The developers of the turn-based strategy Heroes of Might & Magic: Olden Era have released a new devlogdedicated to the third game mode – arena. This format was created at the request of players who do not have enough time for long sessions in the classic mode, and is suitable for those who want to immediately immerse themselves in intense battles, bypassing the development of cities and map exploration.
The main idea of the arena is fast duels in which players choose heroes and then collect builds for them, including artifacts, skills, spells and troops. The draft takes about five minutes, after which a single battle begins, which decides the outcome of the entire game. You can play both against other players and against artificial intelligence.
The creators were inspired by the duel mode from Heroes V, which allowed you to arrange battles between predefined heroes. However, the new format expands the possibilities of customization: players can choose from three proposed heroes, select artifacts, and more deeply customize their skills.
To create the mode, the developers had to solve many issues. For example, what to do with skills and spells that are only useful on the map, or how to use heroes whose specializations are related to exploration. The answers have been found: mages always start with a basic spell, and specialist heroes have an increased chance of gaining their key skills. In addition, artifacts and skills are balanced so that the offerings of both sides are equal.
We also paid attention to the balance of the draft. Players are offered artifacts and creatures of the same rarity level, making each game fair but varied. In addition, the leveling system has been reworked: heroes start with two basic skills, and it takes less time to improve them.
According to the developers, the arena mode is suitable for everyone. Beginners will be able to quickly master the mechanics of the game, and experienced players will find new tactical challenges in it. For fans of competitive matches, a rating system and matchmaking has been added.
The developers believe that the arena will be an ideal choice for those who want to enjoy the game even if they are short on time, and promise to talk more about the rating system and competitive aspects of the mode in future devlogs.
