This version of Duel will be made exclusively for Pumpkin Patch (developed by Csaros). Pumpkin Patch is an alternative to HotA's balance, it allows to change the game in ways that go beyond the limitations of Template Editor. When this project is ready, you will be able to select a separate 'Duel Overhaul' option, which will enable all the balance changes listed below. As for the template itself: Duel 2.9d will also include massive changes, pretty much everything that is banned now, will be unbanned. I'm very excited to work on this project. It felt like I hit the ceiling with the current Template Editor and HotA, so being able to make greater changes definitely brought back some of that passion I've had for Heroes 3.

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Feedback channel #mkc-templates: https://discord.gg/new2ATQ

This is a work-in-progress page, if you have any feedback let me know in the discord.

Highlighted in red color - Pumpkin default changes that need to be reverted.

Highlighted in orange color - changes that need to be specified or confirmed.

Default changes of Pumpkin Patch that are not mentioned here, will be applied as well.

Heroes.

❖ All Heroes start with +2 Scouting radius and +4 Knowledge.

❖ Reduced the bonus per level for Heroes with Logistics specialty from 5% to 2%.

❖ Reduced the bonus per level for Heroes with Armorer specialty from 5% to 2.5%.

❖ Reduced the bonus per level for Heroes with Offense specialty from 5% to 4%.

❖ Heroes with Scouting specialty: Scouting radius increases by 1 for every 9 levels (instead of every 6 levels).

Mechanics.

❖ Positive Luck and Morale can go up to +4.

❖ Refuse unwanted Secondary Skills. If you receive a level-up, and don't want to take either of the offered skills, simply accept the hero level-up window (by clicking the Accept button, Space or Enter) without choosing any of the options. Your hero will not receive any of the unwanted skills then.

Skills.

❖ Tactics gives +1 Speed to all units on Expert.

❖ Mysticism regenerates 30/50/70% of maximum spell points per day, with a minimum of 20/40/60 spell points regenerated per day.

❖ Pathfinding: reducing the cost of moving one tile by 25/60/85 (25/50/75) movement points to a minimum of 95/85/75 (instead of 95/90/85). Unlikely.

❖ Artillery: The Ballista damage bonus is increased from 200% to 200%/250%/300%, The Cannon damage bonus is increased to 200%/300%/400%.

❖ Estates increased from 250/500/1000 to 1000/2500/5000 gold per day. (If possible add +1 gems, sulfur, mercury, crystals on Basic, +2 on advanced, +3 on expert).

❖ Learning is unchanged 20/40/60%.

❖ Eagle Eye's chance of learning spells prior to combat increased to 20/35/50% (from 10/20/30%).

❖ Interference: magic classes can now learn Interference, with the exact odds as the ones they had for Resistance before. This means that Wizards, Artificers, Warlocks and Elementalists can't learn it. Witches can now learn Resistance and Interference (1/112 each).

Artifacts.

❖ Boots of Speed (+400 movement points) is now Relic Artifact.

❖ Equestrian's Gloves are now Major Artifact and bonus movement points reduced from 200 to 150.

❖ Pendant of Courage changed to +2 Luck / +2 Morale.

❖ Pendant of Downfall changed to -2 Luck / -2 Morale.

❖ Surcoat of Counterpoise is now Minor Artifact and it gives +5% Magic Resistance.

❖ Garniture of Interference now gives +10% Magic Resistance.

❖ Boots of Polarity is now Minor Artifact and it gives +5% Magic Resistance.

❖ Pendant of Reflection set effect reduced from 20% to 15%.

❖ Cape of Conjuring is now Minor Artifact and it gives +10 spell duration (was +3). OR Alternatively, if its possible make it +2 duration but it can increase duration of all spells, even those that are hard capped (like blind, slow, haste etc.).

❖ Cape of Silence now bans only LVL3 spells on the battlefield.

❖ Recanter's Cloak now bans only LVL4 spells on the battlefield.

❖ Cape of Velocity is now Minor Artifact and it gives +1 speed.

❖ Necklace of Swiftness is now Major Artifact and it gives +2 speed.

❖ Speculum is now Minor Artifact and gives +2 Scouting radius (was +1).

❖ Elixir of Life: living creatures now gain +12.5% Health (was 25%).

