PC HoMM3 -vs- Songs of Conquest

[o z m o n d o]

So I am new to this style of strategy/tactics/RPG game, but I really like them. Currently I am very bad at them, and I am trying to learn but what my dilemma is what would be a better game to get autistic hyper focused on? HoMM or SOC?
Or is Age of Wonders a better rout even though I'm bored of Civilization games
OR is there an RTS style spin off of these kind of games?

Unsure what to pursue, thanks for your input

 

[Zooey]

Personally i think HoMM3 with the important mods is the best (Hota, etc)

 

[RustySK]

I mean, they're all good. I'm not sure what you're asking here.

I'm an old fart with a long history playing HoMM 3, so I'm partial to that game, but they're all worth a shot. Just play whichever you prefer in any case, right?
Or are you asking which game has the most active community? That'll likely be the newest one with the largest media profile, so AoW. (Though HoMM 3 with HotA is remarkably active as well)

I don't think there are any official RTS spin-offs from these franchises, no.
Warlords Battlecry 3 has historically been referred to as a HoMM-like RTS, but I have no idea whether that game has an active community anymore. SpellForce might fit this as well, but that series definitely has its own thing going on.

 

[o z m o n d o]

I mean, they're all good. I'm not sure what you're asking here.

I'm an old fart with a long history playing HoMM 3, so I'm partial to that game, but they're all worth a shot. Just play whichever you prefer in any case, right?
Or are you asking which game has the most active community? That'll likely be the newest one with the largest media profile, so AoW. (Though HoMM 3 with HotA is remarkably active as well)

I don't think there are any official RTS spin-offs from these franchises, no.
Warlords Battlecry 3 has historically been referred to as a HoMM-like RTS, but I have no idea whether that game has an active community anymore. SpellForce might fit this as well, but that series definitely has its own thing going on.

Im largely a solo player, so Im not really worried about the online scene, I just dont want to commit to learning one of these games and then finding out that the other was way more worth my time

 

[RageBurner]

I think Songs of Conquest is superior for a few reasons: first, it addresses a lot of problems that HoMM has with pacing by allowing you to recruit troops every day, rather than just weekly, allowing for more even troop growth.

Secondly, and this ties into my first point, being able to control more creature stacks versus growing the number of stacks your hero/wielder is allowed needs to be a conscious choice, which naturally limits and slows down the snowballing that tends to characterize this kind of game, both for the players and AI.

Thirdly, it actually factors troop composition into the spells you can cast. The way magic is accrued over time in combat means you can't outright nuke (again, leading to more interesting decisons).

Fourthly, while there are (currently) less factions, at 6 if you count the DLC ones, the differences on how they handle are far more pronounced in general. Tying into this, the building dependency system is entirely different, allowing you to specialize settlements more readily to the heroes/wielders you have available.

And finally fifthly (and that addresses a pet peeve of mine), by default you cannot hire heroes/wielders or pick up troops from a different faction than your own, which is something I appreciate (although now SoC has an option to play with mixed wielders/troops for those that prefer how HoMM does it).

 

[ATenderLad]

What with Songs of Conquest being the modern game that's made to be a spiritual successor to HoMM, that's probably your better choice. It's made by people who knew what they loved about the older series, and aimed to refine the experience.

(The art style in HoMM is a delight though, despite it's age I prefer the way it looks).

 

[RageBurner]

I personally never liked pre-rendered graphics (the only games that did them right IMO were Super Mario RPG and DKC), so to me SoC's high-bit pixel art has no competition, but I can understand the appeal to those more seasoned with HoMM.

 

[ATenderLad]

I personally never liked pre-rendered graphics (the only games that did them right IMO were Super Mario RPG and DKC), so to me SoC's high-bit pixel art has no competition, but I can understand the appeal to those more seasoned with HoMM.

Oh, I won't pretend I don't have nostalgia knocking on my door with a casserole and a gun.

 

[RageBurner]

So you used to play this a lot, @ATenderLad? I think HoMM3 is what, 1999? I was chomping at the bit on the PS1 at the time, I don't think I played much on PC back then except Diablo.

 

[ATenderLad]

So you used to play this a lot, @ATenderLad? I think HoMM3 is what, 1999? I was chomping at the bit on the PS1 at the time, I don't think I played much on PC back then except Diablo.

I had a friend who owned HoMM3, he basically insisted on teaching me to play. A little pushy, but I did like the game.

(Diablo I&II are a whole other story, of course. I tied up my families phone line an *awful* lot playing Diablo II with a modem).

 

[RageBurner]

I had a friend who owned HoMM3, he basically insisted on teaching me to play. A little pushy, but I did like the game.

(Diablo I&II are a whole other story, of course. I tied up my families phone line an *awful* lot playing Diablo II with a modem).

Same regarding Diablo, actually. Pre-fiber optics internet was pretty sad in some ways.

 

[_oBSOLEte_]

So I am new to this style of strategy/tactics/RPG game, but I really like them. Currently I am very bad at them, and I am trying to learn but what my dilemma is what would be a better game to get autistic hyper focused on? HoMM or SOC?
Or is Age of Wonders a better rout even though I'm bored of Civilization games
OR is there an RTS style spin off of these kind of games?

Unsure what to pursue, thanks for your input

I love HoMM, but I think Age of Wonders is better. The combat is more interesting. HoMM's combat is more like chess with hit points. AoW's combat is more like a tabletop wargame.

