Map Editor is an official tool, used to create custom maps. It can be found in the game folder as "h3maped.exe" () and "h3hota_maped.exe" ().

Map versions

Each expansion updated the map editor, adding new Adventure map objects and features; as a result, only maps with the same or older version than the one usWed by the editor itself can be created or altered.

All changes made to a map using a more updated map editor than the one the map was originally made with will automatically update the map to the newer version.

The Hota Map Editor is the most recently updated version of the editor.^???

Tools and options

Zoom in and Zoom out are available in the View category on the Toolbar
Undo and Redo (found in Edit -> , accessible through Ctrl + Z and Ctrl + Y respectively) can be used on any and all changes to the map.
Cut, Copy, Paste and Delete (found in Edit) can be used on a single object at a time. They cannot be used on Basic Terrain, Roads, or Rivers. These four tools can be activated using standard Windows keys, namely Ctrl + X, Ctrl + C, Ctrl + V and Delete.
The Find tool (Edit -> Find) can be used to find all objects of a specified object type on the map. It can be activated using Ctrl+F. The subsequent objects of the same type can be found by pressing F3. In HotA , the search tool can be used to find Border Gates, Keymaster's Tents and Monoliths of a specified color ( ).
All custom text in a map, including all timed events, Hero names, Hero backstories, Pandora's Boxes and Events messages, Artifact and Monster messages, etc. can be exported into a map_name.txt file, where map_name is the name of the map. The text can be then edited in any text editor, f.e. Notepad. As long as the placement of line breaks between custom texts and custom text descriptions are unaltered, this file can then be imported back into the map, replacing all custom text.
View -> Underground (Ctrl+ U) can be used to switch between the surface and the underground of the map, provided the map has an underground layer.
View -> Grid (Ctrl + G) can be used to view the grid separating each tile.
View -> Passability (Ctrl + P) can be used to view the possibility of different objects and visit cells. This can allow the mapmaker to see which tiles are accessible from where, whether a monster guards access to an object, etc. Passability shows three tile colors:

* Red: These tiles are not passable (f.e. because they contain an obstacle or a part of an object).

* Yellow: These tiles are a part of objects and may be visited. Usually, they should be accessible. If they are surrounded by impassable tiles, they will be unreachable to heroes.

* Not-colour: These tiles are passable, but not interactable.

View -> Object animation (Ctrl + A) can be used to switch on or off the animation of all objects on the currently edited map. It is advised to turn off the animation when using slower devices.
View -> Terrain animation (Ctrl + T) can be used to switch on or off the animation of the terrain, particularly the water, on the currently edited map. It is advised to turn off the animation when using slower devices.
View -> Toolbar, Mode Bar and Status Bar can be used to switch the side bars on or off.
Player -> No player and Player -> Player (number) (color) can be used to assign newly placed Towns, Mines, Creature Generators and Heroes to the currently chosen player. If the "No player" option is chosen, no Heroes can be placed on the map, and all new Towns, Mines and Creature Generators are assigned to be neutral.
Tools -> Erase can be used to remove all objects except Basic Terrain. The size of the brush is customizable - 1x1, 2x2, 4x4 or Area Brush. These Eraser brushes are available by pressing Shift + Z, Shift + X, Shift + C and Shift + V respectively.
Tools -> Validate Map (or pressing M ) can be used to find errors or issues in the map. Note that maps may work without fixing some of the issues. Possible issues include, among others, lack of players, inaccessible visitable cells, lack of customization in the Map Specifications (particularly the title, description and the players), presence of Border Guards without their appropriate [[Keymaster's Tent]s and vice versa, presence of unconnected Monoliths, Portals or Subterranean Gates and presence of Subterranean Gates without the underground layer. Note that some issues will not be pointed by this tool, for example presence of Airships on Water, not next to shore (where they cannot be accessed).

You can browse the objects from a chosen category on the right, using the slider (changed for the mouse scroll in HotA ). You can move the map using arrow keys, mouse scroll or by pressing the middle mouse button and moving the cursor towards the desired part of the map.

Terrain

Terrain can be placed using the Terrain Tool. The size of the brush is customizable - 1x1, 2x2, 4x4 or Area Brush (accessible on the Tool Bar, in Tools ->, as well as once "Z", "X", "C" or "V" are pressed , respectively), where the latter can be used to drag over a chosen area to cover it with the chosen terrain. Placing different types of terrain next to each other, particularly when using Rock or Water, causes the Map Editor to automatically adjust the shape of the terrain to best match the covered tiles. The Map Editor will try to minimize small pools of Water and Rock and connect nearby patches of a similar terrain. Note, that tiles that are half-land and half-water count as water tiles, and tiles that are half-land half-rock count as rock tiles (and half-water half-rock still counts as rock).

In the HotA Map Editor , Terrains can be chosen by pressing the following keys:
1: Dirt,
2: Sand,
3: Grass,
4: Snow,
5: Swamp,
6: Rough,
7: Subterranean,
8: Lava,
9: Highland,
0: Wasteland,
-: Water,
=: Rock.

Note that for heroes on land, Water cells count as impassable (blocked) cells and vice versa. Rock is always impassable, and additionally, no objects may be placed on Rock (even if only one cell of an object lies on the Rock, the Map Editor will reject and revert that placement).

Rivers

Rivers can be placed using the River Tool. There are 4 types of rivers available:

Clear rivers (Alt + 1 )
Icy rivers (Alt + 2 )
Muddy rivers (Alt + 3 )
Lava rivers (Alt + 4 )

A special eraser for rivers is available under the same part of the toolbar (Alt + 5).

