Bringing Heroes to the table: Interview with Zed, creator of the HoMM TTRPG

1. Zed, could you please introduce yourself to the visitors of the Heroes 3.5 WoG Portal? Tell us a bit about who you are and your connection to Heroes of Might and Magic TTRPG?

Everyone calls me Zed—it’s not my given name, just a nickname that stuck so strongly in my circles that even my daughter calls me that (when she’s not saying “dad”). I’ve been an RPG enthusiast since the ’90s, a tabletop RPG designer, scenario writer, and educator. I’m also the co-founder of the creative group Lans Macabre and the publishing house LM Publishing.

When it comes to the Heroes of Might and Magic TTRPG project, I’m the lead designer of the game and the publisher of the Polish edition.

Links:

Heroes of Might and Magic TTRPG Kickstarter campaign

Quickstart Rules (free pdf)

2. What inspired you to create a tabletop RPG based on Heroes of Might and Magic?

The idea of creating HoMM TTRPG, actually came from my friends at Modiphius. They had the license to make the game and were looking for a design studio to bring it to life. We already had a lot of experience publishing RPGs in Poland, and they believed we could handle it.

Since then, it’s been our team—with the blessing and mentorship of Modiphius—handling most aspects of the project. We’re the ones who organized the Kickstarter, we’re the ones writing the game, and our partner steps in to help whenever we need support.

3. How long have you been a fan of the Heroes of Might and Magic, and do you have a favorite game from the franchise?

I’ve been playing Heroes of Might and Magic (and still do!) since the very beginning — starting with the first game. I couldn’t even begin to count the number of hours I spent as a kid and teenager in front of the computer playing HoMM I, II, III, IV, and V. I’ll admit, HoMM VI didn’t really click with me, and I approached HoMM VII with some distance — by then, I already had an adult life and less time to play. I also spent countless hours exploring various installments of the Might and Magic series.

4. For someone who loves the video games, how would you describe the feeling of playing HoMM TTRPG?

Imagine all those moments in Heroes of Might and Magic when you click on the Witch’s Hut, Fountain of Fortune, Garden of Knowledge, or Enchanted Circle. A text box pops up, you get a reward—but behind that, there’s always a story waiting to be told. That’s exactly the feeling we’re aiming for.

HoMM TTRPG doesn’t try to recreate the computer game mechanics one-to-one on the tabletop. Our goal is to let players experience this world through the eyes of the Heroes—not just marching across the map with their armies (though that’s certainly part of it), but also interacting with the world, shaping it, and telling stories on a level that the video games could only hint at.

5. I’m a complete layman when it comes to TTRPGs, will players be able to choose familiar factions, heroes, and creatures from the Heroes of Might and Magic III?

Yes. The foundation of Heroes of Might and Magic TTRPG is, of course, Heroes III. That means we return to Antagarich and its familiar lands—Erathia, Eeofol, and AvLee. Players will take on the roles of Genies, Minotaurs, or Efreeti, and command units like Gorgons and Stone Golems—everything we know and love from Heroes.

And we’re taking it further. In the upcoming supplement, the Heroes Compendium, we’re adapting well-known Heroes such as Jenova, Octavia, and Straker to the tabletop mechanics. So the entire game feels both familiar and true to the spirit of the series.

6. What kind of adventures or stories can players expect in this tabletop adaptation?

We decided to approach this RPG not just with traditional tabletop players in mind, but also fans of Heroes who might have little to no experience with role-playing games. So we designed a gameplay loop that recreates the familiar elements of the computer game.

There’s a council phase, where Heroes stay in their city, plan their expeditions, and manage city development. Then comes the exploration phase, where players lead their armies across a hex-based map, uncovering new threats and opportunities. Naturally, there are battles—the heart of our design. We wanted them to feel truly RPG-like, so they contain a strong narrative element.

And of course, there’s what RPG players know best—quests. These are the moments when Heroes face challenges on their own: intrigues, dilemmas, and choices… but on a grand, epic scale.

Our goal is to make this a game about epic Heroes and their epic adventures.

7. How big is your creative team, and what does each member focus on?

It’s a small team—just four of us.
There’s me, as the publisher and lead designer. My life partner Airis, who serves as the editor of the project and ensures the internal consistency of the rulebooks. Paweł, the author of the RPG “Smoczy Jeźdźcy” (Dragon Riders)—so far released only in Poland, but thanks in part to the success of Heroes, we’re planning to bring it to the English-speaking market. And finally, Marcin, who’s mainly responsible for translating the computer game’s language and logic into tabletop RPG mechanics.

However, since there are only four of us, we all work together on every part of the game.

8. What has been the most fun or exciting part of making this project so far? Can you share any (funny) stories?

This answer is a bit complicated—and very “niche.” HoMM3 was released in Poland with a notoriously bad translation. Some of the proper names were translated from English in such a clumsy way that today no one would ever approve them.

However, whether those translations were good or bad, Polish fans absolutely love them—and can’t imagine the game being localized any other way now. So we’re trying to bring as many of those names and quirks into the RPG as possible, even though we burst out laughing every time they come up during development.

Many of these odd translations have actually become memes within the Polish Heroes community. Unfortunately, they’re pure linguistic humor—so I’ll have to disappoint you here; they don’t really translate well into English. But trust me, they’re genuinely hilarious.

9. How has the Heroes community reacted to the Kickstarter and your idea so far?

I don’t want to speak for the fans—but I’d say the response has been very positive. Over 2,000 people backed us, and new supporters are still joining. It’s actually the best debut of a Polish RPG publisher on Kickstarter.

We stay in constant contact with our fans, asking them “What else would you like to see in the game?” and doing our best to deliver. A huge number of people signed up for playtesting, and they were determined enough to go through a fairly long recruitment process.

Of course, we also get criticism—but it’s clear that it comes from a place of love for the IP. Phrases like “Just don’t mess this up!” pop up now and then 😀 but we take them as motivation to work even harder. So we’re truly grateful for the fans’ passion and involvement.

10. Are there any Easter eggs, references, or hidden details in the game that longtime fans of the Heroes of Might and Magic series might appreciate?

There are tons of them—for example, Geon the Troglodyte, who specializes in Eagle Eye, or the rule that you recover spell points by declaring that your Hero drinks water (preferably from a well).

But what resonates with me the most, in terms of tabletop RPG storytelling, is the importance of taverns during the game—because taverns exist in Heroes everywhere… even in Inferno.

11. Do you have any message you’d like to share with the Heroes 3.5 WoG Portal readers and long-time fans of the series?

This project isn’t a “one-night stand” 😀 As long as we hold the license, we’ll keep developing it. We’re constantly talking with our fans—and Heroes fans in general—and we still have many ideas for expanding Heroes TTRPG. We’re creating this game for you.

12. And last question, what is your favorite hero from HoMM III?

I’ve always had a soft spot for Darkstorn, the Warlock from Nighon.

Thank you, Zed, for taking the time to talk with us and share your passion for Heroes of Might and Magic. I’m really looking forward to playing it myself — though probably not until a year from now, when my kids are a bit older! 😄
-Liso1