Random map templates

Introduction

Every random map is generated following a certain template. The template prescribes, how many zones should map be divided into, how these zones should be interconnected, and certain details regarding zones and connections as well, while majority of objects and precise location of zones is selected randomly.

This article presents you description and layouts of default HotA templates.

Notation

Zones

General

Zones are denoted by squares with rounded corners. Square size shows the relative size of the zone with respect to other zones on the template (however, actual size of the zone depends on the variety of factors and may not correspond to the size displayed on the layout).

Zone color corresponds to a player whose starting town is located in this zone: this rule is held if only the first colors are selected by players (e.g., red and blue for two players), otherwise zone colors don’t correspond to players’ colors.

Zones not occupied by players are colored white (for content-poor zones), silver (for content-rich zones) or gold (for vastly content-rich zones).

There is a number located at the bottom right corner of the square, which is this zone’s ID.

PC icon located alongside zone number signifies that the player starting in this zone is imperatively AI-controlled.

Contents

There is a number at the top left corner, near the chest icon, which denotes the richness of this zone’s contents. The bigger is this number, the more precious objects this zone will generate (and the heavier will be the guards). This number alone specifies, if the zone will be colored white, silver or gold.

Each zone’s contents are characterized by three (or less) content types. Each of these types is described by three numbers: minimum group value, maximum group value and relative frequency of occurrence. From now on each content type will be denoted as ([minimum value]–[maximum value], [frequency]).

The most frequently used content-wise zones are:

• 55 — poor zone, white. Content types: (500–3000, 9), (3000–6000, 6), (10000–15000, 1).
• 133 — rich zone, silver. Content types: (3000–6000, 9), (10000–15000, 6), (15000–20000, 1).
• 242 — vastly rich zone, gold. Content types: (10000–15000, 9), (15000–20000, 6), (20000–30000, 1).

The asterisk above the richness number signifies that this zone uses custom rules for objects generation.

Swords icon(s) at the top right corner denote the guards’ relative power. Absence of swords means that the objects in this zone are not guarded at all. Otherwise, 1, 2 or 3 swords correspond to weak, medium or strong guards respectively.

Towns and mines

There can be multiple towns in the zone. Town type (castles — with Fort; non-fortified, aka villages — without Fort) and amount is denoted by town icon(s) (castles — with windows; villages — without) and number(s) alongside them. Neutral and player-controlled towns are distinguished as well (neutral towns have grey tower tops, while player-controlled towns have tower tops of corresponding color).

The amount of every type of mines is located alongside the corresponding resource icon.

Connections

Basic connection between two zones is denoted by a single black line. The number on it is connection value, which specifies the power of units guarding it. Connection with a Border Guard is crossed by another shorter line in place of the number.

Wide connection is denoted by thick grey line. This connection is never guarded, and, if zones connected with it have a common land border, they will be connected for the majority of this border’s width.

Thin dashed line denotes fictive connection: the zones will not be actually connected, but despite this fact, the generator will try to place these zones close to each other, if possible.

If the connection has an obligatory road, thin white dashed line is added inside the connection line. Note that if several connections with obligatory roads occur between the same pair of zones, only one road will be generated.

Imperatively roadless connections are denoted by thick dashed lines.

Mirror templates

Mirror templates have their underground layer generated as an exact copy of the surface level. On the template layouts surface zones are drawn at the left and the underground ones — to the right. Each surface zone #x has its underground copy as zone #100+x.

Note that the right side of the layout is turned upside-down — if some zone is found on the top of the surface part, its copy will be at the bottom of underground part.

Connections between two mirror layers are marked red.

Conditions of existence

Some zones and/or connections on the template may have a yellow outline. It means that this zone or connection may or may not appear during generation, depending on the map settings selected before start (number of players, map size). This way several templates may be configured differently, depending on the number of players or on the map size.

Template editor

If you want more detailed view on any of the templates, you may open it using built-in template editor. To do so you need to run Rmg Template Editor.exe in the root directory of HotA, press Open and select HotA_RMGTemplates[template name]\rmg.txt.

Note that there are multiple view modes, that may be switched using buttons 1–5.

1 — standard view, described above.

2 — towns and castles view. In this mode each zone displays all towns and castles total number, maximum allowed number of towns (if more than standard amount may be generated), allowed towns and castles alignment and notification if all the towns and castles in the zone must belong to the same alignment.

3 — treasure view. In this mode each zone displays detailed view of its contents: minimum/maximum value and frequency for up to 3 types of treasures. Asterisk, as in the Standard view, signifies the custom settings or restrictions of certain objects generation.

4 — terrain/placement view. In this mode each zone displays allowed terrain types, as well as placement options, like forced underground/surface level or zone repulsion.

5 — IDs view. In this mode each zone’s ID is displayed in large scale.

Double-clicking any zone or connection allows you to edit it. General settings can be viewed in the following tabs: Template pack -> Settings and Template pack -> Settings.

Protection from modifications

Host player templates are used to generate map during multiplayer session. Therefore joining players must have means to ensure the template doesn’t contain any unknown modifications.

At the beginning of new map generation all players have their templates compared between each other and with the reference template on HotA server. If no message appears after the check is performed, it means that host uses the template that is either to your corresponding template or corresponding reference template. Assuming that joining player has default template, it means that the host has also used the default template for map generation, and the players are free to proceed.

Otherwise the user is shown a message describing inconsistency type and possible solutions to this issue.

Original template pack

This template pack is also known as Default template. It is a template pack that consists of multiple different templates suitable for various map configurations in terms of size and amount of players. Before generation starts, if this pack is used, one template is randomly selected from all the templates corresponding to the selected configuration. Although extensive, this template pack is believed to be not quite optimized for multiplayer sessions.

