Might and Magic The Might and Magic Discussion Thread

[Butcer]

Does anyone know how to get the Grayface patch working for MM6 with windows 7?

I tried installing the game outside of the program files directory to avoid the windows 7 security issues and tried running in windows XP compatability mode and neither worked.

The install runs half way and then dissappears and never finishes.

link to patch

https://sites.google.com/site/sergroj/m ... atch-v1.10

Try to Disable UAC

 

[octavius]

HOMM 5 is so similar to HOMM 3 that I don't understand how some people can hate it so much. I think Nival made a very good decision in shifting back to a HOMM3-like system, but kept some improvements from 4 (such as a more complex and interesting skill system and slightly more active involvement of the hero in combat). I really like the initiative system, much more so than in the previous games, and I think disconnecting speed and initiative adds a very nice tactical layer. Graphics are ugly, but I can live with it. Soundtrack is variable, not as consistently good as in 2-4, but when it's good it's really good, and when it's great it's Romero at his best. Campaign design varies from good to awful (including at least one bug where you could LOSE the mission by winning a fight you weren't supposed to). Expansions improved much, especially by having better campaigns, not to mention the dwarven crafting system is a lot of fun. Ashan is a much more generic and less interesting world than the NWC one, but I can live with it.

I've only played the first campaign so far, but I was pleasantly surprised by HOMM 5. I felt it was like HOMM 3 in 3D. 3D didn't really add anything, though.
But I really liked the skill system. To me that was the major improvement from HOMM 3.
What I disliked most were the bugs. In a couple of scenarios the red inferno (I think?) guys didn't move at all.

 

[Storyfag]

I've only played the first campaign so far, but I was pleasantly surprised by HOMM 5. I felt it was like HOMM 3 in 3D. 3D didn't really add anything, though.

Try the expansions, they rework faction-specific skills and add an alternative upgrade for every unit. And they bring back caravans, one of the few things HOMM 4 got right.

 

[Darth Roxor]

SO all the talk about homo6 made me re-install Heroes IV.

And you know what? The general public is not doing justice to this game because it's really p. cool, despite some changes to the overall HoMM formula.

 

[DaveO]

I don't think disabling UAC will do anything for the GrayFace patch installation on MM6. I checked the GoG forums, and there was nothing there I saw that was helpful. If there are enough reports of the problem, I could test MM6 on my Windows 7 machine with the GrayFace patch. I chose to go with the Mok patch since I have the original CDs.

EDIT - From the Limited Edition CDs I have, I did the patchwork up to version 1.2 and downloaded the GrayFace patch. I was able to install without having to do any UAC tweaks. I DID notice that from my Web page, downloading the file and attempting to apply GrayFace will indicate a corrupted file.

 

[Saxon1974]

I don't think disabling UAC will do anything for the GrayFace patch installation on MM6. I checked the GoG forums, and there was nothing there I saw that was helpful. If there are enough reports of the problem, I could test MM6 on my Windows 7 machine with the GrayFace patch. I chose to go with the Mok patch since I have the original CDs.

EDIT - From the Limited Edition CDs I have, I did the patchwork up to version 1.2 and downloaded the GrayFace patch. I was able to install without having to do any UAC tweaks. I DID notice that from my Web page, downloading the file and attempting to apply GrayFace will indicate a corrupted file.

Thanks. I used the Gog version but I do have original cd so I will try some combinations with that. Where does it display the games version? Im not finding it.

 

[Luzur]

NWC simply saw the need to reset the franchise, so they cooked up this one and then died, then Ubisoft continued on with Heroes V and Dark Messiah etc.

Not at all. The reset moved everyone to Axeoth, and it was very incomplete; it only reset the geography (so NWC didn't have to deal with contradictions like Bracada being snowy mountains in HOMM3 and a dry desert in MM7; I think JVC specifically mentioned this as one of the reasons), but many of the COLONY people, including Nicolai Ironfist, Tarnum and Gavin Magnus (I think Sandro too?) were still around. Then when Ubisoft acquired the brand they reset everything completely this time and created Ashan. Name similarities between Ashan and NWC-worlds are just there as nods (and TBH I would've rather they do without them) but in many cases (with a couple of exceptions like Sandro and Crag Hack) the people from the NWC games are the same across the 3 semi-continuities.

shit, looks like i got the damn world name wrong.

