In early November, the developers of fheroes2 introduced update 1.1.18. This project is positioned as a multiplatform remake of the classic Heroes of Might and Magic II.
The creators of fheroes2 reported that they improved the artificial intelligence in combat as well as on the adventure map: the AI will make better use of abilities and will be able to predict the future states of map objects. Player feedback influenced development — AI aggressiveness has been adjusted:
First and foremost, the AI has learned to use the special abilities of Vampire Lords and Ghosts more skillfully in combat, as well as avoid casting the “Berserk” spell where it would be useless. AI-controlled heroes are now able to predict the future states of more map objects — all without cheating. At the same time, based on player feedback, we toned down the AI’s “aggressiveness” on lower difficulty levels so that those who prefer a relaxed pace can enjoy the game. We also removed most of the advantages previously granted to the AI on higher difficulty levels.
In addition, the creators of fheroes2 announced that it is now possible to display health bars in battle. The visuals were also refined; for instance, a new icon and a marketplace counter with click-to-view help were added.
The map editor continues to be improved: support for multiline text editing in the editor’s on-screen keyboard has been added. According to the modders, this will be especially useful for those planning to “endow their creations with a deep plot.”
The “fheroes2” project is distributed free of charge, with the source code publicly available on GitHub — the full description of update 1.1.18 is available at the following link.