Rivers may not be placed on Rock or Water terrain.

Roads

Roads can be placed using the Road Tool. There are 3 types of roads available:

Dirt roads (Shift + 1 )
Gravel roads (Shift + 2 )
Cobblestone roads (Shift + 3 )

Roads have a special eraser, available under the same part of the toolbar (Shift + 4).

Roads may not be placed on Rock or Water terrain.

Obstacles

Random, terrain-fitting obstacles can be placed on the map in a brushed area by using the Obstacle Tool. The obstacle brush can be "solid" (obstacles appear only and exactly on all passable and impassable tiles on which the solid brush was placed) or "fuzzy" (obstacles appear on all passable and impassable tiles of the solid part of the fuzzy brush, and may appear on random non-solid tiles on which the fuzzy brush was placed). The size of the brush is customizable (1x1, 2x2, 4x4, Area) and is accessible through Tools -> Obstacles or by pressing Shift + Q, Shift + W, Shift + E and Shift + R for the Solid Brush (respectively for each size) and Shift + Alt + Q, Shift + Alt + W, Shift + Alt + E, Shift + Alt + R for the fuzzy brush (again, respectively for each size).

Obstacle tool has its own Eraser that can be used to clear the solid or fuzzy brush. The "solid eraser" removes both the solid and the fuzzy brush, while the "fuzzy eraser" removes the solid and the fuzzy brush and replaces all tiles marked with either obstacle brush surrounding the cleared tiles with a fuzzy obstacle tool brush. The obstacle erasers are accessible through Tools -> Obstacles, as well as by pressing Shift + A, Shift + S, Shift + D and Shift + F for the solid eraser (respectively for each size) or Shift + Alt + A, Shift + Alt + S, Shift + Alt + D and Shift + Alt + F for the fuzzy eraser (again, respectively for each size).

Once the desired area is brushed with either fuzzy or solid brush strokes, the mapmaker may use the Place Obstacles tool (Shift + O) to fill the brushed area with random, terrain-fitting obstacles.

Objects

Objects appropriate for each Terrain can be found in Tools -> Objects, or by pressing pressing a key from Q to ] , depending on the placement of the Object Terrain type on the toolbar:
Q: Dirt objects,
W: Sand objects,
E: Grass objects,
R: Snow objects,
T: Swamp objects,
Y: Rough objects,
U: Subterranean objects,
I: Lava objects,
O: Highland objects,
P: Wasteland objects,
[: Water objects,
]: Miscellaneous decorations,
A: Miscellaneous active objects.

Note, that without Hota, the order ignores the Highland and Wasteland objects, as well as Miscellaneous decorations and active objects, instead placing "All-Terrain Objects" at the end .

Pressing right-click on an object shows its description and default effect.

With HotA , the objects can be scrolled through on the right side of the Map Editor's interface, by using the mouse scroll.

Opening an object on the wiki will show 4 types of cells on it or around it:

Red cells: These cells are part of the object and are not passable. Heroes cannot move onto them.
Yellow cells: These cells are part of the object and may be visited. If there is more than one yellow cell in an object (f.e. Magic Spring), usually, a hero can move from one of the yellow cells to another. ^???
Arrowed cells: These cells show where a hero must stand to visit this object, and which cell they can enter.
Empty cells: These cells are neither a part of the object, nor can the object be visited from them.

Object Properties

Object Properties can be accessed by pressing Enter once an object was chosen or clicking on an object with the left mouse button twice (double-clicking). The object properties can be used to modify the object. If an object or some of its properties remain unaltered, the object will have either the default property or a randomly chosen one, depending on the object. Randomly chosen properties will change every time the scenario is start (or restarted).

All-Terrain Objects

This category of objects includes all Creature Dwellings, non-terrain specific Adventure map locations, Random Creature generators, Creature Banks, Monoliths, Garrisons, Border Guards and Gates, Quest Guards and Gates, Magical Terrains, and Events.

In HotA , the All-Terrain objects are divided into 5 categories: "Miscellaneous active objects" (A), "Creature Generators" (J), "Teleporters" (K), "Garrisons, Border Guards and Tents" (L), as well as "Magical Terrain" (;).

Note that many all-terrain objects have their terrain-specific counterparts in Terrain Object sections.

List of All-Terrain Objects and their properties

Decorations

Each Terrain has a number of decorations, usually of the same size for each terrain, including mountain ranges, forests, as well as singular tress or rocks. In HotA , All-Terrain decorations are available under the "Miscellaneous decorations". These include bridges, fences, walls, pillars, river deltas, waterfalls, fire, burnt structures, as well as crates, sacks and various animals.

Signs and Ocean Bottles

Signs, when visited, display a customized message. No message appears as default.^???

Usually, instead of Signs, Ocean Bottles are used on Water. They display a custom message as well (no message as default), but disappear once opened. The AI is unable to interact with the Ocean Bottles. As a result, they can be used to block an area from the AI. Note that Signs may be placed on Water and Ocean bottles may be placed on land.

Creature Banks

In HotA , all Creature Banks can be customized in regards to guard size and the reward obtained, including customization of the randomly obtained artifacts (and artifacts banned in the Map Specifications may be selected).