 

[Sceptic]

I've only played the first campaign so far, but I was pleasantly surprised by HOMM 5. I felt it was like HOMM 3 in 3D. 3D didn't really add anything, though.
But I really liked the skill system. To me that was the major improvement from HOMM 3.
What I disliked most were the bugs. In a couple of scenarios the red inferno (I think?) guys didn't move at all.

Pretty much agree with everything. It is HOMM3 in 3D, and the 3D is pointless (first thing I do on main map is set camera to fixed at the most zoomed out - so get regular pre-3D angle). Skill system is nice and much better than HOMM3's, though the random generation they used that determines which skills you're offered sucks exactly as much as it did in HOMM3 (read: it's not random). I don't know if all bugs were fixed by the time the full one-package game came out (including both expansions) but if they're all gone then that's the version to have.

Try the expansions

Both are good, and I like the campaign missions in them more than in the original.

And you know what? The general public is not doing justice to this game because it's really p. cool, despite some changes to the overall HoMM formula.

Oh HOMM4's not a bad game, certainly not the trainwreck some have accused it of being. With an extra 6 months of work on the AI, balance and some design issues it would've been awesome. But as it is it has a slight unfinished feel to it. I still like it despite all its flaws.

 

[octavius]

How do you guys play M&M 6 and 7?
Do you play combat in real time, using strafing technique, or do you play it turn based?
I've tried both, but neither "feels" right.

 

[mangsy]

I think HOMM 4 had some good ideas but it's ultimately worse than Heroes 2 and 3 (probably 1 too, but then once Heroes 2 came out I moved away from 1 and never really looked back). I don't like a lot of the changes it brought, such as instant retaliation, the heroes being waaaaaaaaaaaaay too overpowered compared to just having an army, and generally I feel the game is very slow-paced; not sure why. Music, as I mentioned elsewhere, is simply the best in the entire franchise, and one of the best soundtracks ever made for a game. The game is full of signs that things were not going well at 3DO and NWC, but it's as if Romero and King were on their own little planet.

I feel you man. A lot of people seem to hate on HOMM 4. HOMM 3 is the pinnacle of the series, with 2 coming in second, but I think 4 is my next favorite. The music is fucking brilliant (I remember when I put my friend on the HOMM 4, he initially referred to it as the game with the "amazing jungle porn battle music" ), and the changes in gameplay are refreshing, if unbalanced. If I had to limit myself to one of the HOMM games, it wouldn't be 4, but I do find myself coming back to it often.

HOMM 5 is so similar to HOMM 3 that I don't understand how some people can hate it so much. I think Nival made a very good decision in shifting back to a HOMM3-like system, but kept some improvements from 4 (such as a more complex and interesting skill system and slightly more active involvement of the hero in combat). I really like the initiative system, much more so than in the previous games, and I think disconnecting speed and initiative adds a very nice tactical layer. Graphics are ugly, but I can live with it. Soundtrack is variable, not as consistently good as in 2-4, but when it's good it's really good, and when it's great it's Romero at his best. Campaign design varies from good to awful (including at least one bug where you could LOSE the mission by winning a fight you weren't supposed to). Expansions improved much, especially by having better campaigns, not to mention the dwarven crafting system is a lot of fun. Ashan is a much more generic and less interesting world than the NWC one, but I can live with it.

Yeah, I'm not a big fan of the switch to Ashan. I like HOMM 5, but whenever I play it, I do feel as though I might as well be playing 3. The added hero involvement and initiate system are nice, and you're right, the expansions do add quality (I love being a barbarian, and the dwarven crafting and magic systems are nice), but I find 5 to be the slowest paced of the series. I can't quite articulate why. The added graphics might just create an illusion of laboriousness. Also, I pretty much limit myself to hot seat play, but I did try the campaign and it seemed pretty terrible (play was variable, leaning towards underwhelming; story was shit).