❖ Ring of the Magi is no longer a combination artifact. It's instead a re-designed Major class artifact, with a cost of 5000 gold, which reduces spell cost of all spells by 2 (similar to how Mage's special ability works).

❖ Armageddon's Blade is now a new combination artifact, comprised of Shield of the Damned, Sword of Hellfire, Breastplate of Brimstone and the Hellstorm Helmet.

❖ Titan's Thunder: The spell deals 60 * Spell Power damage. On top of that, equipping the set removes the negative effects of the components.

❖ Angelic Alliance now casts mass Basic Prayer instead of mass Expert Prayer for 5 rounds (was 10 rounds) at the start of combat. Other changes reverted.

❖ Cloak of the Undead King resurrects Skeletons, Walking Dead and Wraiths (upg. units) instead of Walking Dead, Wights and Liches.

❖ Charm of Mana, Talisman of Mana and Mystic Orb of Mana replenish 3/5/7 mana points per day extra (instead of 1/2/3 mana). Cost changed to 750/1250/1750.

❖ Pendant of Negativity now also protects from the Titan's Lightning Bolt.

❖ Power of the Dragon Father: Grants complete magic immunity.

❖ Ring of Life is now a Minor class artifact, +2 HP to all units, cost 10000.

❖ Vial of Lifeblood is now a Major class artifact, +3 HP to all living units, cost 15000.

❖ Statue of Legion's set pieces increase growth by 6/5/4/3/2 . Cost to 4000/6000/8000/10000/12000, class to treasure/minor/Major/Major/Relic.

❖ Dead Man's Boots are a Minor class artifact now.

Spells.

4 numbers are : no skill / basic / advanced / expert.

LVL1.

❖ Slow duration reduced to 1 round maximum, mana cost changed to 5/5/5/12.

❖ Haste duration reduced to 1 round maximum, mana cost changed to 5/5/5/9.

❖ Bless mana cost changed to 5/5/5/10.

❖ Curse mana cost changed to 4/4/4/7.

❖ Cure no longer becomes mass spell on Expert, instead it buffs max HP by 10%. Base healing increased to 20/30/40/50 (from 10/10/20/30). No longer removes Hypnosis.

❖ Bloodlust grants +4/+6/+8/+8 Attack.

❖ Shield mana cost changed to 4/4/4/10.

❖ Visions is now a level 1 spell.

❖ View air now displays the location of all Heroes without Air Magic learned, mana cost changed to 15/5/2/1.

❖ Counterstrike (now LVL1 spell), mana cost changed to 5/5/5/9.

LVL2.

❖ Disrupting Ray mana cost changed to 8/6/6/6.

❖ Disguise mana cost changed to 3/2/2/2 mana.

❖ Precision grants +6/+9/+12/+12 ranged Attack, mana cost changed to 3/3/3/4.

❖ Protection from Earth (now LVL2 spell), mana cost changed to 7/5/5/5.

❖ Earthquake (now LVL2 spell), mana cost changed to 8/8/11/14.

❖ Quicksand pits are placed in 4/6/8/10 random hexes, mana cost changed to 5/6/7/8.

❖ Death Ripple bonus damage - 10/30/60/120.

❖ Remove Obstacle now belongs to all magic schools.

❖ Weakness mana cost changed to 6/4/4/4, reduces attack by 6/8/10/10.

❖ Fortune and Misfortune (now LVL2 spells) changes luck by 1/2/3/3, mana cost changed to 2/2/2/3 (for both spells).

❖ Mirth and Sorrow (now LVL2 spells) changes morale by 1/2/3/3, mana cost changed to 2/2/2/3 (for both spells).

❖ Protection from Water (now LVL2 spell) changed to Protection from Mind Spells (Water Magic). Basic 50% chance to resist Mind Spells on 1 target / Advanced 75% chance to resist Mind Spells on 1 target / Expert 100% chance to resist Mind Spells on 1 target. (Can be cast on both allied and enemy units - if it's not hard to implement). Mana cost 7/5/5/5. Duration: 1 rnd/SP.

LVL3.

❖ Destroy Undead bonus damage - 15/45/90/180, mana cost changed to 14/11/11/11.

❖ Hypnotize bonus health changed to 50/100/200/400, mana cost changed to 12/12/14/16. Duration is SP/3 + 1.

