The 0.80.11 patch is a direct response to the community's early feedback regarding the game's competitive balance and technical foundation. For those of us tired of seeing the Diplomacy skill trivialize map progression, the developers at Unfrozen have finally stepped in with significant adjustments. The skill has been tuned to prevent players from snowballing too early by recruiting neutral stacks with little to no resistance.
Faction balance also sees a shift with the Hive receiving cost adjustments. These changes aim to prevent the faction from out-scaling opponents too quickly in the early game. Additionally, specific creature tweaks like the Crystal Iryiad's defense buff (moving from 8 to 10) and a cost increase for the Faun Warrior's ability show that the team is looking closely at individual unit performance in tactical combat.
Network Stability & Technical Fixes
Multiplayer has been a bit of a rollercoaster, but this update introduces several network stability improvements. The patch notes highlight better lobby entry and more robust client synchronization. If you've been struggling with mid-match desyncs or trouble reconnecting after a brief drop, this patch should make the experience significantly smoother.
Interestingly, the team is also testing experimental peripheral input support. While full controller functionality isn't quite here yet, the groundwork is being laid to make Heroes of Might & Magic: Olden Era playable on more than just a keyboard and mouse. It’s a small but welcome sign for players who prefer a more relaxed setup.
- Improved lobby reconnection and synchronization
- Diplomacy skill effectiveness adjusted
- Hive faction unit costs rebalanced
- Experimental controller support added
- Various creature stat fixes
Soren