The RTS equivalent for you would be Total War. Except they're stupidly greedy in term of DLC. But if you can get your hand on Total Warhammer 1 or 2 with all DLCs pre-packed by a fit girl, go for it. Those games are split between a simplified turn based 4X on the campain map and a RTS with lots of units regrouped in regiments for the combat.

I would also highly recommend Endless Legend or Endless Space, Alpha Centauri, Sin of a Solar Empire, Galactic Civilizations.

Post automatically merged: Apr 9, 2025

Those games are also way too addictive. If you're starting with them, put a timer on your turns ASAP, or you'll end up like me, min-maxing stuff untill 4AM on a 100+ turn scenario where you well know you snowballed and it's already won.

 

[o z m o n d o]

I think Songs of Conquest is superior for a few reasons: first, it addresses a lot of problems that HoMM has with pacing by allowing you to recruit troops every day, rather than just weekly, allowing for more even troop growth.

Secondly, and this ties into my first point, being able to control more creature stacks versus growing the number of stacks your hero/wielder is allowed needs to be a conscious choice, which naturally limits and slows down the snowballing that tends to characterize this kind of game, both for the players and AI.

Thirdly, it actually factors troop composition into the spells you can cast. The way magic is accrued over time in combat means you can't outright nuke (again, leading to more interesting decisons).

Fourthly, while there are (currently) less factions, at 6 if you count the DLC ones, the differences on how they handle are far more pronounced in general. Tying into this, the building dependency system is entirely different, allowing you to specialize settlements more readily to the heroes/wielders you have available.

And finally fifthly (and that addresses a pet peeve of mine), by default you cannot hire heroes/wielders or pick up troops from a different faction than your own, which is something I appreciate (although now SoC has an option to play with mixed wielders/troops for those that prefer how HoMM does it).

Very solid breakdown, thank you

Post automatically merged: Apr 9, 2025

I love HoMM, but I think Age of Wonders is better. The combat is more interesting. HoMM's combat is more like chess with hit points. AoW's combat is more like a tabletop wargame.

The RTS equivalent for you would be Total War. Except they're stupidly greedy in term of DLC. But if you can get your hand on Total Warhammer 1 or 2 with all DLCs pre-packed by a fit girl, go for it. Those games are split between a simplified turn based 4X on the campain map and a RTS with lots of units regrouped in regiments for the combat.

I would also highly recommend Endless Legend or Endless Space, Alpha Centauri, Sin of a Solar Empire, Galactic Civilizations.

Post automatically merged: Apr 9, 2025

Those games are also way too addictive. If you're starting with them, put a timer on your turns ASAP, or you'll end up like me, min-maxing stuff untill 4AM on a 100+ turn scenario where you well know you snowballed and it's already won.

Which AOW game do you like?

 

[_oBSOLEte_]

Very solid breakdown, thank you

Post automatically merged: Apr 9, 2025

Which AOW game do you like?

I've played them all but AoW4. I'd say Planetfall is the best one so far but even the old ones are worth playing.

 

[o z m o n d o]

I've played them all but AoW4. I'd say Planetfall is the best one so far but even the old ones are worth playing.

I have Shadow Magic on GOG and AOW3 on steam.

 

[RageBurner]

Very solid breakdown, thank you

No problem, I'm glad I could help, though perhaps I could have been a little more concise, haha.

 

[o z m o n d o]

No problem, I'm glad I could help, though perhaps I could have been a little more concise, haha.

No it makes perfect sense to me. I like SOC which is why Im looking for more opinions on it, cause I always hear that HoMM3 is like the best of all time, so I was feeling a little bad not playing it lol Im weird like that

 

[Varyag]

Oooh all of these games are really good. Honestly, any of them is a good choice to go into, and people (mostly slavs) have been optimizing competitive HOMM3 gameplay for decades now. My personal opinion is that I REALLY like the overworld gameplay of HOMM, but don't particularly love the combat, it has lots of game exploiting particularities. Still, the game has extremely strong vibes, good soundtrack, lore... it's a classic. I recommend the HD and HOTA mods, they're compatible for a modern experience.

Of course, any modern title will have modern QoL and game design, and probably have more engaging combat. I'm interested in several of them, including the actual new HOMM title that's been announced last year.

 

[RustySK]

Of course, any modern title will have modern QoL and game design, and probably have more engaging combat. I'm interested in several of them, including the actual new HOMM title that's been announced last year.

How is that new one looking so far, btw? I liked the visuals, but with Ubisoft involved I just zoned it out on reflex. Is the gameplay looking promising so far?

 

[Varyag]

How is that new one looking so far, btw? I liked the visuals, but with Ubisoft involved I just zoned it out on reflex. Is the gameplay looking promising so far?

Honestly I have not been keeping up with it, since it's still on closed access. I'm hoping the new dev team can deliver on something nice.

Ubisoft is a problem that I hope soon we won't have to deal with anymore, but they've owned the franchise since like HOMM4. sad, and I don't want to give them any money.

 

[o z m o n d o]

sad, and I don't want to give them any money.

Very wise

 

[_oBSOLEte_]

Amplitude is launching Endless Legend 2 pretty soon and now that they've bought themsleves out of the claws of Sega and gone indy again, I'm eager to see what they'll come up with.

As always, I'm sure the artistic direction and music alone will be worth it.