VCMI

1.5.6 -> 1.5.7

• Fixed game freeze if player is attacked in online multiplayer game by another player when he has unread dialogs, such as new week notification
• Fixed possible game crash after being attacked by enemy with artifact that blocks spellcasting
• Fixed heroes on map limit game setting not respected when moving hero from town garrison.
• Add workaround to fix possible crash on attempt to start previously generated random map that has players without owned heroes or towns
• Fixed crash on right-clicking spell icon when receiving unlearnable spells from Pandora
• Fixed possible text overflow in match information box in online lobby
• Fixed overlapping text in lobby login window
• Fixed excessive removal of open dialogs such as new week or map events on new turn
• Fixed objects like Mystical Gardens not resetting their state on new week correctly

1.5.5 -> 1.5.6

Stability

• Fixed possible crash on transferring hero to next campaign scenario if hero has combined artifact some components of which can be transferred
• Fixed possible crash on transferring hero to next campaign scenario that has creature with faction limiter in his army
• Fixed possible crash on application shutdown due to incorrect destruction order of UI entities

Multiplayer

• Mod compatibility issues when joining a lobby room now use color coding to make them less easy to miss.
• Incompatible mods are now placed before compatible mods when joining lobby room.
• Fixed text overflow in online lobby interface
• Fixed jittering simultaneous turns slider after moving it twice over short period
• Fixed non-functioning slider in invite to game room dialog

Interface

• Fixed some shortcuts that were not active during the enemy's turn, such as Thieves' Guild.
• Game now correctly uses melee damage calculation when forcing a melee attack with a shooter.
• Game will now close all open dialogs on start of our turn, to avoid bugs like locked right-click popups

Map Objects

• Spells the hero can't learn are no longer hidden when received from a rewardable object, such as the Pandora Box
• Spells that cannot be learned are now displayed with gray text in the name of the spell.
• Configurable objects with scouted state such as Witch Hut in HotA now correctly show their reward on right click after vising them but refusing to accept reward
• Right-click tooltip on map dwelling now always shows produced creatures. Player that owns the dwelling can also see number of creatures available for recruit

Modding

• Fixed possible crash on invalid SPELL_LIKE_ATTACK bonus
• Added compatibility check when loading maps with old names for boats

1.5.4 -> 1.5.5

• Fixed crash when advancing to the next scenario in campaigns when the hero not transferring has a combination artefact that can be transferred to the next scenario.
• Fixed game not updating information such as hero path and current music on new day
• Changed default battle queue hotkey from Q to Z to match HD Mod / HotA
• Changed default hotkey for finishing battle with quick combat from E to Z to match HD Mod / HotA
• Creature casting now uses both F and G keyboard hotkeys
• Shift+left click now directly opens the hero window when two heroes are in town
• Fixed handling of alternative actions for creatures that have more than two potential actions, such as move, shoot, and cast spells.

1.5.3 -> 1.5.4

Stability

• Fixed a possible crash when clicking on an adventure map when another player is taking a turn in multiplayer mode.
• Failure to extract a mod will now display an error message instead of a silent crash.
• Fixed crash on opening town hall screen of a town from a mod with invalid building identifier
• Fixed crash when faerie dragons die after casting Ice Ring on themselves.

Mechanics

• The scholar will now correctly upgrade a skill if the visiting hero has offered a skill at either the basic or advanced level.
• Hero now reveals Fog of War when receiving new or upgraded secondary skills (such as scouting).
• AI will now always act after all human players during simturns instead of acting after host player

Interface

• Pressing the up and down keys on the town screen will now move to the next or previous town instead of scrolling through the list of towns.
• Long text in scenario name and highscore screen now shortened to fit the interface
• Game now moves cursor to tap event position when using software cursor with touch screen input
• Right-click popup on spell scroll campaign bonus now shows spell name instead of artefact name
• Damage estimation tooltip will no longer show damage greater than the targeted unit's health.