Mirror templates

h3dm1

One of the most popular mirror templates. This template follows a simple gameplan: starting zone > secondary town zone > treasure zone. Treasure zones contain rich rewards, but are often small and lack the most valuable treasures, like Relic artifacts. Connection guards are considered difficult on the first week, but starting from the second week they become an easy goal, thus letting players to pass them and get in contact with their opponents. Although, early contact is not guaranteed due to complicated map topology, so players are forced to clear the treasure zones and conduct spell research, as on XL+U maps. This template is considered to be among the most balanced ones.

Specifications:

• Map size: L+U.
• Content types clarification:
  • 58 (player zones and white zones): content types (100–3000, 12), (3000–6000, 6), (10000–15000, 1).
  • 244 (gold zones): content types (6000–8999, 9), (10000–17000, 9), (17000–20000, 3).
• Mirror template. Underground is generated exactly similar to surface level. Zone content on the surface and in the underground is also the same.
• Zones 1–4 and their mirror copies have the native terrain of their corresponding town. Zones 5–10 and their mirror copies are generated with random terrain.
• Banned heroes: Kyrre, Gunnar, Alamar, Jeddite, Dessa, Luna, Labetha, Grindan, Miriam.
• Special weeks are disabled.
• Combat round limit is 100.

Suggested rules and settings:

• https://h3hota.com/en/rules#template-rules/h3dm1

mt_Diamond

This template is a mirror variant of Diamond template. Each player has 3 easy passages to the treasure zones on their own level and one difficult passage to the treasure zone on opponent’s level. AI zones are located between the treasure zones. Treasure zones content varies from unguarded gold, as well as some other small rewards, to the objects of immense value, like Relic artifacts. Road network is enhanced, compared to Diamond’s

Specifications:

• Map size: L+U.
• Content types clarification:
  • 58 (player zones and AI zones): content types (100–3000, 12), (3000–6000, 6), (10000–15000, 1).
  • 219 (gold zones): content types (100–3000, 9), (9000–20000, 9), (20000–30000, 3).
• Mirror template. Underground is generated exactly similar to surface level. Zone content on the surface and in the underground is also the same.
• Zones 1–4 and their mirror copies have the native terrain of their corresponding town. Zones 5–8 and their mirror copies are generated with random terrain.
• Different towns of the same zone are allowed to have different alignments.
• Non-coherent road networks are allowed inside all zones.
• Banned heroes: Kyrre, Gunnar, Alamar, Jeddite, Dessa, Luna, Labetha, Grindan, Miriam.
• Special weeks are disabled.
• Combat round limit is 100.

Suggested rules and settings:

• https://h3hota.com/en/rules#template-rules/mt_diamond

mt_Jebus

This template is a mirror variant of Jebus Cross template. Each player has a big ang rich treasure zone on their native terrain at their disposal. There is also a heavily guarded access to an extra-rich central treasure zone. Central treasure zone consists of two parts – one on each layer – connected by unguarded portals. This treasure zone tends to be even richer than on original Jebus Cross maps.

Specifications:

• Map size: L+U.
• Content types clarification:
  • 103 (player zones): content types (300–3000, 14), (5000–16000, 6), (12000–22000, 1).
  • 610 (gold zones): content types (10000–25000, 10), (25000–35000, 10), (35000–55000, 3).
• Mirror template. Underground is generated exactly similar to surface level. Zone content on the surface and in the underground is also the same.
• Mirror zones are cross-connected: a portal in an arbitrary zone #X leads to a portal in the copy of another zone #Y (i.e., zone #Y+100), and vice-versa.
• Mirror connection monoliths are repulsed from towns, land connection guards and each other.
• Zone 1 and its mirror copy have the native terrain of their corresponding town. Zone 2 and its mirror copy is always a sand zone.
• Different towns of the same zone are allowed to have different alignments.
• Banned heroes: Kyrre, Gunnar, Alamar, Jeddite, Dessa, Luna, Labetha, Grindan, Miriam.
• Maximum amount of Taverns, Mineral Springs and Hermit’s Shacks per zone is increased to 3.
• Special weeks are disabled.
• Combat round limit is 100.

Suggested rules and settings:

• https://h3hota.com/en/rules#template-rules/mt_jebus

mt_TeamJebus

This template is a mirror variant of Jebus Cross template for 2v2 team games. Each player has a big ang rich treasure zone on their native terrain at their disposal. There is also a heavily guarded access to an extra-rich central treasure zone. Ally zones lack direct connections, but hiring heroes in allied taverns, as well as using Town Portal spell is still available.

Specifications:

• Map size: L+U или M+U.
• Content types clarification:
  • 103 (player zones): content types (300–3000, 14), (5000–16000, 6), (12000–22000, 1).
  • 610 (gold zones): content types (10000–25000, 10), (25000–35000, 10), (35000–55000, 3).
• Mirror template. Underground is generated exactly similar to surface level. Zone content on the surface and in the underground is also the same.
• Mirror zones are cross-connected: a portal in an arbitrary zone #X leads to a portal in the copy of another zone #Y (i.e., zone #Y+100), and vice-versa.
• On M+U size map only 1 pair of mirror connection is allowed, on L+U size map 2 pairs are present.
• Mirror connection monoliths are repulsed from towns, land connection guards and each other.
• Zone 1–2 and their mirror copies have the native terrain of their corresponding town. Zone 3 and its mirror copy is always a sand zone.
• Different towns of the same zone are allowed to have different alignments.
• Banned heroes: Kyrre, Gunnar, Alamar, Jeddite, Dessa, Luna, Labetha, Grindan, Miriam.
• Maximum amount of Taverns, Mineral Springs and Hermit’s Shacks per zone is increased to 3.
• Special weeks are disabled.
• Combat round limit is 100.

