Imperium Jaskini Behemota

Ururam Tururam

======
SUMMARY
of a poll and a discussion
that took place in the Behemoth's Lair community
(http://heroes.net.pl)
on the topic
"How would you like to play Heroes V most".

Prepared by
Ururam Tururam (ut@heroes.net.pl)

The community of the Behemoth's lair organized a poll and a discussion on
the question " How would you like to play Heroes V most?".
Only the members of the Community were allowed to vote in the poll.
Both members and guests were allowed to express their opinions in the
discussion. The results follow.

There were 37 votes in the poll:
22 (60%) votes for a single play against the AI
11 (30%) votes for multiplayer games on one machine (hot seat)
2 (5%) votes for online gaming through LAN or Internet
2 (5%) votes for playing on dedicated net servers
No (0%) votes for other way of playing including PBEM

There were 27 posts in the discussion.
Here is the digest of the opinions of our members and guests sorted by
their preferences:

-----
SINGLE PLAY:

- HoMM is a game that does not suit multiplayer gaming. Waiting for
the opponents to move is a terrible bore especially in the net play. Thus
making a good AI should be the top priority.

- If a game is good in a single player mode it can be adapted to multiplayer
as well. The opposite way is much more difficult. So at the first glance
single mode should be the target.

- Single. I think most of my games will be played that way.

- Single. And more campaigns (even if it means less single scenarios, the
fan mapmakers will produce a lot of them).

- Good fight against smart AI is the basis. But the AI must be smart!

- Turn based games are not the best choice for multiplayer. The AI should
be as smart as possible, it should be able to make unpredictable but smart
attacks. A self-learning system that after several games “feels” strengths
and weaknesses of the player is what I dream about. During battles the comp
should be able to use even the most sophisticated spells (not like in H4 where
it never uses quicksand).

- Single. But multiplayer is useful too.

- Both single and multi but the first one is much more important. And the
second one should not be discarded.

- I have played a multiplayer game a few times in my life. I don’t think
I will do it often. Single games are the most important ones for me.

- Turn-based multiplayer is a terrible bore!

- Multiplayer suits better the RTS-es. Heroes series is not of that category
thus I bet for single player. For myself the multiplayer option may not
exist at all.

- I like single player mode most, for most of the time I play any given scenario
partially. And I am independent on whims of other players. But the intelligence
of the computer has to be improved a lot!

- Without the single mode there would be no Heroes.

- I prefer single player but I think all the possibilities should be supported -
and they should be supported well!

-----
HOT SEAT

- I prefer hot seat it should be implemented. But when I have no friends to
play against I want a strong computer enemy to have a fight.

- I like multiplayer but I want to see my foes.

- I like hot seat most. Net play is boring because I cannot speak with my
co-players in meantime. But an option for single play is also a must. And
computer enemies must be strong.

- Hot seat gives me most fun. That does not mean I am against the strong AI!

- Hot seat and only hot seat. I don’t need anything more If I have living
enemies. But when I don’t have ones I want strong AI foes.

- I like hot seat most, but sometimes there are troubles with finding enemies.

-----
NET PLAY

- A computer is not a human. I want multiplayer.

-----
DEDICATED SERVERS

- I want a broad competition: tournaments, rankings, leagues etc. Thus my
vote is for playing on dedicated servers. Playing against living enemies is
a new experience. It is not boring but exciting!

-----
OTHER

None

-----

The CONCLUSIONS follow:

1) It is clearly visible that the great majority of the players wants a strong
AI. Even those who prefer multiplayer games want the computer enemies
to be strong.

2) There was a really little interest shown on the online playing both P2P
and on dedicated servers.

3) Other ways of playing (like PBEM) were not even considered, (and
there was an option in the poll encouraging the respondents to back this
way of gaming.

======