Hero army is directly described in hero format in config/heroes files. In VCMI you don’t modify .lod files.
Also we have dedicated thread (and boatd) for modding questions.
Idea for future builds related to HMM7 secondary skill mechanics.
In addition of chance getting skills
"secondarySkills" :
{
"pathfinding" : 3.
"archery" : 6.
...
"resistance" : 5,
"firstAid" : 4
},add
"secondarySkillsLevel" :
{
"pathfinding" : 1,
"archery" : 2,
...
"resistance" : 1,
"firstAid" : 3
},This will mean maximum level of skill gained through random skills select on level-up on on trees of knowledge etc.
If skill is not listed in “secondarySkills”, it will be ignored.
If skill is not listed in “secondarySkillsLevel”, than it will be set to 3 by default (if in future modding system will allow to mod secondary skills and to add more levels of mastery, it would be changed).
I suggest adding ‘Immune to ammo cart’ ability to creatures, that would allow creating units which can be for example mixed ranged/melee with 2 shots.
Two suggestions:
-
Is there possibility to make VCMI port of Morn Battlefields Era mod?
heroescommunity.com/viewthread.php3?TID=22924
It would be great addon, due to outstanding visuals with no game mechanic interferences. As far I know I can’t see any vcmi commands to rewrite this mod by myself. So maybe some new functionalities in future versions to allow that? -
What do you think about new splash screens with total integration of whole Heroes3 parts? I mean: launch game->New game->New campaign and then we have multiple buttons: ROE, AB, SoD, WoG, HotA, HEROES CRONICLES and customs campaigns. User could edit appropiate json file and add a patch to specific folder or lod file (anywhere on local hard drive) containing specific campaigns to cross with appropiate campaign button.
Wall of Text
First step in modding is being able to make readable paragraphs.
I dont know what’s so hard to read. Friends of mine who are not English natives were able to read this “wall of text”. Anyway, thank you for your ‘help’ and have a good day
My idea of a town - If someone can make a town to import (preferably into hota or sod/complete)
Town: Alcazar town (based on the neutral units)
Heroes: Nomads (strength) and Gypsies (magic)
Units: Halfling, Rogue, Nomad, Sharpshooter, Troll, Enchanter, Rust Dragon (levels 1-7)
optional extra stuff
backdrop - based on the background of the neutral units, a wasteland sort of thing, include a small forest for the sharpshooter and enchanter dwellings, a river for the troll dwelling
bio - based on the wandering travelers, a town based on the roughness of the land
other - the units dont need upgrades (optional) as long as they fit in with the citadel population increase and adjusted suitable costs
I thought this would be very cool, and would like to see it
Yes, you could make a town - if you have spare 3 years and are both talented 3D artists and writer.
Good luck!
Not sure how to make the town or what editors to use, already have the concept and images and i dont need to create any units or images, just need to know how to actually create the town.
If anyone who has made one of the dozen custom towns ive seen (cove, fairy, abyss, gods… etc) can point me in the direction of how to make the town into the game would be helpful (spent a couple days looking and i haven’t found how to make a town into the game, or find a town editor.
So any help/advice on doing that would be appreciated.
The easiest way to learn how to add a new town in VCMI is dowloading existing new town and view and studying all files in it. You must have: notepad++ to view json files, defViewer to view def files and any graphic software to view bmp and pcx files. But it’s better to start to learn how mods work at small mods, like Mountain Dwarf mod. You can make it, we can help you 
I propose to add more RPG-like features to artfacts modding.
Such is entry “requirements” in artifact configuration.
This field is voluntary, if not exists, than artifact use is non-limited.
If requirements are set, artifact will not be allowed to placed in “slots” places (maybe it also be drawn with some half-transparent red box on it).
Example of full “requirements” setting:
"requirements":
{
"alignment":"evil"], //can be "evil","good","neutral",
"affinity":"might"], //can be "might","magic"
"class":"deathKnight"], //list of classes that can use artifact
"gender":"male"], //list of genders "male","female", "neither","both":-) joking
"primarySkills":
{
"defence":5, //if hero's defence <5, than he/she cannot use artifact
"attack":8,
"knowledge":7,
"spellPower":5
},
"secondarySkills": //skill and level of it required to use item
{
"skill":"armorer",
"level":"advanced"
}
],
"heroLevel":10, //level of hero to use art
"experience":10000 //qulity of experience gained required
}Each field is voluntary, of cause
What do you think of it?