Suggested rules and settings:

• https://h3hota.com/en/rules#template-rules/mt_teamjebus

mt_Andromeda

This is a mirror XL+U template, suitable for long and rather contactless games, heavily based on exploration and spell research. Treasure zones are not so rich and cannot contain Relic artifacts. Due to having underground tunnels replaced by fully functional surface layer, this template generates maps effectively bigger than regular XL+U, which is compensated by having obligatory roads for every connection.

Specifications:

• Map size: XL+U.
• Content types clarification:
  • 55 (player zones, AI zones and white zones): content types (500–3000, 9), (3000–6000, 6), (10000–15000, 1).
  • 133 (silver zones): content types (3000–6000, 9), (10000–15000, 6), (15000–20000, 1).
• Mirror template. Underground is generated exactly similar to surface level. Zone content on the surface and in the Underworld is also the same.
• Player zones and AI zones and have the native terrain of their corresponding town. The rest are generated with random terrain.
• All connections have obligatory roads.
• Banned heroes: Kyrre, Gunnar, Alamar, Jeddite, Dessa, Luna, Labetha, Grindan, Miriam.
• Special weeks are disabled.
• Combat round limit is 100.

Suggested rules and settings:

• https://h3hota.com/en/rules#template-rules/mt_andromeda

mt_Antares

This is a mirror template for early contacts and quick expansion. It is topologically close to mt_Andromeda, but the gameplay differs greatly. Treasure zones are small and not so rich, cannot contain Relic artifacts as well.

Specifications:

• Map size: L+U.
• Content types clarification:
  • 55 (player zones, AI zones and white zones): content types (500–3000, 9), (3000–6000, 6), (10000–15000, 1).
  • 133 (silver zones): content types (3000–6000, 9), (10000–15000, 6), (15000–20000, 1).
• Mirror template. Underworld is generated exactly similar to surface level. Zone content on the surface and in the Underworld is also the same.
• Player zones and AI zones and have the native terrain of their corresponding town. The rest are generated with random terrain.
• All connections have obligatory roads.
• Banned heroes: Kyrre, Gunnar, Alamar, Jeddite, Dessa, Luna, Labetha, Grindan, Miriam.
• Special weeks are disabled.
• Combat round limit is 100.

Suggested rules and settings:

• https://h3hota.com/en/rules#template-rules/mt_antares

mt_Firewalk

This template is mirror version of Firewalk template and is focused on highly dynamic game. AI and player starting zones contain 3 towns and are very rich, but with some custom rules: 1 dwelling of 7th level and 2 dwellings of 6th level, and Pandora’s boxes with experience, are always present; Dragon Utopias and banks which give creatures in reward are forbidden. The connection to white zone is worth opening soon: there the big piles of gold, banks with gold in reward and a Conflux village can be found. Besides white zone, there are 3 treasure zones present on each layer of template, known as “Creature Bank zone”, “Big Sand zone” and “Dragon Utopia zone”.

General specifications:

• Map size: XL+U.
• Content types clarification:
  • 96 (player and AI zones: 1, 2, 101, 102): content types (300–3000, 10), (5000–16000, 6), (12000–22000, 3).
  • 113 (white zones: 4, 5, 104, 105): content types (300–3000, 5), (3500–3500, 20).
  • 610 (big sand zones: 3, 103): content types (10000–25000, 10), (25000–35000, 10), (35000–55000, 3).
  • 480 (creature bank zones: 6, 106): content types (7900–8100, 20), (7900–8100, 20).
  • 9160 (dragon utopia zones: 7, 107): content types (7900–8100, 20), (45000–45000, 100), (45000–45000, 100).
• Mirror template. Underground is generated exactly similar to surface level. Zone content on the surface and in the underground is also the same.
• Mirror zones are cross-connected: a portal in an arbitrary zone #X leads to a portal in the copy of another zone #Y (i.e., zone #Y+100), and vice-versa.
• Starting player (1 and 101) and AI (2 and 102) zones have the native terrain of their corresponding town. Zone 3, 7 and their mirror copies are always sand zones. Zones 4, 5 and their mirror copies are always generated on dirt. Zone 6 and its mirror copy is always a lava zone.
• Banned heroes: Kyrre, Gunnar, Alamar, Jeddite, Dessa, Luna, Labetha, Grindan, Miriam.
• Villages in zones 4, 5 and their mirror copies are always Confluxes.
• Allowed artifacts: Orb of Inhibition and Recanter’s Cloak.
• Special weeks are disabled.
• Combat round limit is 100.

Suggested rules and settings:

• https://h3hota.com/en/rules#template-rules/mt_firewalk

Custom object generation rules:

Zones 1, 101 and 2, 102. Player and AI zones.

Zones 3 and 103. Big sand zones.

Zones 4, 104 and 5, 105. White zones, dirt.

Zones 6 and 106. Army bank zones, lava.

Zones 7 and 107. Dragon utopias zones, sand.

XL+U templates

6lm10a

This is one of the most popular XL+U templates. Map layout is heavily branched, and therefore there is no distinct centre. Vast territories are available for players’ exploration, which makes this template quite well-balanced. Both players explore, conduct spell research and usually don’t contact each other, unless one of them does it intentionally. There is some variety in treasure zones: 4 gold zones (which may contain Relic artifacts) being the most valuable, but hard to access, because all connections that lead there are imperatively roadless.

Specifications:

• Map size: XL+U.
• Content types clarification:
  • 55 (player zones, AI zones and white zones): content types (500–3000, 9), (3000–6000, 6), (10000–15000, 1).
  • 133 (silver zones): content types (3000–6000, 9), (10000–15000, 6), (15000–20000, 1).
  • 242 (gold zones): content types (10000–15000, 9), (15000–20000, 6), (20000–30000, 1).
• All zones with towns have the native terrain of their corresponding town. Zones without towns are generated with random terrain.
• Dragon Utopia frequency is increased to 200. Player and AI zones (1–6, 11–12) and intermediary zones (21–25) may have no more than 1 Dragon Utopia generated. Regular treasure zones (7–10, 13–16) may have no more than 2 Dragon Utopias generated. Greater treasure zones (17–20) have no limit on Dragon Utopia number.
• Special weeks are disabled.
• Combat round limit is 100.