List of Creature Banks

All terrains:

Dirt, Sand, Grass, Snow and Swamp only:

Crypt

Sand and Snow only:

Ivory Tower

Swamp only:

Spit

Rough only:

Pirate Cavern

Highlands only:

Ruins

Water only:

Witch Huts

Witch Huts can be customized to give a chosen skill, or a random skill out of a chosen pool. If a skill offered by the Witch Hut is unavailable on the map (see: Map Specifications, the Witch Hut will instead display a message regarding its abandonment by the previous tenant, the witch.

Black Markets

In Hota , the Black Market can be customized to offer specific artifacts on the first month.^???

Warrior's Tombs

In HotA , Warrior's Tombs random artifact can be customized.

Universities

In HotA , Universities can be customized. The allowed skill can be chosen. By default, Resistance and Necromancy are unmarked and do not contribute to the random skill pool.

Prisons and Hero Camps

Prison and Hero camps can be customized to contain a specific hero. If either of these two objects is not customized, the hero will be randomly chosen when the object is placed on the map, and not when the scenario is started or restarted. This is in contrast to all other objects. Heroes in Prisons and Hero camps can be customized just like any other Hero. See: Hero Properties.

Trees of Knowledge

In HotA , the Trees of Knowledge price can be customized.

Campfires

In HotA , campfires are available in the "Resources" section and may be customized to provide a chosen amount of gold and chosen amount of a single resource. Campfires have to provide at least 1 gold and at least 1 of any other resource than gold.

Additional campfires with different graphics appear as a Sand, Snow, Subterranean and Lava objects.

Shrines of Magic

Shrines of Magic include the Shrine of Magic Incantation, the Shrine of Magic Gesture, the Shrine of Magic Thought and the Shrine of Magic Mystery, for spells of levels 1 to 4 respectively. By default they teach a randomly chosen available spell; when customized, they instead teach a chosen spell, including those banned by the Map Specifications.

Abandoned Mines

Abandoned Mines are always unassigned to any player at the start of a map. The resource they provide, once their guards are defeated, is randomly chosen from a list (which, by default, includes all resources except for wood). The list of possible resources obtained from an Abandoned Mine can be customized. At least one resource must be selected.

In HotA , Abandoned Mine's guards may be customized. Unlike all other monster, army or guard customizations, only one unit type is allowed and their number range may be selected manually. The resulting army will be of random size from the selected range.

Flaggable structures

Flaggable structures are adventure map objects that can be owned by a player (or be unaligned), but cannot be customized. Instead, their Properties can be altered to assign them to a chosen player or unassign their ownership.

List of flaggable structures

Mines

Mines with different graphics appear as objects for each Terrain.

Shipyards

Shipyards may not be placed on Water, Rock or in-land. They may be only placed on shore. Correct placement of a Shipyard is such that at least one of the tiles neighbouring it (including diagonals) is a Water tile. Once again, note, that tiles that are half-land and half-water count as water tiles.

Random Creature Generator

Random Creature Generators can belong to a specified or a non-specified level. Specified level creature generators will choose a random town and replace the creature generator with the one of appropriate level of the same town, when the scenario is started or restarted. Neutral town may not be chosen, therefore a random creature generator can never be a dwelling of Neutral creatures, with the exception of the Golem Factory. If a town has more than 1 dwelling of a specific level (this only applies to Rampart with two different version of the Unicorn Glade and Factory and their two level 7 units (Dreadnoughts available in the Gantry and the Couatls available in the Serpentarium as well as their two level 1 creature generators, Halfling Adobe and the Thatched Hut), a random dwelling out of the available ones from that town will be chosen.

Non-specified level creature generators work the same way, except a random creature level is chosen from the available pool. The minimum and maximum level can be chosen by checking the object properties.

All types of random creature generators can be assigned to be of a random alignment out of a chosen pool, or to be the same as a chosen Town on the map. Choosing random alignment on a map without some of the Towns available causes the map to randomly choose between the random alignments allowed and all new, non-banned alignments available in the played version of the game. As a result, choosing random alignment to be one of "Castle" in the Shadow of Death mapmaker will cause the dwelling to be assigned, randomly, to either Castle, Cove or Factory, provided the map is generated or restarted in Horn of the Abyss.^???

Random Creature Generators, unless their level range is restricted, are often frowned upon.

Subterranean Gate, Monolith and Whirlpool

Subterranean Gates always connect in pairs. If the number of underground gates on the map is odd, the lonely, unlinked gate will display a message describing how the gate is blocked with rubble. The underground gates connect to the nearest, in coordinates, gate on the other side of the map. Coordinates to the left and top of the map are always prioritized when the connection is established. ^???

Two-way monoliths always connect to all other two-way monoliths of the same color on the map. One way entrance monoliths connect to all one way exit monoliths on the map of the same color (a random exit will be chosen whenever a hero enters the entrance).

Whirlpools work the same way as Water Two-Way Monoliths , except a player using it loses half the creatures in the stack with the lowest number of hit points in his army.

Whirlpools and Water Monoliths may not be placed on land and vice-versa.

Garrisons

Garrisons's army can be customized. Its ownership may be assigned to a chosen player. The "Troops are removable" option allows any player who controls the garrison to remove creatures from the garrison; it does not forbid placement of creatures in the Garrison. As a result, assigned garrisons with "troops are removable" set to true can serve as a reinforcement for the owner or an outpost; meanwhile neutral garrisons with "troops are removable", can, once defeated, serve as an outpost for any Hero's units.

