This is an list of the new features and content in Project Ironfist. This changes frequently, so this list will usually be out of date. We expect to heavily tweak or even remove many of the additions as playtesting continues.

 

In August 2013, we created a video showing much of the new content in the alpha release of the game: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RoNJ4y5SSig 

 

Game

• All this is possible because we can freely change the games source code. If you are interested in creating new features, see Getting Started with Coding or the video tutorial 

 

General

• All maps can now be enhanced with custom scripts. See Basics of Scripting or the video tutorial 
• The game can now be played without a CD 
• The original game allowed abuse of hit-and-run tactics, where a spellcaster could attack an enemy, cast a powerful spell, then retreat and be immediately rehired, and repeat many times. This is now limited, as heroes no longer regain movement points when rehired.

 

Creatures

• Anyone can now add new creatures to the game. No technical skills required. See Adding and Editing Creatures or the video tutorial  
• All creature's stats and abilities are now stored in a file called "creatures.xml" and very easily be edited
• New creature ability: Strike-and-return. Creatures with strike-and-return return to their original square after every attack, like the harpies in the later games and the Blood Furies in Heroes V
• New creatures: Kobolds, harpies, bloodsuckers, catoplebas, black knights, and treants 

 

Artifacts

• We can add new artifacts to the game.
• New artifact: Pandora's Box. At the start of every battle, a hero with Pandora's Box will receive a free stack of Level 1 creatures for the duration of the battle. 

 

Spells

• We can add new spells to the game. 
• New spells will be appear in mage guilds, but not at Shrines of Magic 
• We have added a new spell "Awareness." When cast, Awareness reveals part of the map around the caster, similar to the Redwood Observatory
• The number of spells available in a Mage Guild can now be modified by scripting.  

 

Map Editor

• The "Edit Town" screen has been completely redone, and will automatically include any new creatures added by end-users
• Several new creatures and the "Pandora's Box" artifact have been manually added into the map editor and can be directly placed on the map 

 

Limitations

• Campaign and multiplayer modes are both currently broken. We expect campaigns should be easy to fix, but we would likely want to significantly rewrite multiplayer to make it better
• Ironfist uses a new format for maps and saves incompatible with the ones used by normal Heroes II. However, it can read maps and saves from the original game and the Price of Loyalty expansion
• We of course expect many bugs at this stage in the project's development. Many new creatures also have choppy animations and other issues with art and sound.