Heroes of Might and Magic 3: Horn of the Abyss (Horn of the Abyss) — the childhood magic has returned
Devotion works wonders!
HotA Crew – enthusiastic developers behind the massive expansion Horn of the Abyss (hereinafter – HotA), who made every effort to ensure that players enjoy and find it pleasurable to play their add-on.
You can finally abandon the tutelage under the annoying witch from her hut, slamming the door loudly before the old nose of that vile hag, and a magical orb has appeared in the mage guilds, allowing spells to be replaced for resources.
Bright sensations from the add-on are guaranteed!
The highlight of HotA – lavishly decorated, often enormous (H – 180x180, XH – 216x216, G – 252x252) maps brimming with various delightful objects on modified and previously unseen landscapes, featuring several new overlay soils.
One of the newly added landscapes (High Mountains) has become home for the Alliance!
Join in and play with other players of various levels in a special online lobby. To speed up games in Horn of the Abyss, a simultaneous turn feature was introduced in HD mode, which is fully compatible with HotA.
Meet most of the new objects in Horn of the Abyss 1.5.4:
almost everything in one screenshot!
The description of almost every object is hidden under a spoiler\[/i\]\]
Object
30% chance
30% chance
30% chance
10% chance
Experienced Workshop
Guard:
40 Iron Golems
Reward:
1 Giant
Guard:
80 Iron Golems
Reward:
2 Giants
Guard:
120 Iron Golems
Reward:
3 Giants
Guard:
160 Iron Golems
Reward:
4 Giants
Outlaw's Outpost
Guard:
50 Outlaws
Reward:
4 Cyclopes
Guard:
75 Outlaws
Reward:
6 Cyclopes
Guard:
100 Outlaws
Reward:
8 Cyclopes
Guard:
150 Outlaws
Reward:
12 Cyclopes
Crimson Tower
Guard:
35 Fire Elementals
Reward:
1 Phoenix
Guard:
70 Fire Elementals
Reward:
2 Phoenixes
Guard:
105 Fire Elementals
Reward:
3 Phoenixes
Guard:
140 Fire Elementals
Reward:
4 Phoenixes
Black Tower
Guard:
1 Green Dragon
Reward:
2000 gold
1 minor artifact
Guard:
1 Red Dragon
Reward:
2250 gold
1 minor artifact
Guard:
1 Gold Dragon
Reward:
3500 gold
1 minor artifact
Guard:
1 Black Dragon
Reward:
3750 gold
1 minor artifact
Mansion
Guard:
40 Vampire Lords
Reward:
2500 gold
2 mercury
2 sulfur
2 crystals
2 gems
1 major artifact
Guard:
60 Vampire Lords
Reward:
5000 gold
3 mercury
3 sulfur
3 crystals
3 gems
1 major artifact
Guard:
80 Vampire Lords
Reward:
7500 gold
4 mercury
4 sulfur
4 crystals
4 gems
1 major artifact
Guard:
100 Vampire Lords
Reward:
10000 gold
5 mercury
5 sulfur
5 crystals
5 gems
1 major artifact
Ruins
Guard:
20 Skeletons
3 Spirits
3 Phantoms
10 Skeleton Warriors
1 Mighty Lich
Reward:
1000 gold
Opening
12 cells
of the map
Guard:
30 Skeletons
4 Spirits
4 Phantoms
10 Skeleton Warriors
1 Mighty Lich
Reward:
2000 gold
Same
Guard:
40 Skeletons
7 Spirits
7 Phantoms
20 Skeleton Warriors
2 Mighty Liches
Reward:
3000 gold
Same
Guard:
50 Skeletons
9 Spirits
9 Phantoms
20 Skeleton Warriors
3 Mighty Liches
Reward:
4000 gold
Same
Beholder Shrine
Guard:
50 Beholders
Reward:
3000 gold
1 minor artifact
Guard:
75 Beholders
Reward:
5000 gold
1 minor artifact
Guard:
100 Beholders
Reward:
6000 gold
1 major artifact
Guard:
150 Beholders
Reward:
9000 gold
1 major artifact
Sea Temple
Guard:
8 Hydras
6 Sea Serpents
3 Chaos Hydras
2 Aspids
Reward:
10000 gold
2 artifact treasuries
1 minor artifact
1 relic artifact
Guard:
8 Hydras
7 Sea Serpents
4 Chaos Hydras
3 Aspids
Reward:
15000 gold
1 artifact treasury
1 minor artifact
1 major artifact
1 relic artifact
Guard:
8 Hydras
7 Sea Serpents
5 Chaos Hydras
4 Aspids
Reward:
20000 gold
1 minor artifact
2 major artifacts
1 relic artifact
Guard:
10 Hydras
9 Sea Serpents
6 Chaos Hydras
5 Aspids
Reward:
30000 gold
2 major artifacts
2 relic artifacts
Pirate Cave
(Excluded from GSK)
Guard:
20 Pirates
20 Corsairs
Reward:
1 Sea Serpent
Guard:
40 Pirates
40 Corsairs
Reward:
2 Sea Serpents
Guard:
60 Pirates
60 Corsairs
Reward:
3 Sea Serpents
Guard:
80 Pirates
80 Corsairs
Reward:
4 Sea Serpents
Ivory Tower
(Excluded from GSK)
Guard:
35 Archmages
Reward:
3 Sorcerers
Guard:
50 Archmages
Reward:
6 Sorcerers
Guard:
65 Archmages
Reward:
9 Sorcerers
Guard:
80 Archmages
Reward:
12 Sorcerers
Cave
(Excluded from GSK)
Guard:
16 Basilisks
Reward:
3000 gold
Guard:
24 Basilisks
Reward:
4500 gold
Guard:
32 Basilisks
Reward:
6000 gold
Guard:
48 Basilisks
Reward:
9000 gold
Graveyard
In reward for defeating 120 Walking Dead,
the hero receives 2500 gold and 1 minor artifact.