Two Garrison types are available: standard Garrisons and Anti-Magic Garrisons. The latter block access to all spells during combat.

Garrisons can also be horizontal or vertical. This only changes their placement on the map.

Quest Guard, Quest Gate, and Seer's Hut

Quests

Quest Guards and Quest Gates can be customized to require a completion of one quest.

List of available Quests

None (the first hero to approach it fulfills the condition)
Achieve experience level,
Achieve primary skill level, (4 values, one for each primary skill)
Defeat a specific hero (the hero has to already be placed somewhere on the map, in Prison or in a Hero Camp {{-wh)). Only the first time the hero is defeated is required),
Defeat a specific monster (the specific monster refers to a Wandering Monster on a specified map coordinate. The monster has to already be placed somewhere on the map),
Return with artifact(s) (the artifacts don't have to be available on the map at all),
Return with creature(s) (the creatures don't have to be available on the map at all),
Return with resources (they don't have to be available at all),
Be a specific hero (the hero doesn't have to be available on the map at all),
Belong to a specific player (the player doesn't have to be available on the map at all).

Seer's Huts quests have the same properties as Quest Guard passage requirements.

Quests can be customized to have a deadline. If a player approaches a Quest Guard, a Quest Gate, or a Seer's Hut after the deadline, their quest will be unavailable and the player will never be allowed to complete it.^???

In HotA , Seer's Huts can offer more than one quest. The quests can be ordered, and the Seer's Hut will only offer one quest at a time, starting from the top of the list. Once all one-time quests have been fulfilled, the Seer's Hut will offer the multiple quests, one by one, starting from the top of the list. Once all multiple quests have been fulfilled, the Seer's Hut will offer all multiple quests, starting from the top of the list, again. This way, fulfillment of some quests higher up the list can be a requirement to fulfill quests lower in the list. As a result, quests with multiple rewards or requirements, divided into subsequent quests, can be created.

If a quest's deadline expires, it cannot be completed, and neither can any quest further down the list in a Seer's Hut.

Rewards

Seer's Huts can offer only one reward for each quest.

List of available Rewards

None (this can be useful to create quests with multiple requirements ),
Experience,
Spell points,
Morale,
Luck,
Resource
Primary Skill,
Secondary Skill,
Artifact (Including those banned in the Map Specifications),
Spell (Including those banned in the Map Specifications),
Creatures.

Uneditable all-terrain objects

Some objects may not be edited in any way.

List of uneditable objects for all terrains

Airship (Note: While Airships may be placed on water, unless they are on the shore, they will be inaccessible),
Town Gate ,
Tavern,
Sanctuary,
War Machine Factory,
Cannon Yard ,
Refugee Camp,
Arena,
Colosseum of the Magi ,
Mercenary Camp,
Marletto Tower,
Star Axis,
Garden of Revelation,
School of Magic,
School of War,
Library of Enlightenment,
Altar of Sacrifice,
Idol of Fortune,
Rally Flag,
Temple,
Temple of Loyalty ,
Magic Well,
Windmill,
Warehouse of Wood ,
Warehouse of Mercury ,
Warehouse of Ore ,
Warehouse of Sulfur ,
Warehouse of Crystal ,
Warehouse of Gems ,
Warehouse of Gold ,
Freelancer's Guild,
Den of Thieves,
Redwood Observatory,
Cover of Darkness,
Hut of the Magi,
Eye of the Magi,
Cartographer (Surface),
Border Guard,
Keymaster's Tent.

River Delta

River deltas are purely decorational, non-interactable objects. There are 4 river delta types (clear, icy, muddy, lava) in 4 directions. Different river deltas may be found in Terrain objects, f.e. clear and muddy river deltas in "Dirt Objects".

Obelisks

Each terrain has its own Obelisk model, with a different color.

Terrain objects

Despite their name and placement on the Toolbar, Terrain objects can be placed on any Terrain, except for Rock (where no object may be placed) and Water (where only some of the objects may not be placed, notably Towns, Heroes (changed in HotA , where Heroes appear in Ships if placed on water) and Shipyards). Some (but not all) Water objects may be placed on land.

List of Sand objects

Skeleton

The Skeleton is accessible in Sand and Rough objects. In HotA , Skeletons can be customized to either provide Nothing, a random chance for a random available artifact (default) or a specified artifact, including those banned in the Map Specifications.

Pyramid

Pyramids are accessible as a Sand object. In HotA , they can be customized to grant a specified 5th level spell (including those banned in the Map Specifications) as a reward.

List of Snow objects

Lean To

The Lean To is only accessible as a Snow object. In HotA , it can be customized to grant a specific amount of a chosen resource (at least 1 of any resource).

List of Rough objects

Skeleton

The Skeleton is accessible in Sand and Rough objects. In HotA , Skeletons can be customized to either provide Nothing, a random chance for a random available artifact (default) or a specified artifact, including those banned in the Map Specifications.

Wagon

The Wagon is only accessible as a Rough object. In HotA , the Wagon can be customized to either provide a random reward (default), a chosen artifact (including those banned in the Map Specifications), a customized amount of a chosen resource, or nothing.

List of Wasteland objects

Grave

By default, Graves provide a random amount between 500 and 5000 gold, and a random available treasure or minor artifact. They can be customized to instead provide a chosen amount of gold (at least 1) and a chosen treasure or minor artifact (including those banned in the Map Specifications).

