Might and Magic The Might and Magic Discussion Thread

[DaveO]

With Dragonsands respawning every 6 months in MM6, it's one way to make high levels possible.

 

[Darth Roxor]

Btw, I find it weird how the spacefaring hivemind aliens that suck the life out of every world they invade in MM6 become just generic 'devils and shit' in homm3.

 

[Sceptic]

Btw, I find it weird how the spacefaring hivemind aliens that suck the life out of every world they invade in MM6 become just generic 'devils and shit' in homm3.

They already looked like demons and devils in MM6, so it's not such a huge leap. They're kinda the exact opposite of the Ancients - instead of being a (supposedly small) number of extremely powerful, intelligent and technologically advanced beings, their strength is in their numbers and their rank and file are not that strong or intelligent.

 

[Calem Ravenna]

Decided to give World of Xeen a try. Installed, rolled a party for some 20 minutes and played a while, before being reminded how boring Clouds are.

Is it possible to play through Darkside and import a save game into WoX? Or are there parts in Clouds that can be skipped by use of the magical mirror and a savegame/hex editor (it's been ages since I played this)?

I've also run into a problem with sound in both WoX and Darkside. With speech turned on the game freezes during the intro (just when Pharoah? starts talking) and when entering shops. This occurs on both Dosbox and an older computer with a Sound Blaster card. Disabling speech works, but the game lacks a certain charm without Alamar/Sheltem's laughter.

 

[Tails]

I've also run into a problem with sound in both WoX and Darkside. With speech turned on the game freezes during the intro (just when Pharoah? starts talking) and when entering shops. This occurs on both Dosbox and an older computer with a Sound Blaster card. Disabling speech works, but the game lacks a certain charm without Alamar/Sheltem's laughter.

I could swear that actual version of DosBox (0.74) fixed this issue, at least I never really had it, when on 0.73 it happened by every god damn occasion.

 

[Sceptic]

Is it possible to play through Darkside and import a save game into WoX? Or are there parts in Clouds that can be skipped by use of the magical mirror and a savegame/hex editor (it's been ages since I played this)?

You can easily finish DOX without ever doing COX. The level cap in COX is 20, but you get so much experience in DOX that, aside from a rough beginning (stand-alone DOX starts at 5, but if using WOX you start at level 1) on the long run you will not notice the loss in power. The problem, however, is that you cannot finish the reunification part of WOX without finishing COX, as you need the scepter carried by Lord Xeen IIRC.

I've also run into a problem with sound in both WoX and Darkside. With speech turned on the game freezes during the intro (just when Pharoah? starts talking) and when entering shops. This occurs on both Dosbox and an older computer with a Sound Blaster card. Disabling speech works, but the game lacks a certain charm without Alamar/Sheltem's laughter.

Weird, I never saw this problem in either DOSBox, or the old PC's with SB or SB16. Did you try changing the IRQ and DMA settings in both DOSBox and the WOX sound config? Alternatively, you could try Gravis Ultrasound (WOX supports it directly IIRC and DOSBox can emulate it) and see if this solves the problem.

 

[Luzur]

that sound problem is Soundblaster related, i had the same problem, and after screwing around with IRQ and DMA i got it working.

 

[Calem Ravenna]

I could swear that actual version of DosBox (0.74) fixed this issue, at least I never really had it, when on 0.73 it happened by every god damn occasion.

That might be it. Apparently I'm using an older version of Dosbox, 0.71. Will check this out with the newest version, thanks.

You can easily finish DOX without ever doing COX. The level cap in COX is 20, but you get so much experience in DOX that, aside from a rough beginning (stand-alone DOX starts at 5, but if using WOX you start at level 1) on the long run you will not notice the loss in power. The problem, however, is that you cannot finish the reunification part of WOX without finishing COX, as you need the scepter carried by Lord Xeen IIRC.

I've finished both games a couple of times (although that was a long time ago so I don't remember much), but never managed to get my hands on World of Xeen until now. I'd like to try out the new WoX content, but I simply can't force myself to go through Clouds yet again.

So to unlock WoX content I need to kill Lord Xeen/his scepter and finish Darkside? I wonder what can be achieved by hex editing.

Weird, I never saw this problem in either DOSBox, or the old PC's with SB or SB16. Did you try changing the IRQ and DMA settings in both DOSBox and the WOX sound config? Alternatively, you could try Gravis Ultrasound (WOX supports it directly IIRC and DOSBox can emulate it) and see if this solves the problem.

I've tried all configurations Dosbox allowed me, I think. This is probably an issue with an outdated version, as mentioned above . I'll try that out.

Just now I've checked the game on the older PC. It has a Sound Blaster card (not sure which one, but sound definately works with that in the config program, just freezes with speech). I see no Gravis option but I tried out Adlib on both speech and music and it actually works without the freeze. However, both music/sound effects and speech are very quiet, almost silent.

