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HOMM 2 is friggin hard. I don't remember the campaigns being as difficult as they are. I've been playing for about a week and getting smoked on the second mission every time. Yeegads it's terrible how bad I am at it.

With that being said, HOMM 3 is much more forgiving on difficulty. It's also a better, IMO, with more units, heroes, abilities, races, cities, locations, and events. Also, the graphics are better. So my vote goes to HOMM 3...though 2 is a fun game.
I'd say HOMM 2. 2 & 3 are very similar in format, but HOMM 3 has a lot more variables and complexity than HOMM 2 (lots more units, upgrades & battle options). Start with the simpler and more straightforward HOMM 2 and then move on to the more complex HOMM 3.

Either way, it will take you some time just to familiarize yourself with all the different units and building costs in each version, so don't sweat if it starts out tough.
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Narwhal: Just avoid the first one. It really aged badly. HoMM 2 is just like the first, only better. HoMM is better, but different.

Also, HoMM I has no storyline - so you don't have to play it to understand the world.
so it is best to start with HoMM2 to understand the storyline of the series or is possible to skip to HoMM3?
As others have mentioned, you can't really go wrong with HoMM 2 or HoMM 3, in my opinion. HoMM 3 is probably the slightly better choice as it offers a lot more strategic flexibility and a more diverse array of factions than 2, but I'll always have a soft spot for 2's vibrant colour palette and fairytale art style. :)

HoMM 1 is still worth a look if you really like the series, but it'll feel REALLY dated. HoMM 4 is the last of the series I played and it's... somewhat polarising. I didn't like that it placed so much emphasis on the Heroes themselves (at high levels, Heroes can win entire battles all by themselves without even needing to gather an army, which I felt went against the core gameplay principle of the series.) Still, it's worth a look if the series really catches your attention.
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Narwhal: Just avoid the first one. It really aged badly. HoMM 2 is just like the first, only better. HoMM is better, but different.

Also, HoMM I has no storyline - so you don't have to play it to understand the world.
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digaxox: so it is best to start with HoMM2 to understand the storyline of the series or is possible to skip to HoMM3?
The HoMM III story is rather independent from its predecessors, other than playing in the same world, and some kinship relations it opens a new chapter.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heroes_of_Might_and_Magic#Storyline
Heroes 3 has slightly more refined gameplay, but I think Heroes 2 has a much better campaign. If you're playing solo, I'd say start with 2, but if you'll be diving into multiplayer then go for 3.
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Zaxares: As others have mentioned, you can't really go wrong with HoMM 2 or HoMM 3, in my opinion. HoMM 3 is probably the slightly better choice as it offers a lot more strategic flexibility and a more diverse array of factions than 2, but I'll always have a soft spot for 2's vibrant colour palette and fairytale art style. :)

HoMM 1 is still worth a look if you really like the series, but it'll feel REALLY dated. HoMM 4 is the last of the series I played and it's... somewhat polarising. I didn't like that it placed so much emphasis on the Heroes themselves (at high levels, Heroes can win entire battles all by themselves without even needing to gather an army, which I felt went against the core gameplay principle of the series.) Still, it's worth a look if the series really catches your attention.
thanks for the feedback. i had the same experience with HOMM4. at the end, I was only attacking with Heroes without any troops.

i feel that Heroes Chronicles is highly underrated in the series being standalone campaigns.
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digaxox: so it is best to start with HoMM2 to understand the storyline of the series or is possible to skip to HoMM3?
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Mondkalb: The HoMM III story is rather independent from its predecessors, other than playing in the same world, and some kinship relations it opens a new chapter.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heroes_of_Might_and_Magic#Storyline
thank you for the reference. it explains everything!
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digaxox: i feel that Heroes Chronicles is highly underrated in the series being standalone campaigns.
If you want standalone campaigns there are better choices:
Unification of Rife and When Death came to Nathana are quite good. Eternal Love is very good.
Most of the HCs are laughably easy and the writing is of the long winded fan fiction sort. They are only good for newbies.
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digaxox: i feel that Heroes Chronicles is highly underrated in the series being standalone campaigns.
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PetrusOctavianus: If you want standalone campaigns there are better choices:
Unification of Rife and When Death came to Nathana are quite good. Eternal Love is very good.
Most of the HCs are laughably easy and the writing is of the long winded fan fiction sort. They are only good for newbies.
thanks for the recommendations. now that you mention it, Heroes Chronicles was indeed easy, i just didn't realize it. since i enjoyed the storyline, i will probably go for the highest difficulty to get the most out of the experience.
I'd go with HoMM 2 first, mostly because I reckon it's got the most interesting single-player campaign.
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blind3rdeye: I'd go with HoMM 2 first, mostly because I reckon it's got the most interesting single-player campaign.
thanks for the advice.
HoMM 2 and the expansion had great campaigns.
For HoMM 3 the two expansions were OK, but I much prefer user-made maps and campaigns.
Heroes Chronicles is a good introduction for complete newbies who "play the game for the story". Otherwise the HoMM 3 basic campaign is probably the best introduction to HoMM.
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PetrusOctavianus: Heroes Chronicles is a good introduction for complete newbies who "play the game for the story".
I'd say no....

Story-wise (and putting everything else aside), it's much better to go in release order. The story of Tarnum is more fun, if you're already aware of the factions, introduced in HoMM3.

Introduction and newbie friendliness wise, I'd still encourage the original Restoration of Erathia campaign where newbies are introduced to the game with a good difficulty curve and all factions available.

There is really no one I can recommend Chronicles to, except for completionists who want to go through everything.
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PetrusOctavianus: Heroes Chronicles is a good introduction for complete newbies who "play the game for the story".
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ZFR: I'd say no....

Story-wise (and putting everything else aside), it's much better to go in release order. The story of Tarnum is more fun, if you're already aware of the factions, introduced in HoMM3.

Introduction and newbie friendliness wise, I'd still encourage the original Restoration of Erathia campaign where newbies are introduced to the game with a good difficulty curve and all factions available.

There is really no one I can recommend Chronicles to, except for completionists who want to go through everything.
well that's my plan. Now that I own HoMM2 through 5 with all DLCs. I guess I will just go in order of release.
anybody ever completed everything at highest difficulty?