Turn-based strategy Heroes of Might and Magic: Old Age patch 0.80.49 has been released, which includes two new single-player maps. The developer added the Prisoners scenario and the Rusty Alliance map, and revealed content for the first major update to the roadmap, which is expected to be released later in September.
Rusty Alliance is the first hand-crafted map available for custom games and hotspot modes. In it, players must compete with former allies and try to draw the map in their faction’s colors faster than others. The famous map creator Papyjama participated in the script creation.
The “Prisoners” script offers a new story. Players will lead a search team to find a senior outpost commander who disappeared in the forest. As they travel deeper into the jungle, the team will encounter some unexplainable events.
The developers report that new PvE maps are now planned to be released more frequently. They believe that faster updates should lead to more maps and scenarios. For example, the team reviewed a previous update that featured the Mysterious Island scene along with fixes and improvements.
Later in September, Heroes of Might and Magic: Age of Old Ages will receive the first major update to its published roadmap. It will add team alliances, expanded random map generator functionality, a redesigned reaction wheel, matchmaking changes, and ratings system updates. Ratings will also be reset.
The next major patch will focus on balance. The studio intends to revise the percentage modifier system for damage and defense, and significantly change the way the “Battle Magic” and “Battle Order” skills work.
Temple faction abilities will also be redesigned. It will be in the form of a prayer rather than the current mechanism. The developers explained that they wanted to more closely tie the Temple’s abilities to the faction’s belief in the Holy Grail. Another change will affect groups and dungeons. The team plans to use a new skill to solve the problem of “bleeding”, which is the active loss of health in combat. In addition, new creatures will be added to the game.
The team is also working on a major update to computer opponents, which should expand their strategic capabilities and change their behavior in matches. Details of these changes will be announced at a later date.