Other differences from SoD version:

• Erratic 13–13 connection is removed.
• Connections 15–24 and 16–25 have their value changed from 3000 to 6000 (for the sake of symmetry).
• Obligatory roads added: 9–1–21–3 and 14–6–25–4 (2 roads per starting zone for red and blue players).
• Some connections were set to imperatively roadless: 3–23, 4–23, 9–23, 14–23 (shortcuts to the center) and 21–22, 24–25 (unguarded connections).
• Wide connections 21–22 and 24–25 are imperatively crossing the land borders.

Suggested rules and settings:

• https://h3hota.com/en/rules#template-rules/xlu-templates

8mm6a

This is the most contact XL+U template. Each player’s accessible area contains AI zone and a corner treasure zone. From their area players may enter one of the 2 central treasure zones, where clash is the most probable. The zones are moderately rich, Relic artifacts cannot be found on their own.

Specifications:

• Map size: XL+U.
• Content types clarification:
  • 55 (player zones, AI zones and white zones): content types (500–3000, 9), (3000–6000, 6), (10000–15000, 1).
  • 133 (silver zones): content types (3000–6000, 9), (10000–15000, 6), (15000–20000, 1).
• Starting player zones and AI zones have the native terrain of their corresponding town. The rest are generated with random terrain.
• Special weeks are disabled.
• Combat round limit is 100.

Differences from SoD version:

• Obligatory roads added: 1–19, 6–22, square 19–12–22–11–19.

Suggested rules and settings:

• https://h3hota.com/en/rules#template-rules/xlu-templates

8xm12a

This is an XL+U template with vast topology and branching road network, where players are considered to explore the territory and research spells. The template has a rich central treasure zone (with Relic artifacts inside) and several poorer treasure zones.

Specifications:

• Map size: XL+U.
• Content types clarification:
  • 55 (player zones, AI zones and white zones): content types (500–3000, 9), (3000–6000, 6), (10000–15000, 1).
  • 133 (silver zones): content types (3000–6000, 9), (10000–15000, 6), (15000–20000, 1).
  • 242 (central gold zone): content types (10000–15000, 9), (15000–20000, 6), (20000–30000, 1).
• Zones with towns have the native terrain of their corresponding town. The rest are generated with random terrain.
• Dragon Utopia frequency is increased to 210. Player and AI zones (1–8) and intermediary zones (21–32) may have no more than 1 Dragon Utopia generated. Regular treasure zones (9–20) may have no more than 2 Dragon Utopias generated. Greater treasure zone (33) have no limit on Dragon Utopia number.
• Special weeks are disabled.
• Combat round limit is 100.

Other differences from SoD version:

• Removed all connections 4–15 and 5–14.
• Connections with treasure zones ((3–14, 3–11, 4–11, 6–15, 6–18, 5–18, 26–14, 22–11, 27–15, 31–18, 21–9, 23–10, 25–13, 29–17, 24–12, 28–16, 30–19, 32–20)) have their value changed from 3000 to 6000.
• Obligatory roads added: 12–24–1–21–9, 21–22–3, 22–4 and 20–32–8–29–17, 32–31–6, 31–5 (2 roads per starting zone for red and blue players).
• Some connections were set to imperatively roadless: 11–33, 14–33, 15–33, 18–33 (shortcuts to the center zone) and 4–27, 5–26 (ways to opponent’s computer players).
• All mines except gold mines are removed from zone 33.
• Crystal and gem mines are added to zones 22 and 33. Mercury and sulfur mines are added to zones 21 and 32.

Suggested rules and settings:

• https://h3hota.com/en/rules#template-rules/xlu-templates

Spider

This XL+U template is not so rich. The town number here is above usual, connections are poorly guarded. The players are expected to base their gameplan on exploration and spell research. Treasure zones are quite valuable (though they may not contain Relic artifacts), but they are roadless and quite heavily guarded.

Specifications:

• Map size: XL+U.
• Content types clarification:
  • 53 (player zones, AI zones and white zones): content types (100–3000, 9), (3000–6000, 6), (10000–15000, 1).
  • 238 (gold zones): content types (6000–8999, 9), (10000–16000, 9), (16000–20000, 3).
• Zones with towns have the native terrain of their corresponding town. The rest are generated with random terrain.
• Dragon Utopia frequency in greater treasure zones (17–24) is increased to 200.
• Special weeks are disabled.
• Combat round limit is 100.

Other differences from SoD version:

• Upper range of zones 1–16 content is changed from 6000–9999 to 10000–15000, lesser range is changed from 0–3000 to 100–3000.
• Value of connections 3–9, 3–11, 4–10, 4–12 is changed from 3000 to 9000.
• Obligatory roads added: 1–9, 1–10, 1–13, 2–11, 2–12, 2–14 (3 roads per starting zone for red and blue players).

Suggested rules and settings:

• https://h3hota.com/en/rules#template-rules/xlu-templates

Nostalgia

This is a non-contact XL+U template with a simple layout, exploration and spell research-based gameplan is expected. Every player has access to their own half of the map, halves being connected via rare treasure zones. The treasure zones are valuable, but only the central one may have Relics generated. Though this template is non-contact, the tempo is compensated by obligatory roads in each connection.