Random Maps Generator

• Generator will try to place roads even further away from zone borders
• Fixed rare crash when placing two quest artefacts in the same location at the same time

AI

• Improved performance of Nullkiller AI
• Stupid AI no longer overestimates damage when killing entire unit
• Fixed a bug leading to Battle AI not using spells when sieging town with Citadel or Castle built
• Fixed an unsigned integer overflow that caused the Nullkiller AI to overestimate the total army strength after merging two armies.

Launcher

• Added button to reset touchscreen tutorial on mobile systems
• Launcher will now warn if player selects Gog Galaxy installer instead of offline installer
• Launcher will now ask for the .bin file first as it is usually listed first in the file system view
• Extraction failure now displays error message instead of crashing
• Launcher will now use the header signature to check the file type instead of the extension when using the gog.com installer.
• Fixed broken controller sensitivity configuration options
• Fixed manual file installation on Android

Map Editor

• Icons and translations now embedded in executable file

Modding

• Improved bonus format validation
• Validator now reports valid values for enumeration fields
• Fixed missing addInfo field for bonuses that use the BONUS_OWNER_UPDATER propagation updater.

1.5.2 -> 1.5.3

Stability

• Fixed possible crash when hero class has no valid commander.
• Fixed crash when pressing spacebar or enter during combat when hero has no tactics skill.
• Fixed crash when receiving a commander level-up after winning a battle in a garrison owned by an enemy player.
• Fixed possible crash when exiting a multiplayer game.
• Game will now display an error message and exit after loading instead of crashing silently if a creature's combat animation is missing.
• Game should now generate crash dump on uncaught c++ exception throw
• Fixed crash when player finishes game with negative score
• Fixed crash when opening tavern window in some localisations
• Fixed crash on loading previously generated random map when mods that add object with same name are used
• Game will now display an error message instead of silent crash if game data directory is not accessible

Mechanics

• Transport Artefact victory condition will no longer trigger if another player has completed it.
• Fixed wandering monster combat not triggering when landing in its zone of control when flying from above the monster using the Fly spell.
• Fixed potentially infinite movement loop when the hero has Admiral's Hat whirlpool immunity and the hero tries to enter and exit the same whirlpool.
• If game picks gold for a random resource pile that has predetermined by map amount, its amount will be correctly multiplied by 100
• Fixed hero not being able to learn spells from a mod in some cases, even if they are available from the town's mage guild.
• The game will now actually take resources from seers' huts with the Gather Resources mission instead of awarding them.
• Heroes with double spell points will no longer trigger the Mana Vortex.
• If turn timer runs out during pve battle game will end player turn after a battle instead of forcing retreat

Interface

• Fixed reversed button functions in Exchange Window
• Fixed allied towns being missing from the list when using the advanced or expert Town Portal spell.
• Fixed corrupted UI that could appear for a frame under certain conditions
• The '*' symbol and non-printable characters can no longer be used in savegames due to Windows file system restrictions.
• Pressing Ctrl while hovering over the adventure map will now display tile coordinates in the status bar.
• Selection of another hero while hero is selected now requires Shift press instead of Ctrl
• Fixed hero troops in the info box view flashing briefly during hero movement.
• Reduced excessive memory usage on adventure map by several hundreds of megabytes (most noticeable on systems with large screen resolution)
• Haptic feedback is now enabled by default on Android and on iOS
• It is now possible to scroll through artifacts backpack using mouse wheel or swipe

Launcher

• Android now uses the same Qt-based launcher as other systems
• Fixed attempt to install a submod when installing new mod that depends on a submod of another mod
• Fixed wrong order of activating mods in chain when installing multiple mods at once
• Mod list no longer shows mod version column. Version is now only shown in the mod description.
• Launcher will now skip the Heroes 3 data import step if data has been found automatically
• Fixed inport of existing data files on iOS. This option now requires iOS 13 or later
• Fixed import using offline installer on iOS.
• Buttons to open data directories in the Help tab are now hidden on mobile systems if they can't be opened with file browser
• Added the configuration files directory to the Help tab as it is located separately on Linux systems
• Removed H3 data language selection during setup in favor of auto-detection
• Replaced checkboxes with toggle buttons for easier of access on touchscreens.
• Icons and translations now embedded in executable file
• Added interface for configuring several previously existing but inaccessible options in Launcher:
  • Selection of input tolerance precision for all input types
  • Relative cursor mode for mobile systems (was only available on Android)
  • Haptic feedback toggle for mobile systems (was only available on Android)
  • Sound and music volume (was only available in game)
  • Selection of long touch interval (was only available in game)
  • Selection of upscaling filter used by SDL
  • Controller input sensitivity and acceleration.

