Straturdays: Warlords of the Wastelands part 12: Chapter 8 re-redo [FINALE]
0Lead by Jon Van Canegham of New World Computing, and published by The 3DO Company, Heroes of Might and Magic 3 became a common name in PC gaming at the cusp of the millennium. A turn based strategy title that combined RPG mechanics with 4X games; controlling heroes who lead armies of creatures from myth, legend, and history across an overworld map to claim resource structures and conquer cities, gaining experience to level up and then acquire or improve upon skills that directly improve their army or aid in more adjacent ways, like economic boosts or greater spellcasting abilities.
This series isn't going to focus on HoMM3. As mentioned, it's a commonplace name. You're more likely to find someone who knows about it than not in the gaming space. I will instead be journeying through an offshoot tale set in the HoMM3 engine. We'll be controlling the hero Tarnum, as we learn of his rise from a simple man to the ruthless barbarian king.
But our tale won't end there. For his despicable acts as barbarian king, Tarnum is thrown from the hall of judgement by the Ancestors, to repent for his actions. Heroes Chronicles follows Tarnum through 7 more titles as he undertakes tasks set to him by the Ancestors to redeem his soul, leaving behind the Tarnum who is barbarian king and becoming Tarnum, the Immortal Hero.
Honestly, I was one who had never heard of HoMM3. When a teenaged me first played it hot seat at a friend's house, I thought "Man this is just like Heroes Chronicles but with a cool necromancer faction." I'd like to share it not only because I enjoy the stories told within the games, not only because I feel there can be life lessons cleaned, but because the team at NWC put effort in, and for that effort to go unnoticed is a shame. So I'll bring the gameplay to as many people as I can, and encourage them to try it for themselves. Pretty sure all 8 titles are still on GoG as a bundle.