How do you play? (playstyle)

[PineNeedles]

I've only done one complete playthrough (did a handful of partials that I had to restart on, I skipped KBTL so I had a lot to learn) and on that one I reloaded constantly and my time was atrocious. I didn't bother checking at the end, but I did so much backtracking and traveling that I'm sure it must have been several months.

My biggest annoyances were that I didn't the kind of troops I wanted to experiment with and I never got Geyser or Turn Back Time (though when I scanned my finished game it turned out Geyser was at Debir after the 6th stone, but I didn't realize it worked that way).

I absolutely cannot imagine doing another playthrough of this game without being certain I will get a chance to complete at least one of the new giftbag sets and getting Turn Back Time and Geyser, hence I will always scan from now on.

I also have zero qualms with kiting, though I find the process annoying so I tend to avoid it, and I don't understand people's obsession with time. I play a handful of 'competitive' multiplayer games so when I sit down to play a single player one and -and RPG at that- I don't push myself to match or beat anyone else's scores.

For me the fun of the game is the item collection and army building, so generally any choices I make are going to be focused on facilitating those.

[Zhuangzi]

In KB:TL I never tried to play without losses, although I could win on Impossible fairly easily with all classes. Eventually though I got annoyed that other people seemed to be achieving more in the game than I was, so I vowed to master no losses playing AP, which I ended up doing with the Warrior and Mage. This was a good choice for me, as it made me pay more attention to what I was doing in battles and provided a good challenge for me.

There was some need for reloading though - I don't see much of a way around that. The one thing I've never mastered at all is the time factor, but I absolutely refuse to pause the game and try to find optimal paths between places etc. That would kill the fun for me. All power to those who do this, but it's not for me.

If I play AP again (which I'm not sure if I will) it will be an Ironman game (i.e. no reloading at all) and probably on Hard rather than Impossible.

[jake21]

I never kite. I save often and occasionally reload. I've played all the classes on hard but find it very difficult to play mage on impossible; the start is incredibly hard (for me). However on hard I find all the classes way to easy after I reach level 22 or so (which is why I want to play on impossible).

I only use wanderer scrolls near the end (last two bosses which are grim and that final critter you fight to end the game). I never restart just to get certain items and I have never 'scanned' to see what mobs/items are in the game. I play it like it is but if the game becomes too difficult i restart (this only seems an issue with mage on impossible).

[kalafus2002]

1. I don't kite
2. During every battle I try to get all the chests (dug with dragon too)
3. If loose a troop i have surplus of (can buy more) I don't care
4. If I loose a rare troop I'll reload again and again or come back later when I'm stronger
5. I usually start battles with no rage and full mana

This is my first run of the game. I'm a Paladin and just arrived at Montero.

[Elias_Maluco]

1- I will only reload if I really mess up, but I can take some deserved losses (unless I lose a unit I absolutely cant lose);

2- Now Im trying to always dig for chests, but sometimes I will skip it cause is too boring;

3- This time around (second game), Im not kiting at all.

4- I dont care about time or high-score.

5- I try to use a good variety of units;

6- Playing on hard, warrior (finished hard/paladin).

Next game Im thinking of playing "ironman": no reloads, saves before and after any battle, dont matter the result. But I will do it in hard.

[KongMysen]

My first game was an impossible warriors game... I struggled the first 20 levels or so but learned eventually to master it somehow. The first very hard 20 levels made me save before each battle, since replaying an old battle is simply too boring for me. That first playthrough was a 27 day run with loads of cassualties.

2nd game was an impossible no-loss mage game. Again lots of saving because I'm too lazy to replay more than one battle. I just learned to kite maps, which I sincerely regret. I didn't Kite much, but enough to get 2 red Dragons from a Call Colloseus Scroll. Combined with the scanner and the entire challenge was gone. I guess I feared my skills wouldn't cut it without the kiting, but this I never found out.
I tried to beat the game fast, but due to the kiting and several forgotten quests it ended up taking 13 days. My final level was 58. The first 20 levels ARE the most fun part of the game, and after level 30 everything gets easy, so I sincerely regret that I made the challenge of those 20 levels too easy.

If I try my luck in a 3rd game I would properly follow tthe footsteps of those doing a speedrun no-loss game. However it wouldn't be 7 days game, but more likely 9 or 10, and I wouldn't reach lvl 60. I'm simply too impatient to try to reach lvl 60 as it requires alot of reloading with elenhel to get Ancient Knowledge scrolls.
I really wish I could do a 3rd run with lots of casualties, but I don't think I would be able to accept the dead allies.
The author of this thread chose all the right things to make this game most valuable. It's just hard to play like that if you are somewhat of a perfectionist.

[impy]

1. i save before every battle. it is down to a fact i only play no loss impossible with extra challenges to make it very very difficult. It is the only way that gives me buzz after game has been conquered standard way.
2. i personally despise kitting, unless required for specific purpose arising from my challenges - demon line up etc. Kitting is sort of on the border of cheating, but then not everyone wants to play like a pure angel. It makes the game significantly easier and ruins otherwise interesting and challenging first 20 levels or so. Also, each game on the market has some (intentional?) weaknesses which can be exploited. Remember gremlin rush with wizard in original hmm3? here it is summoning dragons with ancient scroll at the beginning, black knight strategy, troll strategy..
3. i do not read about other people strategies until i have mastered game myself and still feel satisfaction when discover something new. currently playing with single red dragon and discovered invisibility, spell which i never used before, for example
4. Never used wanderer scrolls before k'tahu, apart from experience scroll.
5. i now use scanner i'm afraid. again it is down to a fact that i push for the extreme and do not want to game fall apart around level 40 due to one artifact not found. I'm not a student anymore so time is precious

[Droom]

The best way is to use the tools you've got. It wil give you the deepest satifaction.

For example, all i could get were pirate/robber tools and they were dying bad. So I just ploughed though the strongs in Verona, hugh losses, so what?

Don

[KongMysen]

Originally Posted by impy

Remember gremlin rush with wizard in original hmm3?

I have absolutely no clue, what you mean. - and I've played alot of HoMM3. I'm not sure how you rush in HoMM3 at all...

[Zechnophobe]

Also, seems odd to refer to 'homm3' as the original, when even of the HOMM line it is clearly the third installment heh. I don't recall rushing gremlins either, but it has been a LONG time since I played that game.