What is Horn of the Abyss?
HotA is a global add-on for Heroes of might and magic III that extends (and fixes if needed) classical gameplay elements and adds some of its own. On a more conceptual level, HotA is an attempt to continue legendary series RoE-AB-SoD as close to the original as it could have been done by NWC team, if only they had more desire, resources or even understanding of their own game. We try to keep classical h3 spirit in every tiny detail from code nuances to overall gameplay. Be welcome to check if we’ve succeeded.
Tyr Antilles says:
HotA started as a MOD for Heroes III SoD, but ended as a full expansion of the original game. They really succeeded!
1. Heroes of Might and Magic III: The Restoration of Erathia
2. Heroes of Might and Magic III: Armageddon's Blade
3. Heroes of Might and Magic III: The Shadow of Death
4. Heroes of Might and Magic III: Horn of the Abyss
HotA HISTORY:
HotA is a mod crafted by the Russian-speaking Heroes community for Heroes of Might and Magic III: The Shadow of Death. It is the first fan mod in the history of the entire series to successfully add an all-new town, without replacing any other factions in doing so.
The mod promised three new factions would be added to H3, with a new one coming in each of the three global versions: the pirate-focused Cove town, the snowy Kronwerk/Crownwork populated by Dwarves and Giants, and the Cathedral, a dark antithesis to the Castle town led by inquisitors. In the spirit of a classic expansion pack, new heroes, artifacts, objects, terrains, spells, gameplay and features were intended for inclusion.
A sudden dispute within the HotA development team significantly crippled its progress, and for months on end it seemed certain that it would never be released. A disgruntled insider leaked a bugged beta version, which included a playable yet crash-prone first version of the Cove town, but nothing official immediately followed. However, in 2011, the team regrouped in a redoubled effort to finish version 1.0, and triumphed by the (very) end of the year in delivering the Cove, Heroes of Might and Magic III's de facto tenth town (with a small campaign).
The aim of the project is to create an add-on for Heroes of Might & Magic III SoD\Complete with lots of new features. The team is focusing on the QUALITY of all new HotA features and that means the maintenance of original game balance, and by making all new graphic materials in the original heroes style.
Requirements:
- Heroes III Complete (GOG.com version works great), or Heroes III Shadow of Death full game. You can buy it from here: http://www.gog.com/game/heroes_of_might_and_magic_3_complete_edition . Regular price is €8.49, but GOG.com sometimes offer amazing deals.
- Heroes III Horn of the Abyss (http://heroescommunity.com/viewthread.php3?TID=39830) - download installer (Current version available for download is 1.3.5 at 2015.01.28).
- Heroes III HD (https://sites.google.com/site/heroes3hd/). Latest version is HoMM3 HD 3.807f at 2015.01.28.
Installation instructions and launching game:
- Install Heroes III Complete
- Install over it Heroes III Horn of the Abyss
- Install last Heroes III HD (HD Patch must be latest version, otherwise HotA won't work)
- Launch HoMM3 HD and on Launcher window select:
- On Top-Left corner select h3hota.exe to play Horn of the Abyss, or Heroes3.exe to play Shadow of Death or Heroes 3 Complete
- Resolution: select your monitor default resolution (22 inch is 1680x1050, Full HD is 1920x1080, etc.)
- Full Screen Mode is recommended (you can anytime press F4 while in game to play in windowed mode)
Useful links:
- HotA official thread : http://heroescommunity.com/viewthread.php3?TID=39830
- HotA on Facebook : https://www.facebook.com/h3hotaofficial
- Maps : www.maps4heroes.com : http://www.maps4heroes.com/heroes3/maps.php?keywords=&type=hota&size=&difficulty=&sort=2
- Maps : heroesportal.net : http://heroesportal.net/maps.php?type=H3HA
- Heroes of Might and Magic III: Horn of the Abyss expansion (Fan Trailer) - YouTube : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kMYj5Am2QX8
- Horn of the Abyss 1.3.1 - Cove Town - Heroes 3 Gameplay - YouTube : http://www.google.ro/url?url=http://www.youtube.com/watch%3Fv%3D0m8GIPk20bU&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&sa=U&ei=7SDJVJjqMMv7UvX_g8AN&ved=0CEsQtwIwCg&usg=AFQjCNEZ8SUDSy-v21CmyU39uGDBOvAj-g
- Heroes of Might and Magic III: Horn of the Abyss gameplay - YouTube : http://www.google.ro/url?url=http://www.youtube.com/watch%3Fv%3D7H0Jjn2Y2z0&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&sa=U&ei=7SDJVJjqMMv7UvX_g8AN&ved=0CFAQtwIwCw&usg=AFQjCNEy2iHBmam08SCwH3_8vKQ6i4JQyQ