❖ Anti-Magic duration is capped at 2 rounds.

❖ Animate Dead mana cost changed to 18/15/15/15.

❖ Blind (now LVL3 spell) duration is capped at 1/2/3/4 rounds, mana cost changed to 8/10/12/14.

❖ Fireball SP scaling changed to 25.

❖ Land Mine SP scaling changed to 15, bonus damage - 45/90/180/360, mana cost changed to 9/10/11/12. Number of mines placed - 6/7/8/10.

❖ Frost Ring bonus damage - 15/45/90/180.

❖ Forgetfulness duration reduced to 2 rounds maximum, mana cost changed to 7/7/9/12.

❖ Slayer (now LVL3 spell), affects all T7 creatures at any proficiency level. Attack increase changed to 8/11/14/17, mana cost changed to 9/6/6/6.

LVL4.

❖ Chain Lightning SP scaling changed to 30, bonus damage - 50/100/200/400.

❖ Resurrection no longer restores creatures permanently, SP scaling changed to 40, mana cost changed to 22/18/18/18.

❖ Armageddon SP scaling changed to 30, bonus damage - 30/60/120/240, mana cost changed to 26/26/28/30.

❖ Berserk duration changed to 1 attack or 2 turns.

❖ Fire Shield becomes mass spell on Expert, mana cost changed to 10/10/10/20.

❖ Inferno SP scaling changed to 20, mana cost changed to 15/11/11/11.

❖ Prayer duration is SP/4 + 1, mana cost changed to 7/7/7/14.

LVL5.

❖ Magic Mirror has a 45/45/60/75% chance to reflect an incoming spell, mana cost changed to 9/9/12/15. Single target only.

❖ Summon Air Elemental mana cost changed to 15/15/18/21.

❖ Summon Earth Elemental mana cost changed to 24/24/27/30.

❖ Summon Water Elemental SP scaling changed to 2/2/2.5/3, mana cost changed to 18/18/21/24.

❖ Summon Fire Elemental mana cost changed to 22/22/25/28.

❖ Titan's Lightning Bolt in addition to flat 600 damage it deals 60 x Spellpower damage.

❖ Implosion SP scaling changed to 50, bonus damage - 100/200/400/800, mana cost changed to 30/30/33/40.

Control.

❖ Fly now costs 16/12/12/12 mana. Dimension Door and Town Portal cost unchanged.

❖ Town Portal, Dimension Door and Fly now belong to all magic schools. AI value increased to 30/30/150/150.

❖ Dimension Door on Expert this spell can be used 2 times per turn maximum.

Units.

❖ Zealots can cast Bless, up to 3 times per combat, for 6 rounds each (keep the "no melee penalty").

❖ Master Genies can cast all positive spells, including Clone and Resurrection on their allies. Master Genies can no longer cast Anti-Magic.

❖ Arch Magi special ability now reduces the mana cost of spells in combat by 3.

❖ Orc and Orc Chieftain now have no melee penalty.

❖ Archangel's Resurrection ability nerfed to 75HP per Archangel. Resurrected units stay permanently.

❖ The price of Air Elementals has been increased to 350 Gold, while Water Elementals and Fire Elementals to 300 Gold. Upgrading any of these Elementals costs 50 Gold per unit. Earth Elementals cost unchanged.

❖ Earth Elementals and Magma Elementals are susceptible to Implosion.

❖ Pit Lord's Demon farming effectiveness reduced in half.

❖ Archangel's speed reduced to 17 (by 1).

❖ Genie cost reduced to 500 (by 50).

❖ Lizardman and Lizard Warrior have their Attack and Defense skills swapped.

❖ Power Lich cost was increased to 650 gold Gold (by 50).

❖ Air Elementals and Storm Elementals are susceptible to Meteor Shower and Implosion, but immune to Lightning Bolt, Chain Lightning, Titan's Lightning Bolt.

❖ Earth Elementals and Magma Elementals are susceptible to Lightning Bolt, Chain Lightning, Titan's Lightning Bolt, but immune to Meteor Shower and Implosion.

❖ Fire Elementals can fly.

❖ Phoenix's speed reduced to 19 (by 2).