Specifications:

• Map size: XL+U.
• Content types clarification:
  • 53 (player zones, AI zones and white zones): content types (100–3000, 9), (3000–6000, 6), (10000–15000, 1).
  • 244 (gold zones): content types (6000–8999, 9), (10000–17000, 9), (17000–20000, 3).
  • 292 (central gold zone): content types (10000–15000, 9), (15000–20000, 6), (20000–30000, 3).
• Starting player zones and AI zones have the native terrain of their corresponding town. The rest are generated with random terrain.
• Special weeks are disabled.
• Combat round limit is 100.

Other differences from SoD version:

• Lower range of white, player and AI zones content is changed from 0–3000 to 100–3000.
• Value of connections 12–16, 13–16, 10–17, 15–17, 11–24, 14–24 is changed from 6000 to 12500.
• All connections have obligatory roads.

Suggested rules and settings:

• https://h3hota.com/en/rules#template-rules/nostalgia

Kerberos

This is an XL+U template suitable for three players game (exploration and spell research-based). It consists of a large number of zones. Each player has one AI and a corner treacure zone in their area, from where they can enter the central area, consisting of three regular- ad 3 rich (potential Relics can be found) treasure zones.

Specifications:

• Map size: XL+U.
• Content types clarification:
  • 55 (player zones, AI zones and white zones): content types (500–3000, 9), (3000–6000, 6), (10000–15000, 1).
  • 133 (silver zones): content types (3000–6000, 9), (10000–15000, 6), (15000–20000, 1).
  • 242 (gold zones): content types (10000–15000, 9), (15000–20000, 6), (20000–30000, 1).
• Starting player zones and AI zones have the native terrain of their corresponding town. The rest are generated with random terrain.
• Different towns of the same zone are forced to have the same alignment.
• Banned heroes: Kyrre, Gunnar, Dessa.
• Special weeks are disabled.
• Combat round limit is 100.

Suggested rules and settings:

• https://h3hota.com/en/rules#template-rules/kerberos

Clash of Dragons

This template is played without any rules, like Anarchy. The most valuable treasure zones have neutral dragon dwellings, while the gameplan is based on joining the guards in these zones using Diplomacy.

Specifications:

• Map size: XL+U.
• Content types clarification:
  • 72 (player zones): content types (300–1900, 15), (2000–5000, 4), (5000–9000, 6).
  • 93 (white zones): content types (300–1900, 15), (5000–12000, 2), (10000–20000, 4).
  • 336 (upper gold zones): content types (300–1900, 10), (10000–15000, 8), (20000–25000, 10).
  • 375 (lower gold zones): content types (20000–30000, 15).
  • 519 (indermediary gold zones): content types (300–1900, 6), (10000–15000, 10), (20000–25000, 15).
  • 800 (central gold zones, below): content types (80000–80000, 10).
  • 1000 (central gold zones, above): content types (80000–120000, 10).
• Starting player zones (1, 14) have the native terrain of their corresponding town. Neighboring zones 2, 15, as well as central zones 6–9 — grass or subterranean. Indermediary zones 4, 17 — dirt or subterranean. Upper Zones 3, 16 — always lava. The rest (5, 18, 10–13) — snow or subterranean.
• Different towns of the same zone are allowed to have different alignments.
• Towns in zones 5, 18 are always Towers.
• Only Rampart, Dungeon and neutral creatures are generated in zones 6–13.
• Zones 6–13 contain only neutral dwellings; Pandora’s Boxes in these zones and Seer Huts requesting artifacts from these zones can have only neutral creatures as rewards.
• Guards can be accepted for free. 100% of group is accepted.
• Anarchy mode is on: SoD shifted guards bug is un-fixed, certain objects can be accessible using Fly or Dimension Door spell without fighting the guards.
• Allowed heroes: Sir Mullich and Galthran; banned heroes: Lord Haart and Ranloo.
• Allowed artifacts: Orb of Inhibition and Recanter’s Cloak.
• Allowed objects: Sanctuary, Cartographer, original Hill Fort; Banned object: HotA Hill Fort.
• Value of Spell Scrolls is reduced: 4th level spells — from 8000 to 4000, 5th level spells — from 10000 to 5000, Fly/Dimension Door/Town Portal — from 20000 to 5000. Maximum amount of these Scrolls is increased from 3/2/1 to 4.
• Special weeks are allowed.
• Combat round limit is 100.

Other differences from SoD version:

• There cannot be more mines in the zone than the number on layout prescribes.

Suggested rules and settings:

• Map size: XL+U.
• The other rules are the same as Anarchy template rules: https://h3hota.com/en/rules#template-rules/anarchy

Firewalk

This template is focused on highly dynamic game. Player starting zones contain 3 towns and are very rich, but with some custom rules: 1 dwelling of 7th level and 2 dwellings of 6th level, and Pandora’s boxes with experience, are always present; Dragon Utopias and banks which give creatures in reward are forbidden. The connection to white zone is worth opening soon: there the big piles of gold, banks with gold in reward and a Conflux village can be found. Besides white zone, there are 3 treasure zones present on the template: “Creature Bank zone”, “Big Sand zone” and “Dragon Utopia zone”.

General specifications:

• Map size: XL+U.
• Content types clarification:
  • 130 (player and zones: 1, 2): content types (300–-3000, 10), (5000–-16000, 6), (12000–-22000, 3).
  • 78 (white zones: 4, 5, 104, 105): content types (300–-3000, 5), (3500–-3500, 20).
  • 610 (big sand zones: 3, 103): content types (10000–-25000, 10), (25000-–35000, 10), (35000-–55000, 3).
  • 440 (army zones: 6, 106): content types (7900–-8100, 20), (7900-–8100, 20).
  • 9160 (dragon utopia zones: 7, 107): content types (7900–-8100, 20), (45000–45000, 100), (45000–-45000, 100).
• Zones 4, 5 and 7 are always located on the underground layer on subterranean terrain. The rest are located on surface layer. Starting player zones (1 and 2) have the native terrain of their corresponding town. Zone 3 is generated on sand, and zone 6 is generated on lava.
• Monsters disposition is forced to Savage (10) — they won’t join neither for free, nor for gold.
• Villages in zones 4 and 5 are always Confluxes.
• Allowed artifacts: Orb of Inhibition and Recanter’s Cloak.
• Special weeks are disabled.
• Combat round limit is 100.