 

[DaveO]

Limited Edition is supposed to be what Good Old Games is offering, which is why I did the installation test. You can determine which version you have by clicking on Details for the MM6.EXE file. If the Mok patch is applied, you get a modify date of 2005. For GrayFace, the modify date should show 2009. BOTH versions will show the Product Version as 1.2

 

[Storyfag]

How do you guys play M&M 6 and 7?
Do you play combat in real time, using strafing technique, or do you play it turn based?
I've tried both, but neither "feels" right.

I play both (and M&M 8) exclusively in turn based mode. Feels like cheating sometimes, but I'm not twitchy enough to manage it in real time.

Yeah, I'm not a big fan of the switch to Ashan. I like HOMM 5, but whenever I play it, I do feel as though I might as well be playing 3. The added hero involvement and initiate system are nice, and you're right, the expansions do add quality (I love being a barbarian, and the dwarven crafting and magic systems are nice), but I find 5 to be the slowest paced of the series. I can't quite articulate why. The added graphics might just create an illusion of laboriousness. Also, I pretty much limit myself to hot seat play, but I did try the campaign and it seemed pretty terrible (play was variable, leaning towards underwhelming; story was shit).

The first two campaigns (ie the Haven and Inferno ones) were shit storywise, agreed. But the Necromancer one? Now that was a true masterpiece! Following that, the Dungeon and the Sylvan ones were decent. I never quite finished the Academy one.

 

[Sceptic]

How do you guys play M&M 6 and 7?

I constantly switch between RT and TB. I tend to stay on RT for easier fights, but I'm not nimble enough to juggle spellcasting and moving around while in RT.

But the Necromancer one? Now that was a true masterpiece!

I don't remember this one at all actually. Though generally I find the campaigns in the expansions to be much improved.

I find 5 to be the slowest paced of the series. I can't quite articulate why.

The pacing issue is interesting. It's always hard to articulate why (I have the same difficulty with HOMM4 pacing) but it's a problem we feel strongly about, even if there's hardly any agreement over which game is slowest paced (though I'm convinced 3's the fastest).

I did try the campaign and it seemed pretty terrible (play was variable, leaning towards underwhelming; story was shit).

As I was saying, try the expansion campaigns. On average, both are better than the OC, story-wise and gameplay-wise (less buggy too...). Tribes of the East's has a very, very annoying plot hole that is just never addressed, especially in light of the HOF ending, but aside from that they're quite fun, and some missions can be pretty challenging. In fact I think HOF and TotE's campaigns (especially the latter) have some of the most challenging missions since Armageddon's Blade.

 

[mangsy]

Damn, I only played the Haven and Inferno ones. Maybe I'll check those others out.

I did laugh pretty hard at those cut scenes though, where people talk yet no mouths move.

 

[mangsy]

How do you guys play M&M 6 and 7?
Do you play combat in real time, using strafing technique, or do you play it turn based?
I've tried both, but neither "feels" right.

TBH, I only tried turn based a few times, and it felt really odd. Then again, I started playing the Might and Magic series with MM6, and so was used to playing it RT. It's only after I finished 7 and 8 that I went back to the originals. I guess it's only natural that I feel comfortable with it in real time.

 

[Sceptic]

Oh yeah another thing they fixed in the expansions: lips now actually move (at least in Tribes), and in both campaigns they SEVERELY toned down the stupid "action" moves that the heroes were doing all the time for no reason whatsoever. Now they only do them when it makes sense. I remember being really happy while playing HOF that Nival had listened to feedback, both serious and trivial, in their attempt to improve on the base game.

 

[mangsy]

the stupid "action" moves that the heroes were doing all the time for no reason whatsoever.

I'd forgotten about that. So ridiculous.

 

[Storyfag]

Oh yeah another thing they fixed in the expansions: lips now actually move (at least in Tribes)

You know... sometimes I wish they didn't do that. Arantir's lip movement is even less natural than the things he does to corpses. You know, Warcraft III did it better, and that's saying something!

the stupid "action" moves that the heroes were doing all the time for no reason whatsoever.

I'd forgotten about that. So ridiculous.

Yeah, that's one thing Heroes V should have avoided. Terribad.