List of Water objects

Seafaring Academy

By default, Seafaring Academy will teach Navigation and 2 random available skills. It can be customized to instead teach Navigation and two other, chosen skills. Note, that Seafaring Academy will always teach Navigation as one of its skills.

Flotsam, Jetsam and Sea Chests

By default, Flotsam and Jetsam provide randomly either nothing, 5 Wood, 5 Wood and 200 Gold or 5 Wood and 500 gold. The reward is identical for Jetsam, except Wood is replaced for Ore. Sea Chests, by default, provide Nothing (20%), 1500 gold (70%) or 1000 gold and a random available treasure artifact.

However, unlike majority of other resource-providing objects in the mapmaker, neither of these objects can be customized to provide a chosen amount of the chosen resources. Instead, the mapmaker can only choose one of the resource gains (that can randomly occur). Sea Chests can only give artifacts if "1000 gold and Treasure artifact" option is chosen; then, the mapmaker may choose any artifact, including those banned by the Map Specifications.

Sea Barrel

By default, Sea Barrels have a 20% chance of providing nothing, and an 80% chance of providing 3-6 of a random rare resource. They can be customized to provide a chosen amount of a chosen rare resource (Mercury, Sulfur, Crystal or Gems) or to provide nothing.

Shipwreck Survivor

Shipwreck Survivor's reward (random available artifact by default) may be customized for any artifact, including those banned in the Map Specifications.

Vial of Mana

The Vial of Mana provides a random amount of Spell Points, between 30 and 60. It can be customized to provide a chosen exact number of spell points (but only either exactly 30, 40, 50 or 60).

Uneditable Terrain objects

Some terrain-specific objects may not be edited in any way.

List of Uneditable Terrain objects

Dirt and Grass:

Swan Pond,
Stables.

Dirt, Grass and Snow:

Water Wheel.

Dirt, Grass and Swamp:

Dirt, Grass, Swamp, Water ( ):

Fountain of Youth.

Dirt, Grass, Swamp, Highlands :

Faerie Ring.

Dirt, Grass, Swamp, Highlands , Wasteland :

Hill Fort.

Dirt, Grass, Rough, Highlands :

Trading Post.

Dirt, Subterranean:

Skeleton Transformer .

Sand:

Oasis - Sand.

Snow and Wasteland :

Warlock's Lab .

Rough:

Subterranean:

Cartographer (Underground)

Highlands :

Wasteland :

Water:

Boat - This object may only be placed on Water,
Whirlpool - This object may only be placed on Water as well,
Sirens,
Mermaids,
Buoy,
Observatory ,
Altar of Mana ,
Observation Tower ,
Cartographer (Sea) ,
Favorable Winds.

Towns

Towns are accessible in Tools -> Objects -> Towns, and on the Toolbar, as well as by pressing S . Each of the standard Towns is available, as well as a Random Town.

Town Properties

List of Town Properties

Towns can be customized in the following ways:

General:

* Player: This denotes the owner of the town.

* Name: The name of the town. By default, a random name is chosen.

* Visiting Hero: A Hero may be added here. They will stand in the gate of the castle once the map is generated. The hero can be customized just like any other hero (including Patrol). (See: Map Editor#Heroes). This option is only available if the town has an owner. Note, that if the player already has 8 heroes, an attempt to transfer a town with a hero in garrison to his ownership will be met with a warning message.

Garrison: An army standing in the Garrison can be added. By default, no creatures appear in the garrison.

* Formation: The Garrison army's formation (spread or grouped) can be set.

Buildings: By default, towns have a fort, a tavern, and level 1 and 2 dwellings. Each building can be customized to be enabled (default), disabled (player cannot build it), not built (default) or already built. This can be quickly organized by using "Build All", "Demolish All", "Allow All" and "Forbid All" buttons. Note, that buildings may not be built without building their direct requirements (these are not actual building requirements, but rather the order buildings are placed in the expandable lists in the Map Editor. They usually include unupgraded versions of the same building, such as Mage Guild Level 1 being a direct requirement for the Mage Guild Level 2).

* Has fort: Changes the default to exclude (or include) the fort.

Spells: This allows for customization of spells appearing in the Mage Guild. Spells which "MUST appear" will always appear, while Spells which "MAY appear" will only appear if there are slots left once the mandatory spells have been given out. If no spells are available, and only some or none are necessary, the Mage Guild will use random available spells on the map. On the other hand, provided less spells than necessary are marked as possible and necessary to appear (and there is complete overlap between the two), the Mage Guild will contain empty spell slots that cannot be filled.

* Spell Research

: This allows the town to utilise the HotA's spell research mechanic. Note, that spells that "MUST appear" may not be replaced by spell research.

Timed Events: In this section, Timed Events applying to the town can be added. Timed Events will always go one by one from the top to the bottom on the list, and only when their chosen day occurs. If two Timed Events have the same Day of occurrence, the one on the top of the list will take place first. Note, that town's timed events only apply to the player, who owns the town, provided they are of the right type (human or computer) as specified by the event.

* General: The mapmaker can customize the event name, message, applicable players, whether human or computer players can benefit from the event (or both), the day of first occurrence, as well as how often the event repeats ("subsequent occurrences").

* Resources: This determines which resources are given or taken away from the player to whom the event applies. If the supply of any resource is not enough to fulfill a "Take" event, instead it is set to zero: there cannot be a negative amount of resources.

* Buldings: A building may be built as a town event. This includes buildings disabled in the "Buildings" section of the town. If the building has already been built, nothing happens (but the Event message still plays).