Suggested rules and settings:

• https://h3hota.com/en/rules#template-rules/firewalk

Custom object generation rules:

Zones 1 and 2. Player zones.

Zone 3. Big sand zone.

Zones 4 and 5. White zones, dirt.

Zone 6. Army zone, lava.

Zone 7. Dragon utopias zone, sand.

XL-U templates

Jebus Cross

One of the most popular templates overall, due to its simple layout and fast pace. Every player starts on a big, poorly guarded and rich zone with the native terrain. From the starting zone them may enter the extra-rich central zone. To do so, they must defeat strong passage guards. Once got into the central zone, the player starts to accumulate power rapidly, that’s why it’s crucial to get there as soon as possible (even on the first week). This template is not considered well-balanced, because the outcome depends greatly on the starting zones contents.

Specifications:

• Map size: XL-U or L-U.
• Content types clarification:
  • 103 (player zones): content types (300–3000, 14), (5000–16000, 6), (12000–22000, 1).
  • 610 (central gold zone): content types (10000–25000, 10), (25000–35000, 10), (35000–55000, 3).
• Zones 2–5 have the native terrain of their corresponding town. Zone 1 is always sand.
• Different towns of the same zone are allowed to have different alignments.
• Zones 2–5 are set up symmetrically around the central zone 1.
• Banned hero: Ranloo. Allowed hero: Galthran.
• Maximum amount of Taverns, Mineral Springs and Hermit’s Shacks per zone is increased to 3.
• Ancient Lamps are enabled in zones 1–4.
• Special weeks are disabled.
• Combat round limit is 100.

Other differences from SoD version:

• There cannot be more mines in the zone than the number on layout prescribes.
• All town and guard alignments are allowed.

Suggested rules and settings:

• https://h3hota.com/en/rules#template-rules/jebus-cross

L+U templates

2sm4d(3)

Once popular, this template is now replaced by the others. The treasure zones on it may have valuable objects (like Relics), but connections leading there are imperatively roadless. The template allows a high variation of gameplay, the early contact in adjacent zones is as possible as exploration game or opponent zone rush. Even though the AI players are depicted on the layout, usually they are disabled, and their towns are rendered neutral.

Specifications:

• Map size: L+U.
• Content types clarification:
  • 55 (player zones and AI zones): content types (500–3000, 9), (3000–6000, 6), (10000–15000, 1).
  • 242 (gold zones): content types (10000–15000, 9), (15000–20000, 6), (20000–30000, 1).
• All zones with towns have the native terrain of their corresponding town. The rest are generated with random terrain.
• Special weeks are disabled.
• Combat round limit is 100.

Differences from SoD version:

• There cannot be more mines and towns in the zone than the number on layout prescribes.
• Fixed road network: connections 1–2, 1–6, 1–8, 2–4, 2–7 have obligatory roads, the rest are imperatively roadless.

Suggested rules and settings:

• https://h3hota.com/en/rules#template-rules/2sm4d3

Mini-Nostalgia

On this template players never make an early contact between themselves, but since the first days they fight their corresponding AI. 3 lightly guarded passages lead from AI zones to rich, but usually small treasure zones with a chance of getting a Relic. Player zones are connected via even richer treasure zone, connections heavily guarded.

Specifications:

• Map size: L+U.
• Content types clarification:
  • 61 (player zones and AI zones): content types (100–3000, 14), (3000–6000, 6), (10000–15000, 1).
  • 242 (gold zones): content types (10000–15000, 9), (15000–20000, 6), (20000–30000, 1).
• Starting player zones and AI zones have the native terrain of their corresponding town. The rest are generated with random terrain.
• Special weeks are disabled.
• Combat round limit is 100.

Differences from SoD version:

• Lower content value range is changed from 0–3000 to 100–3000.

Suggested rules and settings:

• https://h3hota.com/en/rules#template-rules/mini-nostalgia

Diamond

This is a rich and variative template. Every player has 4 lightly guarded passages to treasure zones, and players’ treasure zones are separated by AI zones. Treasure zones may have unguarded small treasures, like piles of gold, but also thу most valuable rewards, like Relics. The template has a lot of villages on it, and the road network alows quite a lot of variation in gameplay, from early contact to suspended endgame.

Specifications:

• Map size: L+U.
• Content types clarification:
  • 68 (player zones): content types (100–3000, 12), (3000–6000, 6), (6000–8999, 3).
  • 58 (AI zones): content types (100–3000, 12), (3000–6000, 6), (10000–15000, 1).
  • 219 (gold zones): content types (100–3000, 9), (9000–20000, 9), (20000–30000, 3).
• Starting player zones and AI zones have the native terrain of their corresponding town. The rest are generated with random terrain.
• Different towns of the same zone are allowed to have different alignments.
• Non-coherent road networks are allowed inside all zones.
• Dragon Utopia frequency is increased to 200. Player and AI zones (1–8) may have no more than 1 Dragon Utopia generated. Greater treasure zones (9–16) have no limit on Dragon Utopia number.
• Special weeks are disabled.
• Combat round limit is 100.

Other differences from SoD version:

• Lower content value range is changed from 0–3000 to 100–3000.
• Obligatory roads added: 1–9, 1–10, 1–11, 1–15 and 2–12, 2–13, 2–14, 2–16 (4 roads per starting zone for red and blue players).