 

[Luzur]

How do you guys play M&M 6 and 7?
Do you play combat in real time, using strafing technique, or do you play it turn based?
I've tried both, but neither "feels" right.

well when im low level i get bows and then TB every fight, but as i get better stuff i go RT and strafe/circle around/fly.

also if i want to hit my enemies i go TB and volley them then go RT.

 

[Fowyr]

And you know what? The general public is not doing justice to this game because it's really p. cool, despite some changes to the overall HoMM formula.

HoMM IV used many things from MoM and Master of Magic is my most beloved TBS. Go figure.

 

[Saxon1974]

Limited Edition is supposed to be what Good Old Games is offering, which is why I did the installation test. You can determine which version you have by clicking on Details for the MM6.EXE file. If the Mok patch is applied, you get a modify date of 2005. For GrayFace, the modify date should show 2009. BOTH versions will show the Product Version as 1.2

Got it to work using the CD's. Even with using CD's It would only install the mm6.exe but not the mm6.ini file contents. I think that has to do with windows 7 security. I found the contents that someone posted on the net and modified it myself and that seems to work.

I hope that since it didnt install completely without some manual work it will work ok. Seems too.

here is the ini contents if any needs them (Granted you can custom them)

[Settings]
AlwaysRun=1
FlipOnExit=0
LoudMusic=0
PlayMP3=0
CapsLockToggleRun=0
QuickSavesCount=2
QuickSavesKey=122
NoDeathMovie=0
NoCD=1
FixWalkSound=1
FixCompatibility=1
InventoryKey=73
ToggleCharacterScreenKey=192
FreeTabInInventory=1
FixDualWeaponsRecovery=1
MusicLoopsCount=1
ReputationNumber=1
DoubleSpeedKey=113
TurnSpeedNormal=50
TurnSpeedDouble=120
IncreaseRecoveryRateStrength=10
ProgressiveDaggerTrippleDamage=1
FixChests=1
BlasterRecovery=5
DataFiles=1
MouseLook=1
MouseSensitivityX=50
MouseSensitivityY=50
MouseLookChangeKey=4
CapsLockToggleMouseLook=1
AlwaysStrafe=0
[Install]
PatchLods=1

 

[DaveO]

I'd still double check the Details tab. If the date is the same for what I posted earlier, you should be fine. PLEASE be aware that patching from Limited Edition to 1.2 requires applying the 1.1 patch and then 1.2. For other versions of MM6, you can just use the 1.0 to 1.2 patch.

P.S. - I'm tempted to accuse the GoG versions as being from pirate sites since I've NEVER run into the amount of problems reported on the GoG M&M forum. I'd be happy to work with GoG to address the MM6 thru MM8 downloads and support, but I don't know who to contact.

 

[Saxon1974]

I'd still double check the Details tab. If the date is the same for what I posted earlier, you should be fine. PLEASE be aware that patching from Limited Edition to 1.2 requires applying the 1.1 patch and then 1.2. For other versions of MM6, you can just use the 1.0 to 1.2 patch.

P.S. - I'm tempted to accuse the GoG versions as being from pirate sites since I've NEVER run into the amount of problems reported on the GoG M&M forum. I'd be happy to work with GoG to address the MM6 thru MM8 downloads and support, but I don't know who to contact.

Dang it, I forgot to patch version 1.0 before installing grayface. My exe does have 2009 as the date. My version says 1.2 but grayface did that.

I need to reinstall limited edition then install patch 1.1, 1.2 and then install grayface?

 

[DaveO]

If the date was changed, then you're probably ok. If you would rather play it safe, then uninstall and reinstall with the steps you listed.

 

[Saxon1974]

Thank you Dave0

Got MMVI working with the Grayface patch.

So far I really like the mouselook option, the only thing is I usually turn it off during combat and then back on again while exploring. It's a bit of a pain casting spells and such using mouselook on...but then again I just might not be used to it yet.

AGree with original poster that this game sure is addicting. I still wish they would have had less enemies but more powerful ones, but still I find this game fun and easy to play for hours. I hear people saying how great dungeons are in this game. I agree they are pretty atmospheric but really they just amount to hordes and hordes of enemies so I cant say I think they are great.

Also not a big fan of the pre-rendered photo like graphics but all in all still a fun game.