* Creatures: Chosen creatures will be added to the available recruitment pool. No creatures may be added if the player does not own their appropriate Creature Generator. Only basic creatures can be added to the supply (but if the player has the Upgraded Creature Generator, they may upgrade them immediately once the Event occurs).

Random Towns

Random Towns can be used by the mapmaker to replace any other town. Except for standard town properties, their Alignment can be customized to be one of the following:

Same as Owner or Random - If an owner has a specified alignment (either by choice, randomly chosen when the map is generated or set in the Map Specifications), a Town of this Alignment will replace the Random Town when the map is generated or restarted. If the Town is unowned, the Alignment is random, and a random town will replace the Random Town when the map is generated or restarted.
Same as player (number) (color) - Only works if the player has a specified alignment, otherwise the town alignment will be randomly chosen instead. Note, that the player does not have to be the owner of the Town for this setting to apply.
Not as player (number) (color) - Only works if the player has a specified alignment. The town will be replaced with a randomly chosen town but not the one assigned to the player. The player may still be the owner of the Town, even if that setting is chosen (but it will be a differently aligned town).

Random Towns can be used to give a player a town of their choice. By setting the alignment to "Same as Owner or Random" and marking a player as the owner, the player may choose the town when they choose their alignment before the game.

Random Town buildings customization is different than normal: instead of enabling, forbidding, building or demolishing specific buildings, the mapmaker may do all of the above on building alternatives: Level i Creature Generators, Level i Creature Hordes, etc. As a result, unique buildings may not be built, and neither can some non-special buildings (such as: Gunpowder Warehouse, Gantry or the Vault of Ashes).

In HotA , this has been fixed and expanded, and Random Towns can be customized to enable, forbid, build or demolish any unique and special buildings.

Monsters

Monsters are accessible in Tools -> Objects -> Monsters, on the Toolbar, and by pressing D . Monsters include all Faction-related and Neutral creatures in the order of their level, upgrade, with towns in the order of their alignment (with Cove and Factory placed last, right before the Neutral alignment), as well as Random Monsters.

Note, that all Monsters (both 1-hex and 2-hex ones) occupy only one cell on the map. All monsters guard all cells that directly neighbour their cell, either vertically, horizontally or diagonally.

Pressing Right-Click on a Monster shows their level, alignment and default quantity.

Monster Properties

Monsters may be customized in the Monster Properties.

List of Monster Properties

General:

* Quantity: Determines the amount of Monsters, placed when the game is generated or restarted. It is vital to set monster Quantity for monsters with large range in AI values (particularly level 7 and 7+ units, whose strength can be even 2-3 times greater between two stacks when the random quantity is chosen)

* Quantity does not grow: This setting stops monsters from growing. By default it is off, which lets Monsters grow by around 10% per week.

* Value

: Instead of customizing amount of monsters, the value of the stack can be set. This is particularly useful for customizing random monsters. Value can be calculated from the AI value with the following equation: Value = AI_value / 2.5 + 2300. For calculating the AI value from value (including from value below 2300) the following equation is used: AI_value = max(Value - 500, 0) x 1.5 + max(Value - 5000, 0) x 1.

* Disposition: Here, likelihood to join the hero can be set. Note, that the likelihood of joining is not set in stone, and is affected by Diplomacy, Diplomacy artifacts, and hero's army strength. Disposition takes a value of 1-10, where 1 means "will always join" (no matter what) and 10 is "will never join" (again, no matter the previously mentioned modifiers).

* Compliant: Refers to a disposition value of 1.

* Friendly: Refers to a disposition value randomly chosen from 1-7.

* Aggesive: Refers to a disposition value randomly chosen from 1-10.

* Hostile: Refers to a disposition value randomly chosen from 4-10.

* Savage: Refers to a disposition value of 10.

* Precise setup

: A specific disposition value may be chosen.

* Joining monster percentage of total count

: If the monsters decide to join the hero, and the player agrees, their percentage, equal to this value, will end up in the hero's army. Only values of 25, 50, 75 or 100% may be chosen. This value is 100% by default (and always in the Shadow of Death).

* Monster never flees: The monster won't flee (but they may still decide to join the hero or attack him).

* Join only for money

: Provided the monsters decide to join (see: Disposition), they will ask for a monetary benefit. If this option is chosen, and the Joining monster percentage of total count is set to anything other than 100%, the monsters will ask for enough gold to pay for all of them, even though only a fraction will join the hero. Majority of standard multiplayer templates use these two options.^??? This option is off by default (and always in the Shadow of Death).

* [[???|Stack count]]

: Instead of letting the number of stacks be directly dependent on the army strength comparison, the number of stacks may be customized. This option is set to default, if not customized, and always in Shadow of Death.

* Average: This option does not differ from default.^???

* One less, one more

: The number of stacks will be calculated normally, and then an extra stackk will be removed / added.

* 1-7: The troops will split into this exact number of stacks.

* Custom message: This message will play before the fight. Note, that the message will not provide an option to back out from the battle.

Treasure: Any number of any resources, as well as a chosen artifact (including those banned in the Map Specifications) may be added to the monster's treasure. The treasure will be awarded to the hero, provided they won the battle. If both the monster and the hero is defeated (f.e. due to Armageddon), the treasure will be lost.^??? By default, monsters do not have any treasure.