AI

• Fixed crash when Nullkiller AI tries to explore after losing the hero in combat.
• Fixed rare crash when Nullkiller AI tries to use portals
• Fixed potential crash when Nullkiller AI has access to Town Portal spell
• Fixed potential crash when Battle AI selects a spell to cast from a hero with summon spells.
• Several fixes to Nullkiller AI exploration logic
• Fixed bug leading to Battle AI doing nothing if targeted unit is unreachable

Random Maps Generator

• Fixed crash when player selects a random number of players and selects a different colour to play, resulting in a non-continuous list of players.
• Fixed rare crash when generating maps with water

Map Editor

• Fixed crash on closing map editor

Modding

• Added new building type 'thievesGuild' which implements HotA building in Cove.
• Creature terrain limiter now actually accepts terrain as parameter

1.5.1 -> 1.5.2

Stability

• Fixed crash on closing game while combat or map animations are playing
• Fixed crash on closing game while network thread is waiting for dialog to be closed
• Fixed random crash on starting random map with 'random' number of players
• Fixed crash caused by thread races on loading map list
• Failure to read data from network connection will show up as 'disconnection' and not as a crash
• Fixed a possible crash when replaying a manually played battle with the 'unlimited battle replay' option set
• Fixed crash when loading save made on a 64-bit system or connecting to multiplayer game with a 64-bit host on a 32-bit system (and vice versa)
• Fixed crash when ending a battle in a draw when a hero has the Necromancy skill
• Fixed crash when having SPELL_LIKE_ATTACK bonus with invalid spell ID
• Fixed transfer of non-first artefacts in backpack if hero does not transfer as well
• Game will now abort loading if a corrupt mod is detected instead of crashing without explanation later

Multiplayer

• Contact between allied players will no longer break simturns
• Having hero in range of object owned by another player will now be registered as contact
• Multiplayer saves are now visible when starting a single player game
• Added chat command '!vote' to initiate a vote to change the duration of simultaneous turns or to change turn timers
• Added chat command '!help' to list all available chat commands
• All multiplayer chat commands now use a leading exclamation mark

Campaigns

• If the hero attacks an enemy player and is defeated, he will be correctly registered as defeated by the defending player.
• Allow standard victory condition on 'To kill a hero' campaign mission in line with H3
• Fixes Adrienne starting without Inferno spell in campaign

