Blog Entry #7: Fixing Might & Magic
This article is the third of my Might & Magic commentaries. As I’ve stated before it’s no secret, I am a huge fan of this game franchise. Ever since I first played the Xeen games years ago I’ve loved this franchise. It’s also no secret the severe disappointment I’ve had in Ubisoft’s stewardship of the franchise.
In this article I’ll talk about some of the ways that I would fix the Might & Magic franchise.
Before I begin, I need to make some disclaimers here. For a start it is true I have written down an exacting plan on how to fix the Might & Magic franchise. I will be laying out some general ideas of how I would fix it. But I will be keeping the exact plans in a safe place. Hidden away from public view until one of these conditions come to pass.
The first condition must be this. The entire Ubisoft upper-level management must get removed and replaced. Also, every activist in that company must go. I will not let my ideas get corrupted into political propaganda. Especially not by people who only care about petty ideology.
When I write a story, I want that to be the most important thing.
Unfortunately, Ubisoft has shown they have no respect for the customers. Nor do they have respect for the quality of product they produce. All they care about is what The Critical Drinker would call the message. Instead of worrying about the message concentrate on the mantra of story, story, story. Add in great graphics, game design, and controls and you’ve got a winner.
So, unless Ubisoft gets its act together, they will get nothing from me!
The second condition is this. Ubisoft sells off the Might & Magic franchise to someone such as say Grummz. Someone who respects the gamers and fans. If that happens, I will be more than happy to share the story I have in mind for Might & Magic with them. For that matter I’d be happy to work with them to make it better.
As a writer while I recognize that I’m good I also know there’s always room to improve. I can also be a good team player. I may be a good writer, but I know there are those in the gaming industry who know it far better than me. I’d be happy to work with a seasoned pro like Grummz to make a better Might & Magic game. And if he has any suggestions, I’ll see about adding them if the storyline isn’t harmed.
Now the third condition is a rather farfetched one. Considering I’m not a rich man I’m not holding my breath on this one. The third one is if I somehow manage to get a hold of the rights to the Might & Magic franchise. I’d be happy to reveal what I have in mind to the public as the game gets brought to life. Truth is even in my hands I’d still need the help of people who understand how to create games.
As I said I’m a good writer, but I don’t know that much about making video games. So, I’d be happy to work with someone who knows their way with gaming.
That takes care of the conditions under which I will release my plans for Might & Magic. Before I continue one last disclaimer. This one goes out to Jon Van Caneghem the creator of the franchise. This is a product criticism and critique. This is not meant as any show of disrespect towards you.
I have nothing but the utmost respect for you and the product you created. Now that said on with the general ideas.
Now the first thing that needs to get done is this. The canon of Might & Magic needs an overhaul. No offense but Axeoth was rather rushed. So much so that when Heroes IV and Might & Magic IX got released, they were only half done.
I know some people like Axeoth and that’s fine. People can like what they will. That said sorry but Axeoth no pun intended must get the axe.
Some would say that brings up the issue of what about the Reckoning on Enroth. Well, I can say as part of my master plan I’ve come up with a way to incorporate that. It would involve a new creative way of dealing with the meeting of the Sword of Frost and Armageddon’s Blade. To keep such magical blades from wreaking havoc requires a creative solution. Reaching that goal would be part of the storyline for the Might & Magic game I have in mind.
This brings me to the second Idea for the franchise.
Let’s combine JVC’s universe with Ashan. Having played Heroes V, I can say Ashan had a lot of potential for greatness. And that world still does with some good surgery. As with the first idea some things need to get removed. I realize there might be some who like Heroes VI and VII.
I know Might & Magic X has people out there who like it. Again, that's fine people can like what they will. That said, they were canon breakers, and they need to get removed for Ashan to survive.
Now combining JVC’s universe and Ashan is not as hard as people might think. This is where the consequences of the Reckoning come into play. Enroth's destruction by the forementioned weapons has unintended consequences. The massive surge of energy opens a tear between JVC's universe and the universe of Ashan. From it a strange new chaotic element gets unleashed that causes all kinds of havoc.
And I would add stakes and some canon to the equation. Bring back the Kreegan for a last hurrah. And this time put them under the control of the Kreegan Empress. In this case the Kreegan want to harness that substance to conquer both universes. Since they are a space faring race it would stand to reason they would be intelligent.