The pair of days will suffice 
Monsters bank and google picture search will be enough.
Sounds quite good. It’s fresh idea for overpowered artifacts like Angel Wings. It will be no use to get rid of them from the map, but will be harder to use them. I like it.
I’m starting to search monster banks over the internet and try to gather 17 upgrade’able units and give them new town from Another Rampart mod. But, it’s not so easy and still, lots of missing graphics will be needed to polish it!
So this is about suggestions? Ideas? Well, i have more than enough of them 
Let’s start with the most simple one: Dwelling creature accumulation is generally a good idea. But please only as long as the dwelling is owned. Non-owned dwellings should not accumulate creatures.
Next: What about garrisons have a growth similar to free stacks? As long as they are not owned. This way garrisons could adapt to gameplay time.
Now to the more complicated things:
Contrained artifacts. That is, givving artifacts some bonus only if some constraints are met. This might be only for some faction, or only if hero has some skill, or only to stacks with certain flags (or having certain flags not set), and one of the most interesting ideas: Artifacts that give a bonus during battle, but vanish after battle.
The idea behind the last: Think of Factory or Cimmeria. These stacks are meant to be really powerful. But then this would lack any balance. Give them an artiface, let’s say a “nuclear power battery”, and they will be really powerful. But after battle the pattery is used up. Also this artifact is limited to mechanical stacks only. Just an idea
Next two ideas are related. I already did some scripting for WoG to give some extra bonus depending on skill combinations. Like combo artifacts, which give extra bonus, but this time for skills. Here especially those skills could be used that are normally not worth getting them.
What about tactics? Limited usefulness. But combine it with pathfinding to add additional battlefield speed. Or with offense to add AT, or with armorer to add DF. Or with learning to get more exp after battle.
These skill combinations could be summed up into some kind of extended hero class. Or the extra bonus might even be tied to that extended class. Possibilities are nearly unlimited.
Just some ideas to make game more interesting, to add variety and possibilities.
It can be partially available. VCMI has some (new) limiters:
Exposed limiters:
CREATURE_NATIVE_TERRAIN - predefined, works if creature is on its native terrain
CREATURE_FACTION_LIMITER - customizable, creature is from specified faction
CREATURE_ALIGNMENT_LIMITER - customizable, creature is from specified alignment
CREATURE_TERRAIN_LIMITER - customizable, creature is on specified terrain, if not specified then works like CREATURE_NATIVE_TERRAIN
So you can set bonuses to given artifact that work diffirent on diffirent terrain or faction for example.
Most vcmi town are unbalanced (mostly overpowered) because now hard to test and make some better stats. When multiplayer will be better and more popular maybe there wil be discussion about updating mods with better numbers.
Not possible at this moment, but do you know you can write completelly new secondary skills now?
You can also alter existing secondary skills. But I like the idea of combining one SSkil with another to create fresh new SSkill.
Hmmm, combioning SSkills to get a new SSkill? Interesing idea. I only thought of giving extra bonus if skill combination work.
Well, then, these new skills might be interesting, if they cannot be given automatically like other skills, but only if some prerequisites match (f.ex. having both (or more) prerequisite SSkills). And they should only be upgradable to the minimum of the prerequisite skills.
Another idea might be to limit some extra SSkills to some faction and/or hero class (or even hero). Or extra SSkills that can not be obtained in any way except be seers huts (or similar) after completing a subquest. And then obviously only once per map and seer.
Generally i like the idea of adding more diversity, more options. Not primarily for battle but for long-term strategy and RPG-like hero development. Plus adding personality and story to a hero.
I just rediscovered VCMI and i like it a lot but i have been playing h3 hota with cheat engine speedhack x2 that basically makes it run 2x fps and its really really smooth.
im wondering is it possible to make a mod out of it and add it to VCMI?
Big thanks to anyone who answers 
Just find settings.json file, open it in any text editor and manually change speed.