❖ Horned Demons now have a new ability: "Jousting Bonus (50%)". Their HP has been reduced to 35, and the cost has been increased to 350.

❖ Imp growth increased to 18 (by 3), horde growth to 9 (by 1). Price reduced by 10.

Various.

Note to self: add nerfs to mana boosting buildings and objects, so that mana hungry spells actually feel expensive and mana management + choice of spells to cast matters a lot more.

❖ Necropolis can learn Cure now (5%).  Bloodlust chance reduced (to 0%).

❖ Bloodlust: It is now considered a Mind spell. Ogre magi’s bloodlust counts as a level 1 spell.

❖ Frederick start with standard army.

❖ Ballista: Damage reduced to 1-3.

Buildings.

Castle.

❖ Griffin Tower. New requirements: Guardhouse.

❖ Monastery. Cost changed to: 3000g, 5 wood, 5 ore. New requirements: Archer's Tower, Mage Guild LVL1.

❖ Upg. Monastery. Cost changed to: 1000g, 1 mercury, 1 sulfur, 1 crystal, 1 gems.

❖ Stables. Cost changed to: 6000g, 15 wood, 5 ore. New requirements: None. When visited gives a bonus of +200 movement points (lowered from 300).

❖ Training Grounds. Cost changed to: 4000g, 10 wood, 5 ore. New requirements: Blacksmith, Barracks.

❖ Upg. Training Grounds. Cost changed to: 2000g, 10 wood.

❖ Portal of Glory. Cost changed to: 25000g, 12 mercury, 12 sulfur, 12 crystal, 12 gems. Requirements: Griffin Tower, Griffin Bastion, Mage Guild LVL1, Monastery.

Rampart.

❖ Dendroid Saplings. Cost changed to: 1000g.

❖ Enchanted Spring. Cost changed to: 2000g, 5 ore, 5 crystal.

❖ Unicorn Glade. Cost changed to: 3500g, 5 wood, 5 gems. New requirements: Homestead, Enchanted Spring.

❖ Upg. Unicorn Glade. Cost changed to: 3000g, 5 ore, 5 gems.

Tower.

❖ Mage Tower. Cost changed to: 2000g, 5 wood, 5 ore. New requirements: Workshop.

❖ Upg. Mage Tower. Cost changed to: 1500g, 5 ore, 2 mercury, 2 sulfur, 2 crystal, 2 gems. New requirements: Mage Guild LVL1.

❖ Altar of Wishes. Cost changed to: 2500g, 5 wood, 5 ore, 4 crystal, 4 gems.

❖ Upg. Altar of Wishes. Cost changed to: 2000g, 5 wood, 2 crystal, 2 gems.

❖ Golden Pavilion. Cost changed to: 3000g, 5 wood, 5 ore, 1 mercury, 1 sulfur, 1 crystal, 1 gems.

❖ Upg. Golden Pavilion. Cost changed to: 4000g, 3 wood, 3 ore, 3 mercury, 3 sulfur, 3 crystal, 3 gems.

❖ Cloud Temple. Cost changed to: 7000g, 10 wood, 10 ore, 15 gems.

Inferno.

❖ Castle Gate. Cost changed to 2500 gold, 5 wood, 5 ore. New requirements: None.

❖ Brimstone Stormclouds now give +6 spell power during sieges, instead of +2.

❖ Cages. Increases weekly Hell Hound / Cerberus production by 6, instead of 3.

❖ Kennels. Cost changed to 1500 gold, 7 wood.

❖ Upg. Kennels. Cost changed to 1500 gold, 2 sulfur.

Necropolis.

❖ Necromancy Amplifier. Cost changed to 3000g, 5 wood, 5 ore.

Dungeon.

❖ Mana Vortex. Cost changed to: 1000g, 5 mercury, 5 sulfur, 5 crystal, 5 gems. Increases mana points by 50% instead of 100%.

❖ Portal of Summoning. Cost changed to: 4000g, 5 ore, 1 mercury, 1 sulfur, 1 crystal, 1 gems.

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❖ Ogre Fort cost reduced to 15 wood Wood (instead of 20 wood Wood)

❖ Gorgon Lair cost increased by 500 gold Gold

❖ Upg. Gorgon Lair cost increased to 5 wood, 10 ore and 4500 gold Gold