I would also bring back and redo the canon for the lost Shantiri Empire as part of the idea I have in mind. In Might & Magic X I wasn't happy with how said empire collapsed. The whole Idea of Void Magic from a writer's perspective is an affront to me. You can’t wave something out of existence with a magic spell. There must be consequences.
Without consequences the storyline is in real trouble. I propose this solution to the issue. Let's make it so the Shantiri Empire learned how to harness said element from the tear. But there were those in the Empire who grew drunk with power. And so, division and intrigue brought the Empire down.
No void magic, no it never existed nonsense.
I can’t go into the full details of what it will be. But I can say what I have in mind will make it so the Player character’s actions will be far more satisfying. A good writer knows how to leave their readers feeling satisfied by the end of the story. Such should also hold true for the storyline of a good video game.
Now this next Idea I got from listening to the Might & Magic fans. Yes, it’s quite the shock isn’t it. Listening to the fans is a good idea. The fans of this franchise are not stupid! In fact, they have all kinds of good ideas.
And this one is one of the best ideas they came up with. I can sum it up in one name S.H.E.L.T.E.M. the dark! I recognize Jon Van Caneghem has said that keeping him around was becoming harder and harder. But as someone who is also a Star Trek and Next Generation fan, I say nothing is impossible with a good imagination. I know of a way to bring Sheltem back for one last grand hurrah.
I realize C.O.R.A.K. took him out in Darkside of Xeen. But considering Sheltem’s high degree of intelligence I would say this. It would stand to reason that he would’ve come up with countermeasures for in case his grand plan went awry. So, overcoming intelligent villains is always the most fun. That makes their defeat so much more satisfying.
As storytellers or game creators our job is to please the customer. That should always be the number one priority. And overcoming a smart enemy is the most satisfying thing any player can do.
How would Sheltem come back some would ask. I can sum it up in one word...nanotechnology. And here’s where Ashan could also come into play. There exists on Ashan the necessary materials Sheltem needs to make his new body. Let’s even have him team up…for a while with the Kreegans.
At least until he gets what he needs. Ah the treachery of powerful villains it makes for great storytelling. Sheltem can get brought back then taken out in grand style. That would make for the ultimate culmination of the Might & Magic franchise.
Now the next thing I’d like to add is this. One thing I liked about Baldur’s Gate I and II was the character development and the romances in II. I thought they added a nice organic touch to things. I’d like to add that along with some interparty conversations. I’d also like to take a cue from Might and Magic VIII: Day of the Destroyer.
Let’s have one player character and NPCs who can get added to the character’s party. Make the adventuring party’s total be six. That would provide a nice balance of characters for the group. And it could lead to some potential interesting conversation threads. Both for the PC and NPCs.
I love Might & Magic but I’d like to add some depth and believability to the characters. That comes from my time as a writer. Good characters need traits, quirks, and flaws to make them believable and relatable. That will lead to a better gaming experience for the player.
The next idea is something that I insist on with any fiction work. Keep the modern politics out of the game. When people come home from work or school after a long day, they want to escape from it all for a while. They don’t want to get lectured. So, let’s make the world unique and nothing like the real world.
That’s what the customers want. Give them what they want, and they’ll be happy. It’s simple and good business practice.
Now the next way to fix Might & Magic is this. Get the franchise off mobile. Might & Magic and Heroes of Might & Magic were never meant to be mobile games. They were always meant for the PC. The fact that Ubisoft has turned HOMM into a mobile game is a sign of how clueless they are with the franchise.
Might & Magic and HOMM were always meant for the personal computer. so, they need to get back to where they belong.
Now I’ve laid out the ways of fixing Might & Magic. I talk about this franchise so much because I love it and want to see Jon Van Caneghem’s franchise thrive. It’s what any true and passionate fan would want.
Thanks for reading this blog entry. I hope I made my thoughts clear enough. I’ll leave links to my previous Might & Magic articles below. If you enjoyed this, please press the like button and share this across social media. Spread the word about my channel.
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Thank you for reading this blog entry. Until next month this is Animeman73 signing off. Stay true to yourselves, stay classy, and God bless you all.
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Next: Blog Entry #8: Living with handicaps. I am no victim (Next month)