messalot Of lich:
In the game will remain the caravans?

A. no

Q. KindDragon:
Is it possible it will in the game write [demki] so that there would be the possibility it will share with its passage with others

A. To development such options yet were not discussed in this period

Q. Strashun:
will the stacks of [junitov] obtain [ekspu] as in heroes 3.5?

A. No

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These are the most interesting parts of readme file

1. Description
==============

This is the First Playable Publishable of HoMMV specified in the list of the deliverables for Milestone #5 "First Playable Publishable".

Its primary goal is to demonstrate fully playable mission using final art of one season complete.

Updates from the previous version (First Playable)

Adventure Map
- Minimap
- River
- Ship
- Terrain objects: flowers, lakes, craters, mountains, shrubs
- Flying info instead of dialogs
- Edge of the map
- Fog of war (depicting explored and unexplored territory)
- Shadow, clouds and birds over adventure map
- Basic AI
- Camera scroll via screen edge is implemented
- Music

Combat
- Siege arena
- Hero specialization (skills, abilities)
- Weather effects (rain)
- Grid on/off option
- Prediction of damage to creature
- When a player hovers the mouse cursor over one of the creature icons on the ATB bar, the corresponding creature on the battlefield is highlighted
- Music
Town
- Closeup of the town view
- Animated clouds, birds, foliage
- Improved grass texture on the town hill
- Objects in background
- Music

Cut-scene

Interfaces
Main Menu, Spellbook, Town Building, Town Fort/Creature Hire, Hero,
Confirmation and Notification Dialogs, Tooltips

The ways of version improvement and known bugs are enlisted in Section 5 "Known issues and further improvements".

Enjoy the demo!
Combat
--------

By default you are starting combat in the turn-based mode. There is ATB bar present in the upper part of interface.
Creatures are moving from right to left along the bar. When creature reaches left end of the bar it is selected.
Selected creature depicted by changing underlaying tiles in combat and by arrow above it. You can order creature to do any action available to it.
Actions available to the creature is move, move-attack (if hostile creature is present in the movement range), defend. Archers and Priests as well
as ballista have ranged attack. Clerics could cast spells. Archers, Royal Griffins, Paladins, Archangels, First Aid Tent has special abilities,
that could be activated.
Hero also can be selected during combat. Hero has access to the several spells (Magic Arrow, Chain Lightning, Bless, Curse, Blind, Stoneskin)
and several hero combat abilities (Prayer, Holy charge, etc).
When you are giving order preselection shows you which creature or tile you are going to select.
When one creature attacks another creature sequence of actions are as follows:
Attacking creature deals damage (attack could be lucky (special rainbow FX is depicted above the creature) dealing increased amount of damage).
Damage dealt is shown as "flying" numbers. Attacked creature could get retaliate strike (only once per its move) and deals damage to the attacking
creature this attack also could be lucky).
After any order creature could gain bonus from the high morale (which is also shown by special morale FX above the creature)
after that creature is moved to half of the ATB bar instead to be moved to the right end of the ATB bar.

Abilities of creatures and spells are described below:

Abilities:

Archers - Volley Shot - Archers could shot volley of arrows that will strike several enemies. To use this ability click on special ability
button (showing hero with glowing eyes) when archers are selected and then point to the tile on the battlefield with special ability cursor (glowing hand).
All enemies around selected tile (including diagonals) will be affected.

Royal Griffins - Battle Dive - Griffins can soar in the skies and then dive on the enemies to make devastating attack.
To use this ability click on special ability button (showing hero with glowing eyes) when griffins are selected and then point to the enemy
on the battlefield with special ability cursor (glowing hand). Griffin will fly away and when his next action will become available he will
plummet on the tile in which enemy was when attack was ordered. If there are no units present in that tile - no damage will be dealt.
If somebody is present in the tile (it could be friend or foe) - than griffin will deal damage to that creature.

Paladins - Lay on Hands - Paladins use divine power to heal wounds of the friendly unit.
When Paladins are selected point cursor on any friendly unit with their movement range (cursor will change to glowing hand) and then
click left mouse button. Paladin will move to the selected creature and will heal all wounds of the creature (he will not ressurect any
of the killed creatures)

Archangels - Ressurect - Archangels use their enormous powers to ressurect fallen creatures. When Archangels are selected point cursor on
any friendly unit or corpse of friendly unit (cursor will change to glowing hand) and then click left mouse button. Archangels will ressurect
several creatures.

First Aid Tent - Healing - First Aid Tent heal friendly creatures and will even ressurect fallen creatures in stack.

Spells:

Magic Arrow - deal damage to the selected creature
Chain Lightning - deal damage to the selected creature, than closest creature is selected and lightning jumps to that creature dealing half damage,
than closest creature to the second one is selected and quarter of damage is dealt to it and finally closet creature to the third affected creature
is selected and 1/8 of damage is dealt to it.
Bless - enchanted creature deals more damage, overrides Curse
Stoneskin - enchanted creature receives less damage
Curse - enchanted creature deals less damage, overrides Bless
Blind - enchanted creature does not move on the ATB bar. Removed after attack against
enchanted creature

Hero abilities:
Holy Charge - Hero deals damage to the selected creature
Prayer - All friendly creatures gain +1 to morale and luck as well as damage dealt to them is slightly reduced
Encourage - slightly increase initiative of the selected unit

When you attack hostile creature camera will show close-up on the melee attack or ranged attack scene.

You can also fight in the realtime mode. To do this access combat options by pressing on gear button (or ESC key) and press on button near
turn-based combat on/off. Combat will continue in realtime mode. In realtime mode there will be NO pause when creature reaches left end of the ATB bar.
Combat will still be paused when some action is commenced (like casting a spell or moving creature).

Town
------

To hire Hero after previous was defeated click Tavern button and you get default one. Only one hero can be under player's control in this version.

You can access build screen by pressing B key or pressing the leftmost button (with hammer and wood planks) in the town screen. Then screen will fade out and building, that could be built will be highlited. Building price shown at the second row under resources, as well as name of the building. Building, that could not be built right now (because one building was already built in this turn or you haven't enough resources) highlighted in red. After you selected the building confirnation window will appear and then screen will fade in along with newly purchased building. You can leave that screen by pressing the gate (exit) button or by pressing Esc key.

You can access fort screen by pressing F key or pressing the Fort button (with several coins) in the town screen. Then you will see Fort hall, where all creatures available to hire will be present. To hire creature press it's icon on the right side of the screen and then confirm purchase. Creature will be hired into the garrison army slots. You can move stack of creatures by clicking on it and than clicking on the slot in which you want to place them. You can leave that screen by pressing the gate (exit) button or by pressing Esc key.

2. System Requirements
======================

Minimum
-------

- OS: Windows 2000/XP, DirectX 9.0
- CPU: 800 MHz Intel Pentium III or AMD Athlon processor or higher
- RAM: 256 MB or higher
- Video: 32 MB AGP GeForce2 MX or ATI Radeon 8500 or higher video card
- CD/DVD-ROM speed: 8x
- Hard Drive Space: 200 MB free hard disk space (for the demo)
- Sound: DirectX compatible PCI 16-bit sound card
Recommended
-----------

- OS: Windows 2000/XP, DirectX 9.0
- CPU: Pentium 4 / Athlon 3,0 GHz or higher
- RAM: 512MB or more
- Video: 128 MB AGP 4x GeForceFX 5600 or higher video card
- CD/DVD-ROM speed: 32x
- Dolby Surround 5.1 sound processor

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