Random Monsters

Random Monsters can be of a specified or a non-specified level. Specified-level random monsters will be replaced with the random monster, of the appropriate level (randomly upgraded or unupgraded), when the map is generated or restarted. Their quantity will be randomly generated from the quantity pool for that monster (which is visible when right-clicking the appropriate monsters on the right). Note, that a random monster's properties may be customized just like any other monster's. Note, that the chosen quantity will override any default quantity, and thus if the random monster is particularly stronger than their equivalent-level comrades, the chosen quantity will pose an extra threat to the payer. Value option may be used to alter the quantity of monsters to always as closely resemble a chosen AI value as possible. This is particularly noticeable on lower level creatures - since they have lower AI value per unit, the map editor will more readily replace them with the appropriate AI value.

Non-specified level random monsters increase the pool of available monsters to all creatures, from a Peasant to an Azure Dragon. It is recommended to avoid using this feature.

Heroes

Heroes can be found in Tools -> Objects -> Heroes, or by pressing F . Heroes (selected by class) may not be placed without first assigning a player in the Player setting, (or by pressing Ctrl+1, Ctrl+2, etc. appropriately for each respective player). Heroes may not be placed on water (changed in HotA , where heroes placed on water are automatically placed inside a ship).

Instead of selecting a hero by class, a Random Hero or a Hero Placeholder may be used.

Note, that only one of each hero identity may exist on the map. If a hero is located in a Prison, Hero Camp, or are located somewhere on the map, there may not be a second hero with the same identity added.

Hero Properties

List of Hero Properties

General:

* Class: Hero's class may not be altered. Instead, remove the hero from the map and replace him with one of the appropriate class.

* Player: By default, this is set to the chosen player with the Player setting when placing the hero.

* Identity: A specific hero out of the chosen class may be assigned, as long as they're allowed in the Map Specifications.

* Experience: The amount of experience when starting the game may be assigned.

* Level

: The hero's exact level may be set, instead of choosing to assign the experience points. An assigned level can cross the hero experience limit, as long as "Hero can't gain experience" is set to true.

* Always add skills

: By default set to true, this setting allows for the automatic levelling up of a higher-level hero when the map is generated or restarted to no longer add any secondary skills. As a result, no matter the hero level, they will always have only the starting secondary skills (be it customized or default). Their primary skills will still increase.^???

* Hero can't gain experience

: This hero's level will never change (and may cross the maximum level threshold).

* Portrait: A portrait for any of the heroes in the game, including campaign heroes, may be chosen. In HotA 1.7.0

portraits of all campaign heroes, including those from Heroes Chronicles

(such as Tarnum), have been added to the map Editor and are accessible for heroes. Portraits are organized by town, with Campaign heroes placed at the end.

* Gender: The hero's gender only changes their outward appearance on the adventure map.

* Patrol: Patrol is an invisible statistic that does not apply to human players. AI will only move heroes with a set value of patrol onto tiles within the range of their Patrol. In other words, if an AI Hero has a patrol of 9, he can only move within the area with the center of his placement on the map, and the radius of 9 tiles. The maximum value of Patrol is 10 (changed in HotA

for 99).

Biography
Creatures: Hero's starting army may be replaced. By default, the creatures will be appropriate to the hero's identity. If customized, only the creatures added in this tab will appear as the starting army. Ballista and First Aid Tent will still be given to heroes with appropriate specialties, even if their starting armies are customized.
Primary skills: The starting primary skills may be replaced. Note, that hero's with greater experience than 0 and experience level than 1 will gain primary skills as a result of leveling up.
Secondary skills: The starting secondary skills may be replaced. Note, that hero's with a great experience than 0 or an experience level above 1 will gain secondary skills as if levelled up by AI when the map is generated or restarted. This can be avoided with the "Always add skills" setting.
Artifacts: Hero's starting artifacts (including the Spellbook, War Machines and artifacts in the Backpack) may be customized. The added artifacts don't have to be allowed in the Map Specifications. The Grail may not be added to a hero's backpack.

Random Heroes

Instead of placing a hero, a Random hero may be chosen. Random heroes will be randomly chosen from the available heroes of the player's faction when the scenario is started or restarted. Note, that one Random Hero may be customized by a player before the start of the game, during scenario selection. If there isn't enough available hero's from the player's faction to replace all Random heroes, a random available hero from any faction will be chosen.

Random heroes may be customized just like normal heroes, except for their class, identity, name, portrait, gender and biography.

Hero Placeholder

Hero Placeholders are used in campaign maps, following the first one, to allow a Hero to move on from one map to another, while retaining everything chosen in Crossover Options. When a scenario with Hero Placeholders is started or restarted, the heroes from the previous map will be replace the Hero Placeholders. When used outside of the campaign, Hero Placeholders are removed from the map when the scenario is started or restarted. The player's starting hero, however, may not be a Hero assigned to a Hero Placeholder, even if the hero Placeholder will be removed from the map anyway. As a result, in non-campaign scenarios, Hero Placeholders may be used to limit the starting Hero pool without placing heroes in Prisons or Hero Camps.

Hero placeholders may be customized only in the following ways:

General:

* Owner: See: Hero Properties

* Identity: See: Hero Properties

* Any Hero -> Power rating: This option allows for placement of heroes in a next map of a campaign in order of their power, calculated using their secondary skills, primary skills and creatures.^???

* Specific Hero: Here, a hero may be chosen (by class and identity).

Creatures: See: Hero Properties
Artifacts: See: Hero Properties

Artifacts

Artifacts can be accessed by using Tools -> Objects -> Artifacts, or by pressing G . Artifacts placed on the map don't have to be allowed with the Map Specifications.