Visiting a looted graveyard
gives a morale penalty of -1.
Warehouses
Wood,
Ore
Provide upon visit
10 units of the respective resource per week
Gold Warehouse
Gives upon visit
2000 gold per week
Warehouses
Mercury,
Sulfur,
Crystals,
Gems
Provide upon visit
6 units of the respective resource per week
New
Hill Fort
Allows upgrading creatures
only 1–5 levels for double price
(the old Hill Fort
does not generate on random maps anymore)
Sanctuary of Magic Mystery
Allows you to learn a level 4 spell
Cannon Yard
Allows you to buy a Cannon for 4000 gold
Temple of Loyalty
Eliminates morale drops
due to the presence of different faction creatures
in the hero's army until the next turn
Skeleton Converter
Allows converting any creatures into Skeletons
Coliseum of Mages Gives +2 to magic power or knowledge
of the visiting hero of the player's choice
(one time for each hero)
Watering Hole Allows the hero to spend
all current movement points
and receive +1000 movement points
for the next day
City Gates Allow the hero to teleport
to any friendly town.
Do not require additional movement points
Mineral Spring Gives the hero +1 luck until the next battle
and +600 movement units for one day
Hermit's Hut Improves a random secondary skill of the hero
Arbor Grants the hero 2000 experience for 1000 gold
Scrap Dealer Allows selling artifacts
with the efficiency of 7 markets
(for half their value).
Does not accept Scrolls of Spells
Sea Barrel In 20% of cases gives nothing.
In 80% of cases gives once
+3–6 mercury, sulfur, crystals, or gems
Lost Cargo In 25% of cases gives nothing.
In 75% of cases gives once 5 ore, 5 ore, and 200 gold
or 10 ore and 500 gold (equally likely)
Mana Flask The hero receives 30, 40, 50, or 60 mana.
Any mana exceeding the standard maximum
for the hero is given at half volume
Sailing Academy Allows studying and training secondary skills
from three offered at 2000 gold per level.
One of the three skills is always Navigation
Mana Altar Heroes can sacrifice
creatures for mana
up to four times the standard maximum.
Each sacrificed creature gives (AI Value)/80 mana
Observatory Gives each visiting hero
+2 to exploration radius until the end of the week
Ancient Lamp
(Excluded from GSK) Allows to hire 4–7 Supreme Djinns
once
A lot of interesting information about the creatures of the new town of the Dock is all there too\[/i\]\]
Legend: AtZщUrZd Attack Defense Damage Health Sk Sc Str Pr Speed Shots Cost Growth (+Horde)
AtZщUrZdSkScStrAbilities 521-2463516 Teleportation.
Immunity to spells
Ice Bolt and Ring of Cold
Oceanida, upgraded creature of level 1 from the Dock
A bit worse than Fairy
AtZщUrZdSkScStrAbilities 621-3484516 Teleportation.
Immunity to spells
Ice Bolt and Ring of Cold
Sailor, unupgraded creature of level 2 from the Dock
AtZщUrZdSkScStr742-41551109 (+4)
A large squad of Brigands can deal solid damage
AtZщUrZdSkScStr862-41561409 (+4)
Pirates need to be protected by all means,
their second upgrade is one of the best shooters*
AtZщUrZdSk StrAbilities 863-715642257 No penalty
in melee
AtZщUrZdSk StrAbilities 1083-715742757 No penalty
in melee.
Attacks
with a counterstrike
The ability Accurate Shot is effective against high-level creatures
and works on all, unlike the similar ability of Mighty Gorgons
AtZщUrZdSk StrAbilities 12113-7158123757 No penalty
in melee.
Attacks
with a counterstrike.
Accurate Shot
AtZщUrZdSk ScStrAbilities 1086-93092754 (+3)
During sieges, the heroes of the Dock rely almost solely on Assidas.