Suggested rules and settings:

• https://h3hota.com/en/rules#template-rules/diamond

Boomerang

The template consisting of a large number of zones with default contents and several rich central treasure zones (Relic generation is possible).

Specifications:

• Map size: L+U.
• Content types clarification:
  • 55 (player zones, AI zones and white zones): content types (500–3000, 9), (3000–6000, 6), (10000–15000, 1).
  • 242 (gold zones): content types (10000–15000, 9), (15000–20000, 6), (20000–30000, 1).
• Starting player zones and AI zones have the native terrain of their corresponding town. The rest are generated with random terrain.
• Special weeks are disabled.
• Combat round limit is 100.

Suggested rules and settings:

• https://h3hota.com/en/rules#template-rules/boomerang

Apocalypse

Quite poor treasure-wise template, where the players start in underground level, and the surface consists of two large sand zones, separated by AI zones. In-zone guards are enhanced. There are no treasure zones whatsoever, but all zones have higher frequency of valuable objects. The template shows 3 sand zones per player, but, as they are connected with wide connections, 6 zones effectively turn into 2.

Specifications:

• Map size: L+U.
• Content types clarification:
  • 76 (player zones, AI zones and white zones): content types (100–3000, 9), (3000–6000, 6), (9000–15000, 3).
• Starting player zones and AI zones are always located on the underground layer and have subterranean terrain. The rest are on the surface and have sand terrain.
• Players and AI cannot select Necropolis as starting alignment. All neutral tows are Necropoles.
• All Necropolis heroes are banned.
• Banned artifacts: Amulet of the Undertaker, Vampire’s Cowl, Dead Man’s Boots.
• Banned objects: Dragon Utopia and Skeleton Transformer.
• Special weeks are disabled.
• Combat round limit is 100.

Suggested rules and settings:

• https://h3hota.com/en/rules#template-rules/apocalypse

Anarchy

This template’s gameplay is based on the gameplay elements that are usually banned (mechanically or verbally): Cloak of the Undead King, joining guards by Diplomacy, Cartographer, poorly guarded spell scrolls, abusing misplaced guards. One template of 12 is randomly selected each generation, and the player has to guess each time.

General specifications:

• Map size: L+U.
• Starting player zones have the native terrain of their corresponding town. The rest are generated with random terrain.
• Guards can be accepted for free. 100% of group is accepted.
• Anarchy mode is on: SoD shifted guards bug is un-fixed, certain objects can be accessible using Fly or Dimension Door spell without fighting the guards.
• Allowed heroes: Sir Mullich and Galthran; banned heroes: Lord Haart and Ranloo.
• Allowed artifacts: Orb of Inhibition and Recanter’s Cloak.
• Allowed objects: Sanctuary, Cartographer, original Hill Fort; Banned object: HotA Hill Fort.
• Value of Spell Scrolls is reduced: 4th level spells — from 8000 to 4000, 5th level spells — from 10000 to 5000, Fly/Dimension Door/Town Portal — from 20000 to 5000. Maximum amount of these Scrolls is increased from 3/2/1 to 4.
• Special weeks are allowed.
• Combat round limit is 100.

Differences from SoD version:

• Lower content value range is changed from 0–3000 to 100–3000 on all templates of the pack.
• Connection 10–12 on the 6th template has the value changed from 12500 to 6000 (for the sake of symmetry).

Suggested rules and settings:

• https://h3hota.com/en/rules#template-rules/anarchy

Particular templates layouts and specifications:

Black’n’Blue

This template makes use of non-standard objects. Each player has access to the snow zones with Ancient Lamps, Pandora Boxes with Stone Golems and Dragon Utopias; as well as Subterranean zones with Pandora Boxes waving Skeletons and (seldom) Vampire Lords inside. Player areas are connected via large and rich treasure zone with Ancient Lamps, Creature Pandora Boxes, Dragon Utopias and Faerie Dragon Dwellings.

General specifications:

• Map size: L+U.
• Content types clarification:
  • 47 (player zones): content types (500–3000, 7), (3000–6000, 6), (6000–10000, 1).
  • 139 (lower silver zones): content types (250–3000, 4), (3000–12000, 6), (15000–20000, 5).
  • 199 (upper silver zones): content types (3000–8000, 8), (6000–10000, 10), (8000–17000, 6).
  • 550 (central gold zone): content types (5000–10000, 12), (10000–15000, 8), (15000–45000, 12).
• Zones 8–11 are always generated in the underground and always have subterranean terrain. The rest are always on the surface. Starting player zones (1–2) have the native terrain of their corresponding town. Zones 3–5, 7 are always snow zones. central zone 1 is always a sand zone.
• Zone 3–5, 7 towns are always Towers. Zone 8–11 towns are always Necropoles. Central zone 1 towns are always Confluxes.
• Banned heroes: Adele, Ryland and Cyra.
• Banned secondary skill: Diplomacy.
• Banned Fly and Dimension Door spells as well as Angel Wings artifact.
• Banned artifacts: Spellbinder’s Hat, Diplomacy set (Statesman’s Medal, Diplomat’s Ring, Ambassador’s Sash), Armor of the Damned (by banning Skull Helmet), Ironfist of the Ogre (by banning Tunic of the Cyclops King), Cloak of the Undead King (by banning Dead Man’s Boots).
• Special weeks are allowed.
• Combat round limit is 100.

Suggested rules and settings:

• https://h3hota.com/en/rules#template-rules/blacknblue

Custom object generation rules:
As a general rule: all objects are banned. Allowed objects are set separately for each zone.

