From Heroes III to Heroes VII

The official Might & Magic Heroes VII website has received a healthy dose of new updates through the end of the year, including an interesting "From Heroes III to Heroes VII" feature that covers what inspiration the next title will draw from its most popular predecessor, as well as word that random skills will be an optional feature and the unit lineup for the Academy faction (part one and part two). On the Heroes III to VII transition:

LUCK AND MORALE:

Luck and morale are prominent in heroes VII. You can play with those as actual game changers. Factions like Haven can bet their victory on their high morale, granting additional actions, and therefore additional damage. Undeads can play their debuffing abilities to send their enemies into negative morale, sometimes forcing them to miss a complete turn!

Luck can be boosted to deal critical attacks but also lowered to cause fumbles (critical failure) and low damage!

WARFARE UNITS:

In memory of the ballista and healing tent, Heroes VII brings back the same game function in more faction-specific style, and therefore changes names. As introduced previously with Heroes VI, they can be machines or creatures and are unique per army. Heroes can specialize in their use and buy buildings to empower them.
- The attack unit is the heir of the ballista : it's a ranged damage dealing machine or creature.
- The support unit is the heir of the healing tent : it buffs or heals creatures in the army.
- The siege unit is the their of the catapult : it attacks a town's wall to create an opening.