Interface

• For artefacts that are part of a combined artefact, the game will now show which component of that artefact your hero has.
• Fixed broken in 1.5.1 shortcut for artifact sets saving
• Fixed full screen toggle (F4) not applying changes immediately
• Retaliation preview now accounts for creatures that don't receive retaliations (Sprites, Archdevils, etc)
• Fixed not visible retaliation preview if damage estimation string is longer than battle log line due to long creature name
• Game will now select last save on loading screen
• High Scores screen and Campaign Epilogue screen are now displayed with background on resolutions higher than 800x600
• Fixed non-functioning shortcut 'P' to access Puzzle Map from adventure map
• Added keyboard shortcuts to markets and altars. 'Space' to confirm deal and 'M' to trade maximum possible amount
• Pressing 'Escape' in main menu will now trigger 'Back' and 'Quit' buttons
• Added keyboard shortcuts to hero exchange window:
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  • 'F10' will now swap armies
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  • 'F11' will now swap artifacts. Additionally, 'Ctrl+F11' will swap equipped artifacts, and 'Shift+F11' will swap backpacks
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  • Added unassigned shortcuts to move armies or artifacts to left or right side
• Added keyboard shortcuts to access buildings from town interface:
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  • 'F' will now open Fort window
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  • 'B' will now open Town Hall window
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  • 'G' will now open Mage Guild window
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  • 'M' will now open Marketplace
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  • 'R' will now open recruitment interface
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  • 'T' will now open Tavern window
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  • 'G' will now open Thieves Guild
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  • 'E' will now open hero exchange screen, if both heroes are present in town
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  • 'H' will now open hero screen. Additionally, 'Shift+H' will open garrisoned hero screen, and 'Ctrl+H' will open visiting hero screen
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  • 'Space' will now swap visiting and garrisoned heroes
• Added keyboard shortcuts to switch between tabs in Scenario Selection window:
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  • 'E' will open Extra Options tab
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  • 'T' will open Turn Options tab
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  • 'I' will open Invite Players window (only for lobby games)
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  • 'R' will now replay video in campaigns
• Added keyboard shortcuts to Adventure map:
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  • 'Ctrl+L' will now prompt to open Load Game screen
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  • 'Ctrl+M' will now prompt to go to main menu
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  • 'Ctrl+N' will now prompt to go to New Game screen
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  • 'Ctrl+Q' will now prompt to quit game
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  • Page Up, Page Down, Home and End keys will now move hero on adventure map similar to numpad equivalents
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  • Fixed non-functioning shortcuts '+' and '-' on numpad to zoom adventure map
• Added keyboard shortcuts to Battle interface:
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  • 'V' now allows to view information of hovered unit
•  
  • 'I' now allows to view information of active unit

Mechanics

• Game will no longer pick creatures exclusive to AB campaigns for random creatures or for Refugee Camp, in line with H3
• If original movement rules are on, it is not possible to attack guards from visitable object directly, only from free tile
• Fixed bug leading that allowed picking up objects while flying on top of water
• Hero can now land when flying from guarded tile to accessible guarded tile irregardless of original movement rules switch
• Interface will now use same arrow for U-turns in path as H3

AI

• Nullkiller AI can now explore the map
• Nullkiller AI will no longer use the map reveal cheat when allied with a human or when playing on low difficulty
• Nullkiller AI is now used by default for allied players

Launcher

• When extracting data from gog.com offline installer game will extract files directly into used data directory instead of temporary directory

Map Editor

• Fixed victory / loss conditions widget initialization

Modding

• Hero specialties with multiple bonuses that have TIMES_HERO_LEVEL updater now work as expected
• Spells that apply multiple bonuses with same type and subtype but different value type now work as expected
• Added option to toggle layout of guards in creature banks

1.5.0 -> 1.5.1

Stability

• Fixed possible crash on accessing faction description
• Fixed possible thread race on exit to main menu
• Game will now show error message instead of silent crash on corrupted H3 data
• Fixed possible crash on double-deletion of quest artifacts placed by RMG
• Fixed crash on loading save made in version 1.4 with removed from map Quest Guards
• Added workaround for crash on accessing Altar of Sacrifice on saves made in 1.4
• Fixed possible crash on map restart request
• Fixed crash on attempt to open scenario list with no save or map selected
• Fixed crash on host resolving error when connecting to online lobby
• If json file specified in mod.json is missing, vcmi will now only log an error instead of crashing

Interface

• Added retaliation damage and kills preview when hovering over units that can be attacked in melee during combat
• Clicking on combat log would now open a window with full combat log history
• Removed message length limit in text input fields, such as global lobby chat
• Tapping on already active text input field will display on-screen keyboard on systems with one
• Fixed possible freeze when trying to move hero if hero has non-zero movement points but not enough to reach first tile in path
• Fixed selection of the wrong reward in dialogs such as the level-up window when double-clicking on it
• Fixed launch of wrong map or save when double-clicking in scenario list screen
• Right-clicking on a hero in a tavern will now select that hero as well, in line with H3
• Fixed slow map list parsing when hota map format is enabled
• MacOS and iOS can now use either Ctrl or Cmd key for all keyboard shortcuts
• Small windows no longer dim the entire screen by default

Mechanics

• Recruiting a hero will now immediately reveal the fog of war around him
• When both a visiting hero and a garrisoned hero are in town, the garrisoned hero will visit town buildings first.

