Hello,
we are proudly releasing VCMI 0.9. It is a first build from the 0.9x series and important milestone for the project. As more and more features are implemented, VCMI slowly starts being playable. Our work gradually shifts from implementing only H3 features to filling the gaps and providing totally new features.
This build features several important new features coming beyond H3 that we implemented. The first one is the new filesystem handler. It is now possible to deploy VCMI onto various types of installation (check the file config/filesystem.json to get a taste). Thanks to that, VCMI is now able to work with ERA as well as with WoG. All mods rely on the new filesystem, please check the New Main Menu graphics or HotA Creatures mods to see how are they organized.
The second important novelty is a mechanism allowing adding new creatures into the game. It still should be treated as provisional one, although it seems to be fully functional. Please check the Warmonger’s mod that adds HotA creature into VCMI. We also moved even more hardcoded properties to the text config files, so it is possible to modify them with a mere text editor.
Eventually there comes an effort to provide a new and better battle AI. It is still in a very early phase and not as stable as the current AI but it will eventually replace it. The new battle AI is called unsurprisingly “BattleAI”, while the old one is “StupidAI”. Both AIs are shipped in this release and it is possible to select, which one will be used by typing “setBattleAI ” into VCMI console. By the default StupidAI, as the more stable one, is used. More AI improvement should be expected in the coming releases.
There are also other new features, like the new quest window, please check the changelog below. We also did a number of bugfixes, including fixing previously implemented parts of Campaign support that got broken. It is now possible to start and to a certain degree play a Campaign — though there are still a number of missing features. We hope to implement them in the further releases.
For the bugreports that we resolved in this release, please check the bugtracker changelog.
Check items implementation status for the full information about which map objects, town structures, skills, spells, artifacts, creature abilities and victory conditions are supported.
[size=117]Download Links:[/size]
- Windows package (Win32, 6.1MB, ZIP Archive)
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New graphics pack for main menu (3.3MB, ZIP Archive). They look great, especially with higher resolutions.
To use, just extract the package into VCMI folder. Mod is deployed using the new filesystem feature. The graphics have been contributed by Dru. - HotA new creatures mod (4.8MB, ZIP Archive). Extract it into the VCMI folder. The mod adds creatures from HotA to VCMI and contains a map filled with random creatures, so the testing is possible. Unfortunately, there is no way to place a new creature on the map (yet).
Linux packages:
Please visit this wiki page for installation instructions for Linux.
- Common data package (zip, 2.3 MB)
- Ubuntu 12.10 — 32 bit or 64 bit (Deb, 7.5MB) UPDATED 26 X 2012
- Ubuntu 12.04 — 32 bit or 64 bit (Deb, 7.5MB)
- Ubuntu 11.10 — 32 bit or 64 bit (Deb, 7.5MB)
- Debian Sid — 32 bit or 64 bit (Deb, 8.8 MB)
- Debian Wheezy — 32 bit or 64 bit (Deb, 8.5 MB)
- Fedora 17 — 32 bit or 64 bit (RPM, 3 MB) UPDATED 22 X 2012
- Source code tarball (targz, 1.4 MB)
Installation:
Extract the package into your main Heroes folder. If you have older version of VCMI, you have to overwrite it.
WoG 3.58f or ERA is required. We recommend using English version, though VCMI should also work with other language versions. If you want to make your H3 installation English, extract this package into Data/ subfolder.
Save format has been changed, savegames from previous versions won’t work with 0.9.
VCMI supports 800x600, 1024x600, 1024x768, 1280x800, 1280x960, 1280x1024, 1366x768, 1440x900, 1600x1200, 1680x1080 and 1920x1080 screen resolutions. To switch default resolution in system settings window click “HIGH” button and select resolution (available only in game). As for now custom resolution is only applied when the map is started. Since this build main menu correctly handles high resolutions.
Since VCMI 0.85 a new creature card is used. If you don’t like it, the old one is still here. In the System Options window you can select which creature window you’d like to use (the “Classic creature window” check-box).
Acknowledgements:
Many thanks for all testers and developers who contributed to this build.
For the general information about our project look here. Our project isn’t really playable now, but it gives you an idea of progress we have made so far. We’re hoping that you’ll like it.
Since VCMI 0.74 we have deployed separate bugtracker. Please report bugs using this form. Check this page for list of known bugs and details.
We hope you’ll help us develop the project - details are available here. VCMI is an open source project licensed on GNU GPL 2.0 or higher. Our SVN repository with all the sources is available here.
You can look for help in building and developing VCMI sources in the development board.
CHANGELOG
0.89 -> 0.9 (Oct 01 2012)
GENERAL:
- Provisional support creature-adding mods
- New filesystem allowing easier resource adding/replacing
- Reorganized package for better compatibility with HotA and not affecting the original game
- Moved many hard-coded settings into text config files
- Commander level-up dialog
- New Quest Log window
- Fixed a number of bugs in campaigns, support for starting hero selection bonus.
BATTLES
- New graphics for Stack Queue
- Death Stare works identically to H3
- No explosion when catapult fails to damage the wall
- Fixed crash when attacking stack dies before counterattack
- Fixed crash when attacking stack dies in the Moat just before the attack
- Fixed Orb of Inhibition and Recanter’s Cloak (they were incorrectly implemented)
- Fleeing hero won’t lose artifacts.
- Spellbook won’t be captured.
ADVENTURE AI
- support for quests (Seer Huts, Quest Guardians, and so)
- AI will now wander with all the heroes that have spare movement points. It should prevent stalling.
- AI will now understand threat of Abandoned Mine.
- AI can now exchange armies between heroes. By default, it will pass army to main hero.
- Fixed strange case when AI found allied town extremely dangerous
- Fixed crash when AI tried to “revisit” a Boat
- Fixed crash when hero assigned to goal was lost when attempting realizing it
- Fixed a possible freeze when exchanging resources at marketplace
BATTLE AI
- It is possible to select a battle AI module used by VCMI by typing into the console "setBattleAI ". The names of avaialble modules are “StupidAI” and “BattleAI”. BattleAI may be a little smarter but less stable. By the default, StupidAI will be used, as in previous releases.
- New battle AI module: “BattleAI” that is smarter and capable of casting some offensive and enchantment spells
Full changelog is available here.
VCMI Team