 

[Ruprekt]

You need the gravis sounddrivers and sample files etc which don't come packaged with dosbox. Even with them I could never get it working

 

[Darth Roxor]

Hmmm, there's no saving in mm2 other than at inns, right...?




... is mm7 any good?

 

[Luzur]

go MM3 and forward if you cant take the heat of the first two.

 

[Darth Roxor]

I've already finished 3-6

 

[Calem Ravenna]

It seems I can completely skip CoX with the mirror, as long as I edit in that special Lord Xeen killing weapon.

Sound and speech:
Tried out 0.74 Dosbox and it didn't work. I'm using D-Fend and no matter what card/IRQ/DMA I choose, it still freezes with speech. That Gravis Ultrasound thingie seems to be my last hope.

On the older PC though, after reinstalling the drivers I managed to get it to work. What's strange is that I have to select IRQ 5 in the config program, while every other game works only on IRQ 7. I have to turn sound effects/music off for the intros however, they're so loud I can't hear anything else.

Hmmm, there's no saving in mm2 other than at inns, right...?

Some emulators allow savestates, but there's no such thing for Dosbox I believe.

... is mm7 any good?

Compared to M&M VI? Smaller world, smaller dungeons. Almost no puzzles of any kind (IIRC). Vastly superior character system - no "masters of everything", more classes, races. Less monsters and overall a lower difficulty.

 

[Luzur]

I've already finished 3-6

well, try MM7-9 then, or try again with MM1-2.

kinda running out of options there.

 

[DaveO]

I'd skip MM7, and go with the fan-created Swords of Xeen. I never really liked MM7 much, which is mostly due to the changes and limited levels your characters can achieve. In MM7, you're pretty much ready for the end around level 20-30 whereas in MM6 or MM8 there is plenty of experience to train up to almost level 100. More levels means more skill points, spell points, and health to survive the higher level stuff without having to run away more often.

 

[Jaesun]

6-8 were pretty good about this too, respawn timer for dungeons was 2 years and since there was never a reason to go back to them... respawn time for outdoors varied, IIRC between 6 months and 2 years depending on the region.

What? The Mines are where I was (for one game) able to get a few levels of Ninja for every character. The re-spawns in 6 are pretty much regular. There is no "clearing out" a dungeon in 6. Unless I did something wrong?

 

[Sceptic]

The Mines are where I was (for one game) able to get a few levels of Ninja for every character.

... are we talking about Might and Magic 6 here?

 

[Jaesun]

The Mines are where I was (for one game) able to get a few levels of Ninja for every character.

... are we talking about Might and Magic 6 here?

FUCK! I meant Wizardry. Wrong game.

 

[commie]

The Mines are where I was (for one game) able to get a few levels of Ninja for every character.

... are we talking about Might and Magic 6 here?

FUCK! I meant Wizardry. Wrong game.

One day I'm just gonna have to man up and take on Wizardry. If a colorful flower arranger like Jaesun can do it so can I!

Just kidding Jaesun..
(no homo?)

 

[Jaesun]

A Wizardry VI+VII+VIII run through is a pure fucking blast. Good luck surviving Wizardy VI.

 

[commie]

A Wizardry VI+VII+VIII run through is a pure fucking blast. Good luck surviving Wizardy VI.

Heh, will give it a go one day. Right now I'm busy trying to survive Might and Magic 1! GRRRRRR, fucking unbalanced, low level, desperate fucking grindfest, raped by everything, fleeing to inns ,agperjgkl gmth,.tgjhn................................

 

[peanuts]

7 for me, followed by 8 then 6, never got into the old ones since i first played 7 in like 2000 or 2001( was the first one i played), i liked 8 despite it being outdated and 6 was ok but too bland for me.

9 was complete shit.

 

[Karmapowered]

MM7.

First RPG in which I could play a team of evilz, and actually get rewarded for it with relevant quests.

Honorable mention for VI (my "first" MM) and IV/V (which I discovered much later).

MM8 and 9 are crap.

 

[Jaesun]

Right now I'm busy trying to survive Might and Magic 1! GRRRRRR, fucking unbalanced, low level, desperate fucking grindfest, raped by everything, fleeing to inns ,agperjgkl gmth,.tgjhn................................

Never did play 1 (Played 2 through 7). Sounds good so far.

 

[commie]

Right now I'm busy trying to survive Might and Magic 1! GRRRRRR, fucking unbalanced, low level, desperate fucking grindfest, raped by everything, fleeing to inns ,agperjgkl gmth,.tgjhn................................

Never did play 1 (Played 2 through 7). Sounds good so far.

Sceptic gave me the heads up on it, and I felt like proving to myself that I still had what it takes for 'da oldskool' experience, dig? You know, the whole mapping by hand, saving at inns, shitty balance where your level one party gets raped ad nauseum until you fluke a few good rolls and take some fuckers out(resulting in much joyous swearing at the motherfucking PC) experience. Going up a level is truly a momentous occasion and not the derp it is now especially in a turd like Fallout 3 where you gain a level just for persevering through the vault intro!