Artifact Properties

General:

* Message: This message will play out every time the artifact is interacted with. If the artifact is guarded, the player will be able to choose yes/no. The message should be worded in such a way, where answering "yes" should designate combat for the artifact, and "no" backing out. In Shadow of Death, this feature is bugged and as a result the player may only choose to initiate combat (fixed in HotA

).^???

* Special artifact pickup conditions

: The artifact may be made inaccessible to heroes without a certain skill (Wisdom or Leadership), or require payment of gold (and possibly resources). Each special artifact pickup condition chosen will be added to a pool, and one of the available conditions will be randomly chosen at the start (or restart) of a scenario. Note, that if "Combat with monsters" is not the applying pickup condition, the guards will not attack.

Guardians: Here, the artifact's guardians may be added. They will attack once combat is initiated, following an agreement to the artifact's message.

Spell Scrolls

On top of normal properties, Spell Scroll's spell may be customized (including spells banned on the map). By default, it's a random spell allowed in the Map Specifications.

Random Artifacts

Instead of a specific artifact, a Random Artifact may be chosen. Random Artifacts are replaced with a random, available on the map artifact when the scenario is started (or restarted), while the Random Artifacts of a specified level (1-4, where 1 is treasure, 2 is minor, 3 is major and 4 is relic) are instead replaced by a random artifact available on the map of the appropriate level. They may be customized, just like any other artifact. It is recommended to avoid using Random Artifacts without a specified level, as they're a source of extraordinary variance (a Random Artifact may be replaced with a Centaur's Axe or an Armageddon's Blade, provided both are allowed in the Map Specifications).

The Grail

The Grail, even though technically an artifact, differs from others. It may not be placed freely or guarded on the map; it may not be placed in any other object, as owned by a hero, or in any other way like all other artifacts. The Grail also may not be placed on Water. The only way to place it is to place it buried. The Grail will be available to dig-up from the spot it is placed on or any random, non-occupied, non-visitable, non-blocked by an obstacle spot within the "allowable placement radius", 0 by default. The Grail is placed once the scenario is started or restarted. Note, that allowed cells are those that are neither red nor yellow when checking for Passability and may be unreachable by players if a hole exists between different obstacles and the Grail randomly spawns there. There may be only 1 Grail on the map.

Remember, that in order to uncover and dig out the Grail, the players will need to visit Obelisks. Obelisks uncover 1/N part of the puzzle, where N is the number of Obelisks.

Gallery

HotA Map Editor layout explained
Road and monster-guarded cells explained (identical in the HotA Map Editor )
The base Homm3 map editor
The updated Homm3 HotA map editor
Right-clicking objects in the Map Editor (identical in the Shadow of Death Map Editor )
What's This? For monsters
Right-clicking monsters on the right bar of the Map Editor (identical in the Shadow of Death Map Editor )
File -> (identical in the Shadow of Death Map Editor )
Edit -> (identical in the Shadow of Death Map Editor )
View -> (identical in the Shadow of Death Map Editor )
Tools -> (identical in the Shadow of Death Map Editor )
Tools -> Terrain (identical in the Shadow of Death Map Editor )
Tools -> Terrain
Player -> (identical in the Shadow of Death Map Editor )
Help-> (identical in the Shadow of Death Map Editor )
Terrain tool in the HotA Map Editor
River tool (identical in the Shadow of Death Map Editor )
Road tool (identical in the Shadow of Death Map Editor )
Eraser tool (identical in the Shadow of Death Map Editor )
Obstacle tool before selecting area (identical in the Shadow of Death Map Editor )
Obstacle tool after selecting area (identical in the Shadow of Death Map Editor )
Random dwelling level 6 properties
Random dwelling of any level properties
Ocean bottle properties (identical in the Shadow of Death Map Editor )
Creature bank properties
Witch Hut properties (identical in the Shadow of Death Map Editor )
University properties
Prison properties
Quest guard properties (identical in the Shadow of Death Map Editor )
Editing quest screen (identical in the Shadow of Death Map Editor )
Abandoned mine properties
Mine properties (identical in the Shadow of Death Map Editor )
Lighthouse properties (identical in the Shadow of Death Map Editor )
Corpse properties
Pyramid properties
Monster properties 1
Town properties 1 (identical in the Shadow of Death Map Editor )
Town properties 2 (identical in the Shadow of Death Map Editor )
Town properties 3
Town properties 4
Town properties 5 (identical in the Shadow of Death Map Editor )
The way a random town appears in the map editor.
Monster properties 1
Monster properties 2 {{withmapedhota}{ (identical in the Shadow of Death Map Editor )
Warning that displays when hero limit is exceeded (identical in the Shadow of Death Map Editor )
Warning that displays when no player is chosen when placing a hero (identical in the Shadow of Death Map Editor )
Hero properties 1
Hero properties 2 (identical in the Shadow of Death Map Editor )
Hero properties 3 (identical in the Shadow of Death Map Editor )
Hero properties 4 (identical in the Shadow of Death Map Editor )
Hero properties 5 (identical in the Shadow of Death Map Editor )
Hero properties 6 (identical in the Shadow of Death Map Editor )
Hero properties 7 (identical in the Shadow of Death Map Editor )
Add artifact to hero screen
Updated add artifact to hero screen
Artifact properties 1
Artifact properties 2 (identical in the Shadow of Death Map Editor )