User:Csaros/Pumpkin Patch

Pumpkin Patch is a mod for Horn of the Abyss , intended to bring balance and QoL changes to the game. The changes are meant to be beautiful, balanced, bold, brilliant, benign and to sometimes benefit from a touch of buffoonery. One of the key drives for the design of the mod was increasing the variety of gampelay elements present when playing optimally. Naturally, as a result, game balance was one of the primary aims.

If you encounter an issue, please re-download the mod first (~60 MB) and re-install it. If the issue persists, contact me on the Talk page or on Discord.

Pumpkin Patch can be played using the online lobby. However, playing ranked games with it, for now, is not allowed by the HD lobby rules, and may result in bans or penalties. Starting from 1.4.3, an anti-cheat measure has been implemented, which ensures players can only play multiplayer using Pumpkin Patch if they have the same gameplay features enabled (but ignoring skins).

Current Version

Download Pumpkin Patch Installer

Alternative download link: Pumpkin Patch for HotA 1.7.3 on Mediafire.

The current version of the mod is 1.4.8d for HotA 1.7.3.

If the installer doesn't work for you, because Windows Defender sometimes blocks exe-type files, or because you're drive C:/ is system-only, or you get a crash that mentions the address "0x0E4E54" you can download an alternative version using mediafire or google drive.

If the Windows Defender keeps on registering a false positive, open the Windows Defender notification (don't "Dismiss" it), open "Protection History", press the most recent threat (make sure the "Affected items" is the Pumpkin Patch) and choose Actions -> Allow. It's also recommended to open the installer as admin in case of permission errors.

Changelog

The mod is subject to change and updates with further tuning of the balance changes are released regularly. If you have any suggestions as to balance or want to playtest the upcoming changes, feel free to message me on my Talk page or join the Pumpkin Patch Discord server.

Alternative Versions

Version 1.3.8 is available here.

Known Issues

Devil's and Arch Devil's skill, which reduces enemy Luck, doesn't decrease the chance of random skills applying. A solution to the issue is being investigated.

Installation

If you want to be able to quickly switch between Pumpkin Patch and regular HotA, it is recommended to create a copy of your heroes 3 folder.

To install the mod, simply open the installer. The mod should be able to tell whether you are using a Polish version or not, and update accordingly. It is recommended to manually uninstall the previous version, if you want the mod to make an automatic backup - otherwise, the automatic backup may be faulty.

If you're using the file labelled "Manual Install", place all files in your game directory. If you want to use the Polish version, you need to copy the files from the folder "Polish" into your game directory. It is recommended to install the mod only after uninstalling the old version.

To uninstall the mod, simply replace all files with the contents of the backup zip archive created by the mod, or use the uninstaller.

Main Features

• New Launcher, HexSwapper, which you can use to edit your game. Simply double-click it to open it.

• Balance tweaks, including spell balance
• Improvements to Inferno's demon farming strategy
• Quality of life
• New combination artifact: (  Armageddon's Blade)
• New heroes: Athe, Gwenneth, Winstan, Archibald, and Zenith.

List of changes

Core Gameplay

• See Gameplay Changes

Towns & Buildings

• See Town Changes

Creatures

• See Creature Changes

Heroes

• Gwenneth the Cleric (replaces Sanya on random maps, which can be disabled via Hex Swapper)
• Balindar the Wizard (replaces Thane on random maps, which can be disabled via via Hex Swapper)
• Athe the Heretic (replaces Olema on random maps, which can be disabled via via Hex Swapper)
• Zenith the Warlock (replaces Straker on random maps, which can be disabled via via Hex Swapper)
• Archibald the Warlock (replaces Jeddite on random maps, which can be disabled via via Hex Swapper)
• See Hero Changes

Secondary Skills

• Archery: Bonus Damage 10/25/50% → 20/35/50%
• Expert Ballistics: Shoots twice → shoots thrice
• Eagle Eye: Pre-combat learning chance 10/20/30% → 20/35/50%
• Expert First Aid: Bonus Health 15% → 20%
• Learning: Bonus Experience 20/40/60% → 10/20/30%
  • Specialty bonus per level 5% → 20%
• Navigation: Bonus Movement 50/100/150% → 50/75/100%

Spells

• See Spell Changes

Artifacts

• See Artifact Changes

Optional Features

• See Gameplay Options (via Hex Swapper)

Adventure Map

• See Adventure Map Changes

Miscellaneous

• Hex Swapper program
• New map object variants for different terrains
• Moats mention that they deal damage
• Updated hero restrictions in Battle of the Sexes and Battle of the Sexes (Allies)
• Added a remastered version of Long Live the Queen
• Death Ripple no longer affects unliving creatures
• Bloodlust is now considered a mind spell

New Portraits

• 
  Gwenneth
• 
  Winstan
• 
  Archibald Ironfist
• 
  Zenith
• 
  Kastore
• 
  King Nicholas Gryphonheart (Lich)
• 
  Resurectra

Gallery

• 
  New Gardens of Revelation
• 
  New Hill Forts
• 
  New Ivory Towers
• 
  New Pirate Caverns
• 
  New Ruins
• 
  New Trees of Knowledge

Thanks

• HotA Crew - for the incredible HotA mod, for including my ideas into your actual game, and for adding my beloved Murdoch to All In. I love your work. Please treat this mod as a sign of appreciation, a post on Ideas and Suggestions and as an application to the HotA Crew.
• The Wiki team - for this amazing website
• DoR team - for the incredible support of my project and the kind words! I can't wait for DoR release!
• void_17 – well done with the IDB, thanks for the help
• Aphra - you've done more than I could ever repay for
• Ponczek, krzyspasztecik12, guest_273 - for ideas and suggestions; look, I've incorporated a whole bunch of stuff you've asked me for!
• Melkor, Eldrin - for ideas and suggestions.

Credits

HotA - HotA Crew

HD MOD - baratorch

Pumpkin patch - CsArOs

Art - Aphra

See Also:

Visit the Pumpkin Patch Discord server

You can leave feedback via the feedback form.

A YouTube playlist with videos all about the Pumpkin Patch: YouTube - CsArOs