Very useful for providing counterstrikes
AtZщUrZdSk ScStrAbilities 1186-1030113254 (+3) Bloodlust
Useful for dealing with one bulky enemy using Priests,
as the Destructive Rays of Priests and Spellcasters sum up their effects
AtZщUrZdSkStrAbilities 12710-14356125153 Casts after shooting
(basic level)
AtZщUrZdSkStrAbilities 12910-16357125653 Casts after shooting
(advanced level)
AtZщUrZdSkStrAbilities 131618-2280610002 Ignores 30%
of the opponent's attack
Nixes are quite resilient and can remain on the battlefield for long in a tough fight
AtZщUrZdSkStrAbilities 141718-2290713002 Ignores 60%
of the opponent's attack
AtZщUrZdSkStrAbilities 221630-5518092300,
1 sulfur1Poisons with venom
Aspids have the Vengeance ability, which increases their damage the lower their health is compared to the starting health.
They can easily claim the title of the best creature of their level
(excluding neutral dragons)
AtZщUrZdSkStrAbilities 292030-55300124000,
2 sulfur1Poisons with venom.
Vengeance
Neutral creatures:
Great fighters, especially in large numbers.
Useful to separate single Leprechauns
AtZщUrZdSkStrAbilities 853-51551009 Doubles chance
of working luck for allies.
Casts Luck
Capable of dealing decent damage and can hold their own in defense.
Useful to separate single Satyrs
AtZщUrZdSkStrAbilities 10116-103573004 Caster Joy
The main advantage of Fangarms is
their ability to hypnotize the target on attack*
AtZщUrZdSkStrAbilities 12128-125066003 Immunity to mind magic.
Responds to all attacks.
Hypnotizes
General information from FizMiG about the town:
The Dock features a high attack rate of creatures. When fully upgraded, Dock creatures stand approximately on par with Castle creatures, and with the upgrade of Corsairs to Sea Wolves, they even surpass them. Almost all key squads have a wide spread of damage, so expert Blessing is one of the most effective spells. Defensive parameters are weak but no worse than those of Citadel creatures. Speed is average. In terms of health, the Dock's army is the weakest. Considering the low defense, pirates die like flies. Thus, the main bet is on quick attacks and a strong first strike.
In terms of gold costs, building the Dock is neither the most expensive nor the cheapest. The town requires a lot of ore, wood, and sulfur, but overall, these requirements are lower than those of many other towns. Only at the beginning of the game may there be a lack of ore. The dwellings of Dock creatures are quite demanding and require additional buildings - Mage Guild, Blacksmith. The development tree branches at the second level of creatures: you can build Pirates and Sea Priests or go down the Assida and Nix branch. However, a Whirlpool of Sea Serpents requires all previous dwellings.
The add-on features a bunch of artifacts — find them all on the maps of HotA!\[/i\]\]
Composition:
Medal of the Official
Ring of the Diplomat
Ribbon of the Ambassador
Composition:
Neutralization Necklace
Balance Robe
Counteracting Boots
Composition:
Club of the Fierce Ogre
Shield of the Fury Ogre
Cuirass of the Cyclop King
Crown of the Great Sorcerer
Composition:
Bottomless Gold Purse
Bottomless Bag of Gold
Bottomless Sack of Gold
Among other innovations and improvements of Horn of the Abyss:
• the mechanics of negative luck were introduced, where all creatures under its influence deal half damage (at -1: 1/12, at -2: 1/6, at -3: 1/4);
• a targeted shot mechanic was introduced, allowing control of the cloud of Liches and fireball of Magogs for more comfortable hits on enemies, as well as avoiding shots on your own;
• the following three overlay soils were introduced: on Fields of Glory all creatures receive -2 luck. On Dunes, all have the opportunity to bog down in invisible quicksand. Cracked Ice reduces the defense of all monsters in battle by 5;
• creatures now accumulate weekly in dwellings captured by players, and plague weeks affect them;
• in battle, you can now choose the attack type for creatures with multiple attack types;
• on maps without water, all sea elements are completely excluded (including Navigation skill, and heroes specialized in this skill are replaced);
• an underground battlefield for lava was added, and the battlefield, obstacles, and image on the Holy Land map were corrected;
• completely “live” battlefield — monster stance animation plays continuously during battle;
• the city view displayed on the map now depends on the level of defensive structures built in the city (No Fort — Fort — Citadel — Castle — Castle and Capitol). Special attention is paid to the improved Alliance;
• complete differentiation of hero graphics by gender and class;
• new graphic localization with convenient fonts, as well as many small and unobtrusive interface tweaks, without which the game is now impossible to imagine;
• the long-awaited template map editor, a very hardcore campaign, and also forty scenarios, including maps with new victory conditions;
• the skills Necromancy, Scouting, and Resistance have been corrected.
Download and enjoy the Dock's musical theme!
And meet absolutely new heroes!
Current authors of the HotA project:
Agar, baratorch, Docent Picolan, Don_ko, DrSlash, Fatalist, gotthit, Gruk, Igor Kudra, Mantiss, nik312, nosferatu, parovozovoz, Sav, Tevye, Vade Parvis.
Thanks to Sav for the detailed documentation on HotA.