Multiplayer

• Fixed in-game chat text not being visible after switching from achannel with a long history
• Fixed lag when switching to channel with long history
• Game now automatically scrolls in-game chat on new messages
• Game will now only plays chat sound for active channel and for private channels
• Cheats are now disabled by default in multiplayer
• Game will now show status of cheats and battle replays on map start
• It is possible to change cheats or battle replay on game loading
• It is now possible to join rooms hosted by different hotfix versions, e.g. 1.5.1 can join 1.5.0 games
• Fixed game rooms remaining visible in the lobby even after they have been closed
• Fixed possible lag when there is a player in lobby with a very slow (or dying) connection
• Game will show correctly if player has been invited into a room
• Fixed overflow in invite window when there are more than 8 players in the lobby

Random Maps Generator

• Generator will now prefer to place roads away from zone borders

AI

• Fixed possible crash when Nullkiller AI tries to upgrade army
• Nullkiller AI will now recruit new heroes if he left with 0 heroes
• AI in combat now knows when an enemy unit has used all of its retaliations.

Map Editor

• Fixed setting up hero types of heroes in Prisons placed in map editor
• Fixed crash on setting up Seer Hut in map editor
• Added text auto-completion hints for army widget
• Editor will now automatically add .vmap extensions when saving map
• Fixed text size in map validation window

VCMI 1.5.0 released

A new major release has been published. VCMI 1.5.0 sees the light of day. The main focus this time was on the online lobby. But also many other features were integrated and many bugs were fixed.

Online multiplayer support

VCMI now has an online lobby that can be used to set up multiplayer sessions. But you can also interact with other players. The lobby works on all platforms and regardless of firewall restrictions. It can be opened at any time on desktop systems with CTRL + Tab and on mobile platforms with a three-finger touch.

Additionally it is now possible to check towns/heroes during opponent player turn and bypass hero movement latency for non-host players by picking maximum hero speed in game options.

Better random maps

A new biome system for random maps has been integrated. This makes created maps look much more natural.

Also there are many different optimizations like properly random-looking zone edges, treasure/obstacle density tweaks and underground generation content tweaks leading to better zones.

AI optimizations

Nullkiller AI got notable speedup improvements, better handling of heroes with "patrol" set in map editor and some other fixes.

Most remaining campaign issues fixed

Many different problems and bugs related to campaigns have been fixed.

Basic game controllers support added

It is now possible to play VCMI with a game controller. Both on PC-based platforms and on mobile platforms.

Easier installation of game files from gog.com

We have now integrated innoextract into the launcher. This makes it very easy to extract the offline installer from gog.com (.exe and .bin file) for vcmi.

This function is currently available on all platforms except android. With the integration of the launcher in the next few weeks, the function will also be available there.

Artifact improvements

It is now possible to group several artifacts into sets. This feature is based on the costumes of the HD mod. With CTRL + [1]...[9] an artifact set can be saved, which can then be called with [1]...[9].

There are now also new shortcuts. ALT + Click on artifact slot moves artifact from/to backpack. CTRL + Click on artifact slot moves artifact to 2nd hero we are trading with.

Configurable keyboard shortcuts

Keyboard shourtcuts are now configurable. However, currently only via the configuration file config/shortcutsConfig.json.

New homepage

With version 1.5.0 we have also published our new homepage. Apart from the newer, more modern design, it also offers useful functions for players, modders and developers.

Documents such as instructions and technical documentation are now available directly on the website. You can also find informations and pictures of the individual mods in our mod repository.

And much more

In addition, many other features and fixes have been integrated, which were requested by the community. For example: tavern hero inviting (requires mod to enable), optional unlimited replay, option to disable cheats, immediate end of the battle, dimension door & summoning mechanics fixes. See the complete changelog

We are delighted that you are entering the world of Enroth via VCMI. The journey has been a long one, but we are far from finished and will continue to improve VCMI.