Prerelease:Heroes of Might and Magic III: The Restoration of Erathia/Concept Art

This is a sub-page of Prerelease:Heroes of Might and Magic III: The Restoration of Erathia.

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Descriptions

Early Map of Erathia

Continent of Erathia, that... wasn't continent. Vori and Nighon canonically are islands. Early magazine advertisement^[1].

Concept Art^[2]

Sketches

George Almond copied a few of Frazetta's works for HoMM3 sketches:

Almond's sketch	Frazetta's Art

"Kane on the Golden Sea" by Frank Frazetta.

Almond's sketch	Frazetta's Art

Probably Krellion's portrait was based on this sketch for "Bran Mak Morn".

Almond's sketch	Frazetta's Art

This sketch by George Almond is also definitely modeled on Frazetta's drawing on the right.

Angel
Archangel, from sketch to model.

Greg Fulton on Angel's Origin^[3]

XEL: What is the origin of angels and archangels? Don’t worry, we won’t have a heart attack.

GF: Over the course of my time at New World, on occasion, typically when taking a break, I would wander into Paul Rattner’s office. Even though MM6 was in mid production, Paul was already thinking about MM7, so I made sure to update him on what was happening with HoMM3.

When I told him about the changes to the factions, I specifically mentioned the Angels. At that point in time, Paul was essentially the lore master for the MM universe. On the topic of the Angels and Arch Angels, he proposed they be sophisticated robots created by the Ancients to hunt down and eradicate the Kreegans. I agreed, and we ran with it.

Later, after the Forge was shelved, I remember thinking to myself, “If people have a problem with the whole ‘goblins are aliens’ idea, I can only imagine what they will think if they figure out the true origins of the Angels.

RoE box concept art by John Estle Gibson IV^[4]. Notice that in left upper corner there is an early, box art with unknown Queen Catherine render.
Centaur Archer by George Almond
Centaur by George Almond
Dwarf
Wood Elf by April Lee^[5]. Here is a sketch of the Wood Elf units. I began H3 much like we did MM6, sketching characters, then modeling and animating them.
Dendroid

Greg Fulton: Why Dendroids are called Dendroids?^[6]

During one of my sessions with Jon Van Caneghem (JVC), we were finalizing the roster for the Rampart.  At the time, Dendroids were named Treants, as derived from Dungeons & Dragons.  At the time, I did not know there had been a copyright issue between Dungeons & Dragons and the Tolkien estate, as Treants were originally named Ents (referring to anthropomorphic tree creatures from Lord of the Rings).  Regardless, JVC didn’t like the name Treant.  I offered up ‘Ent’.  Didn’t like it.  Treefolk?  Nope.

After retrieving a paperback Thesaurus from my office, I sat in front of Jon and read all the synonyms for Treant, Ent, etc.  Woodfolk?  Nah.  Grove Giant?  (shakes head).  Tree Spirit?  No.

Me, “Dendroid?”

JVC, “What’s a dendroid?”'

Me, after retrieving a paperback Dictionary from my office, “Dendroid… resembling a shrub or tree.”

JVC shrugged his shoulders.

Me, “I like Treefolk, but I could live with Dendroid,”

JVC, “Let’s go with Dendroid, until we think of something better.”

Well, we never thought of anything better, and to be perfectly honest, the name grew on me.

As a bonus, in hindsight, we probably avoided a potential copyright issue with Dungeons & Dragons.

Treant? Tree of Knowledge?
Gold Golem
Diamond Golem
Fleshly Giant concept, however in one of the RoE cinematic it's clearly shown that final form is made out of stone.
Imp
Cerberus
Pit Fiend
Archdevil by George Almond
Vampire.
Lich.
Lich.
Death Knight
Bone Dragon
Bone Dragon
Ghost Dragon
Troglodite by George Almond
Troglodite by George Almond
Troglodite by George Almond
Troglodite by George Almond
Beholder by George Almond
Medusa by George Almond
Minotaur
Minotaur
Manticore
Dragon
Barbarian Hero
Goblin
Goblin
Orc
Roc
Cyclop by George Almond
Lizardman
Basilisk
Wyvern
Hydra by George Almond
Unknown creature.
Earth Elemental
Water Elemental by George Almond
Water Elemental by George Almond
Rogue by George Almond
Early Behemoth concept, later received name "Lobstrosity".
Beholder dwelling
Beholder dwelling
Rampart Grail
Fortress Town
Towns concepts by Louis Henderson^[7]
Lean-to by George Almond
Troll Bridge by George Almond
Mystic Garden (Mystic Pond in the release), Rampart town.
Shipyard
Castle Town, marketplace
Dwarf dwelling by George Almond
Inferno prison by George Almond
Rampart tavern by George Almond
Tavern by George Almond
Inferno tavern by George Almond
Troglodyte Dwelling (brain building) by George Almond
Solmyr
Ryland by George Almond