The expansion has a number of new gameplay features, none of which has any kind of earthshaking impact on overall play. For instance, after upgrading a creature generator, you may recruit creatures of both the upgraded and base type. However, since the vast majority of creatures are flat-out superior when upgraded, this option is seldom useful unless you're low on funds and can't afford to hire the upgraded versions. You may also garrison your own creatures at mines you've captured, which doesn't radically change the overall dynamic of exploring the map and claiming resources, but does add a more subtle facet to resource management, overall. There are also new and improved quest objects: quest gates, seer's huts, and border gates, which were presumably included to enhance the story of the campaigns, though for the most part the quests they offer are still of the errand-boy variety.
If you aren't content with the prepackaged maps - perhaps you disagree with the endearingly infuriating placement of treasures just out of sight behind other landmarks - or you've played through all the included maps and want more, you can turn to Armageddon's Blade's improved mapmaking utilities. The expansion makes two impressive additions to Heroes III's already robust map editor. The first is the new random-map generator, which lets you create a random map using several generalized parameters. Though the customization options seem sparse, the randomly generated maps are anything but. Rather than consisting of nothing more than a haphazard few critters and the odd bit of booty, each randomly generated map is usually stuffed with monsters, treasures, and events, laid across natural-looking, proportional terrain, and each is more than adequate for a satisfying quick-and-dirty scenario on the fly. The second addition to the map utilities is the campaign editor, which lets you string individual scenarios together into cohesive campaigns. Using the campaign editor is a far more time-consuming pursuit than creating single maps, but it's an excellent resource for loyal mapmakers.
Armageddon's Blade brings nothing dramatically different or new to Heroes of Might and Magic III's solid formula. Its gameplay additions are subtle, its new town type is offbeat, and its enhanced map utilities are only for the most pious of Heroes devotees. If you played through Heroes III and disliked it, you'll get absolutely nothing out of Armageddon's Blade. If you got some enjoyment from playing through some of Heroes III's scenarios and a campaign or two, you'd do well to pick up this expansion. However, if you were thoroughly obsessed with Heroes III, then there's absolutely no reason why you shouldn't get Armageddon's Blade - it was forged specifically for you.
Heroes of Might and Magic III: Armageddon's Blade (PC):
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