Might and Magic The Might and Magic Discussion Thread

[<3sRichardSimmons]

I think Darkside's art design and color palette are great. Wonderful refresher from Clouds generic fantasy style, although Clouds isn't bad at what it's trying to do, and most of the art design is a straight improvement over Isles of Terra. Although yes, Red Dwarf Mines are probably the single worst dungeon in any MM game, especially on repeat playthroughs.

And don't listen to the haters, MMX is good. I don't know that it feels very much like a MM game, but it is a good blobber.

 

[Desiderius]

I think Darkside's art design and color palette are great. Wonderful refresher from Clouds generic fantasy style, although Clouds isn't bad at what it's trying to do, and most of the art design is a straight improvement over Isles of Terra. Although yes, Red Dwarf Mines are probably the single worst dungeon in any MM game, especially on repeat playthroughs.

And don't listen to the haters, MMX is good. I don't know that it feels very much like a MM game, but it is a good blobber.

I remember being all fired up about playing the next M&M after either VII or VIII and so bought Dark Messiah.

That was... different.

 

[Sceptic]

Anyways, my guys are now lvl 13, have won about 450 fights, and I've become rather disgusted by the level scaling, which is worse than I remembered it to be.

I've made no secret of my hatred of MM2's level scaling in the past, but reading your posts I'm starting to wonder if you had misremembered how bad it was or if there really is a difference between platforms, something I had never thought of before. I think the DOS version is identical to the Apple II but the Amiga version came out after both (Apple II 1988, DOS 1989, Amiga 1990).

 

[octavius]

Anyways, my guys are now lvl 13, have won about 450 fights, and I've become rather disgusted by the level scaling, which is worse than I remembered it to be.

I've made no secret of my hatred of MM2's level scaling in the past, but reading your posts I'm starting to wonder if you had misremembered how bad it was or if there really is a difference between platforms, something I had never thought of before. I think the DOS version is identical to the Apple II but the Amiga version came out after both (Apple II 1988, DOS 1989, Amiga 1990).

There are some difference with the Amiga versions. But I only finished that once.
Last time I played it was the DOS version, but I didn't notice the level scaling so much, then. But then I didn't look for it either. Truly, ignorance is bliss...

So far it seems the only areas with real level scaling are Middlegate, Middlegate Cavern, Druid's Cave and Nomadic Rift's Cave which have an upper limit, and area E2 which has a high lower limit. Otherwise all the surface areas seem to be equally dangerous, except for the differences in fixed encounters and stuff like earthquakes and volcano eruptions. There was level scaling in MM1 too, but it was more subtle; I guess it was combined more with area scaling than in MM2.

But I'm still enjoying the game, and my guys are now lvl 15.

 

[Desiderius]

Man III is sweet. Feeling that VI/VII magic already.

 

[Haplo]

After playing WoX I could never feel the magic of M&M VI-VIII (played them all, hated the change to pseudo 3D and free form hybrid real-time action).
M&M IX was a little better (gfx were hugely improved for example, the jarring sprites were gone), if shorter, more linear and focused.

But M&M X is the best "modern" M&M game, by far. Even if it could be larger.

 

[Efe]

X is slow

 

[<3sRichardSimmons]

X is slow

It undeniably plays much slower than any of III-VIII (I never actually played IX). It also has far more complex combat than any other MM games besides the first two. That's not to say X is hard (it's not), but especially in the early game you can't just mash the "A" button and roflstomp through hordes and hordes of enemies.

 

[Lacrymas]

X's problem is more the Ashan setting than anything else.

 

[octavius]

Made it to lvl 17 before my first party death.

That was on day 89. On day 93, which is Nature's Day, this square is safe.

 

[Dorateen]

How did you end up walking into the Dead Zone? A tract of land so ruinous that to enter it is to die, according to Corak's Travelogue.

 

[octavius]

How did you end up walking into the Dead Zone? A tract of land so ruinous that to enter it is to die, according to Corak's Travelogue.

Cockiness and overconfidence.
I had forgotten Corak's notes, but I recalled that in MM3 radiation only aged you, and since I knew that "Murray's Rejuvenates" I thought I'd take the chance. And of course, it was only right after that I found a Star Bow...

 

[KeighnMcDeath]

Lol. Lordy this Snes playthrough of MMII.

25 vids..

 

[Invictus]

Man III is sweet. Feeling that VI/VII magic already.

It is by far my favorite of the series; while 1&2 were pretty much Wizardry clones looking for an identity, with Isles of Terra everything game together for Might and Magic.
The combat became less strategic since the shift of the franchise was more towards exploration, but with its great graphics (which still hold up today) fun gameplay and enormously additive created the Might and Magic formula that was the base for everything after it
Simply superb

 

[daivin]

III was the best IMHO.
IV was too short, but combined with V it was ok though.

I liked the very colored world, with large lands to explore. It was a big change from usual crypt and grey dungeons exploration.
Technically, it was exactly the same than exploring a dungeon except seeing differents gfx, i knew it. And NWC was not the first to do that.
But it has been the first time i've felt the wind blowing, and the breath of big spaces to conquer.