Note: list of object generation settings may seem overcomplicated on the first glance, but in practice it’s quite easy to understand. The settings are separated into 3 categories:
1. Allowed with default settings. This means that these objects are generated in certain zone similarly to any generic template. Neither object nor guard settings are changed.
2. Allowed with custom limits. These objects have almost the same settings as by default, but the maximum amount of them is limited. E.g., Churchyard with maximum of 1 will have the same settings as on generic template, but there cannot be more than 1 Churchyard in this zone.
3. Allowed with custom frequency and/or value. In case the value is changed, this may affect the power of the monsters guarding this object — this is the most notable kind of change that can be applied to object generation settings, especially for more skilled players, who had already got used to default values. Frequency change may affect the number of objects of this type in a given zone, but, unlike changing the limits, this change is not so strict.

Zone 1. Central treasure zone, sand.

Zones 2 and 6. Starting zones for red and blue players.

Zones 3, 4, 5 and 7. Medium treasure zones, snow.

Zones 8, 9, 10 and 11. Lesser treasure zones, underground.

M200 templates

2sm2c(2)

M-size template designed to use with 200% difficulty. The starting conditions are poor, and the possibilities are either rush directly to opponent’s zone (in case the guards are suitable), or explore the roadless treasure zone. The games are usually quick, and the outcome depends on spells found.

Specifications:

• Map size: M-U.
• Content types clarification:
  • 42 (player zones): content types (800–800, 9), (1000–2100, 4), (3500–4900, 7).
  • 92 (white zones): content types (800–2100, 5), (4000–5000, 6), (6000–8000, 9).
  • 121 (silver zones): content types (350–2000, 9), (8000–9150, 10), (1000–40000, 1).
• Starting player zones (1–2) have the native terrain of their corresponding town. Neighboring zones (3, 6) are generated with random terrain. Treasure zones (4–5) are always dirt zones.
• Players cannot select Necropolis or Conflux as their starting alignment.
• Banned heroes: Solmyr, Aislinn, Deemer, Luna, Jeremy.
• Banned spells: Fly, Dimension Door and Town Portal. Banned artifact: Angel Wings.
• Banned objects: Obelisk, Trading Post.
• Special weeks are disabled.
• Combat round limit is 100.

Suggested rules and settings:

• https://h3hota.com/en/rules#template-rules/m200-templates

Skirmish(M)

M-size template designed to use with 200% difficulty. Poor player areas are connected by 3 rather valuable treasure zones. The pairs of zones usually have multiple connections, some of which have roads. The games are usually quick, and the outcome depends on spells found.

Specifications:

• Map size: M-U.
• Content types clarification:
  • 26 (player zones): content types (330–1000, 3), (1000–2000, 7), (3300–3500, 4).
  • 56 (white zones): content types (330–1500, 5), (1500–2000, 2), (5000–7000, 8).
  • 114 (silver zones): content types (350–2000, 3), (8000–9150, 10), (1000–40000, 1).
• Starting player zones (1–2) have the native terrain of their corresponding town. The rest (3–7) have their terrain randomly selected from the list: dirt, grass, lava, highlands.
• Players cannot select Necropolis or Conflux as their starting alignment. The towns in neighboring zones (3–4) are always Necropoles.
• Banned heroes: Solmyr, Aislinn, Deemer, Luna, Jeremy.
• Banned spells: Fly, Dimension Door and Town Portal. Banned artifact: Angel Wings.
• Banned objects: Obelisk, Trading Post.
• Special weeks are disabled.
• Combat round limit is 100.

Suggested rules and settings:

• https://h3hota.com/en/rules#template-rules/m200-templates

Nine-day Wonder

M-size template designed to use with 200% difficulty. Special object generation settings improve the ballance, compared to other M-size templates. The players are able to enter the grass zone with poor treasures and the dirt zone with Dragon Fly Hives and Wolf Raider Pickets that have weaker-then-default guards; passage to both zones is lightly guarded. From these zones they may access the lava treasure zone with normally guarded Pickets and other valuable objects. One may also rush to the opponent’s zone via the dirt zone.

General specifications:

• Map size: M-U.
• Content types clarification:
  • 35 (player zones): content types (300–2000, 10), (2000–5000, 5), (5000–9000, 1).
  • 47 (lower white zones): content types (100–3000, 10), (3000–6000, 7).
  • 96 (upper white zones): content types (500–6000, 9), (6000–10000, 7), (10000–12000, 1).
  • 135 (central silver zone): content types (2000–6000, 11), (6000–15000, 7), (15000–20000, 1).
• Starting player zones (1, 4) have the native terrain of their corresponding town. Neighboring zones 3 and 7 are always dirt zones. Neighboring zones 5–6 are always grass zones. Treasure zone 2 is always a lava zone.
• Banned heroes: Solmyr, Aislinn, Deemer, Luna, Ciele, Jeremy.
• Banned secondary skills: Pathfinfing, Diplomacy, Eagle Eye.
• Banned spells: Fly, Dimension Door and Town Portal. Banned artifact: Angel Wings.
• Banned artifacts: Resistance set (Garniture of Interference, Surcoat of Counterpoise, Boots of Polarity), Eagle Eye set (Bird of Perception, Stoic Watchman, Emblem of Cognizance), Legion set (Legs of Legion, Loins of Legion, Torso of Legion, Hands of Legion, Head of Legion), Wayfarer’s Boots, Cloak of the Undead King (by banning Amulet of Undertaker).
• Special weeks are disabled.
• Combat round limit is 100.

Suggested rules and settings:

• https://h3hota.com/en/rules#template-rules/nine-day-wonder

Custom object generation rules:

Note: object bans and permissions apply in the order of appearance on the list. I.e., some global bans may be overridden by further permissions (e.g., banning all dwellings, then allowing 1 level dwellings will cause only level 1 dwellings to generate). This principle applies both on general template settings and on specifications for each zone.

General template rules:

Zones 1 and 4. Starting zones of red and blue players.

Zones 6 and 5. Neighboring zones, grass.

Zones 7 and 3. Neighboring zones, dirt.

Zone 2. Central treasure zone, lava.