A huge problem in Multiplayer

[Silva Darkmoon]

Hello Steam community. Given the age of this game and the technical nature of my problem, I doubt anyone will be able to help me, but I haven't found anything similar to my problem on google, and it's making the game almost unplayable.

My friend has had HOMM5 TOE since it came out, and we used to play it all the time. Recently, I got the steam version and we started playing online, seeing as I moved. A few nights ago, we played a game perfectly fine online, using the Ubi.com setting. The bar filled up to indicate the player's turns, and everything worked perfectly fine.

However, yesterday, and today, whenever we try to start a game, the bar no longer fills up, and whenever my friend bought a hero, MY game crashed. We tried all different types of things that could help. Playing as different races, changing the size of the map, removing the tear of Asha (the game that worked didn't have one), but every single time my friend bought a hero, my gam crashed.

Then we tried loading up the map that we played that first night, and the bar still filled up, and the game didn't crash when he bought a hero. That appears to be the only map that works. We tried with both his steam and retail versions of the game. I tried reinstalling as well. And then, in our last attempt, I bought a hero, and HIS game crashed. It makes no sense, and basically forces us to retain a single type of town the entire game. Any techies out there have any clue what could be causing this? As I mentioned, I searched google relentlessly and found nothing.

PS. We're also having trouble resuming saved games. It gives me a checksum error.

[Def]

Try using the same EXE file as your friend.

[Silva Darkmoon]

We have. I think. We've both been launching it from steam itself, so I would imagine that would be the same exe file. And if it were a problem with the EXE file, why would one map work, but every other map we make not?

EDIT: Also, I just had him send me his EXE file, in case you meant to literally use the same EXE. Nothing changed.

[Def]

Which map is it that works?

EDIT: Have you both tried to verify game files through steam?

EDIT2: As a last resort, you could try using BitTorrent Sync to make sure you have EXACTLY the same files on both of your computers. Make sure to NOT make the folder read only when you send the invitation to your friend.

[Silva Darkmoon]

We have been generating our own maps. However, we seem to have encountered the source. The game identifies when we end our turns, but apparently nothing else is connected. He got to the same territory as me and we didn't see each other. Then he took a town. The next turn, it was still neutral, so I fought the SAME army he had fought and took the same town. Cartographers revealed that the game thought he was just sitting at his base not building or training anything. The only thing we shared was the ending of our turns. We are both going to try full reinstalls next. I was the only one to do so before.

[DS9]

I suggest u try a hot seat game on both computers just to see if it is the ubi.com messing up or the map or the computer settings(IE version.) In the past I have had issues useing ubi.com with out DMZing the host... I have port forwarded but the DMZ seems to be the least buggy. (If you need help setting ports or DMZ on modem/router check the company's website)
If at all possable i would suggest playing over WAN/LAN.

Also there are Fan made random map generators, these seem to have less bugs and more customazation. You may wanna check maps4heroes and download a few premade maps.

Just to let you know, in the 'maps' folder found in your HoMM:TotE folder, you and your friend need the SAME maps(ALL of them not just the one your playing)

Honestly it sounds like a map issue, but it could just as easy be a software glitch or even something Ive never seen be4. If you need links cause your unable to search for them, let me know.

Best of luck!

[dredknight]

You can try out the mod below. It fixes a lot of issues in multiplayer games.

Thread of the MOD -> http://heroescommunity.com/viewthread.php3?TID=41303
Facebook page of the mod so you can ask questions -> https://www.facebook.com/mightandmagicheroes5.5
How to install the mod -> https://www.facebook.com/notes/might-magic-heroes-55/installation-guide/760314834079382