And the III - IV - V were easy. I was so happy to have an automap and the « wizard's eye » , instead of painfully draw maps by hand.

I've played a bit to VI , but i didn't liked the switch to 3D and hybrid battle system.

 

[KeighnMcDeath]

I remember seeing this game in a video rental store.

Hmmm.... Can't say I like the music all that much for NES. I'd prefer some hp/sp stats on main display.


What's with the owl? This isn't Psygnosis eh... w/e (courtesy of spritersresource)

Oddities & GamFaq
Retrogames
NES MANUAL
Hardcore Gaming 101
MM Fandom
Mobygames MM NES screenies
The AWESOME MUSIC!!

Newbie Guide
I should compare the map to the ones i did back in the 80s.

Posted February 14, 2018
Might and Magic Book One: The Secret of the Inner Sanctum
At the beginning,nes version only has one character. But dos version has more people.
Is the nes version easier than dos? Can add more member at the beginning?

You should be able to add more characters at the inn.

There are a few differences between the versions. I haven't played either of them, but I have watched some videos, particularly those of the NES version, and I know of a couple of differences:

1. In the NES version, you need to be level 3 to leave the starting town; that is not the case in the DOS version.

2. Locust Plagues are deadly in the NES version, to the point where I consider it to not be fair. If you are playing the NES version and you see a Locust Plague, kill it before it has a chance to attack; failure to do so is game over. Seriously, they're that bad. In the DOS version, Locust Plagues are a lot more tame, as they can only do 10 damage per action, which is manageable. In the NES version, they do 255 damage, killing whoever gets hit; and when that happens, the round restarts (I believe), and if the Locust Plague is faster than your party (very likely), it will get another turn. The result is a game over.

Whether NES is easier than DOS is a question I can't answer, but it is a good idea to know about Locust Plagues, as that particular enemy makes the game unfair when encountered; if even just one gets a chance to attack, your entire party will get wiped out.

(The NES version also, to my understanding, has a bug that can transform items into other items, which can be exploited to get you an advantage or to get key items without actually having to earn them properly.)

Edit: If the Locust Plague is in the front row at the start of the battle, running away might be a good idea, (NES version)

Romhacking FORUM
NES romhack Restoration
NES romhack fixer

RPG CODEX ON SNES MM2
NES MM cutting room floor

Pervy humanoids?

I do like the various console cover artwork:

 

[DaveO]

I did see an aborted Let's Play of the Chaos Conspiracy mod to MM6 by Big Daddy Jim. Has anyone here played thru the mod besides the one LP attempt?

 

[KeighnMcDeath]

First I've heard of it. I guess I never figured those games could be modded.

edit... hmmm i'm sure this was covered somewhere.. 6-7-8 merge mod.

 

[octavius]

Just sliced and diced the 3 Cuisinarts in MM2. It's absolutely crazy how much XP you get from them. My eight guys went from lvl 19-24.
A Staff +17 was not much loot to brag about.

 

[Darth Canoli]

I did see an aborted Let's Play of the Chaos Conspiracy mod to MM6 by Big Daddy Jim. Has anyone here played thru the mod besides the one LP attempt?

Didn't complete part 1, the difficulty increase is alright on regular mobs since you can nuke them from afar but they went too far with magic users, lichs and druids offer an autistic challenge (curse + drain mana to 0 ).
There's dungeons filled with hundreds of them and they respawn when you get out.

First I've heard of it. I guess I never figured those games could be modded.

edit... hmmm i'm sure this was covered sonewhere.. 6-7-8 merge mod.

The merge mod is quite good if you can bear to go through 2 or 3 of them at once.
Still even 6 in 8's engine is quite nice, some QoL improvements, better SE...

 

[Desiderius]

Playing IX and sure enough that same deja vu I got from KotR. Had no idea I'd played this game before. It's barren but not awful. Wonder what it would cost to hire the original programmers to finish it.

That would be in interesting genre.

 

[DaveO]

The Merge mod is unfiinshed at the moment. I'll complete my Hybrid LP first on my channel for MM6.

I also found an update to Chaos Conspiracy so it might be worth a play now.

EDIT - I decided to download the Merge mod. It will be my next LP of M&M after I finish my MM6 Hybrid LP videos.

 

[KeighnMcDeath]

I saw on mobygames disc versions of MMX but they are in foreign languages? I wouldn't mind getting my hands on those if there was english language and no need for ubisoft online crap.

 

[Baron Dupek]

I also found an update to Chaos Conspiracy so it might be worth a play now.

Is it? I've played it and it was a chore later, with colossus immune to almost everything and not-that-great 2nd part.

 

[DaveO]

Given how well the Merge mod works with MM8 thru MM6 I see no reason to do Chaos Conspiracy at the moment. Which of course now opens up the party options, although I believe I am limited by game. So if I wanted Monks, it would be MM7. For Vampires, Dark Elves, and Minotaurs it would be MM8. I can't see a logical reason to start with the default humans in MM6 for the Merge mod.