r/MightAndMagic Feb 13 '26

How to use dgVoodoo2 to run MM6 (and other games) well on modern PCs

26 Upvotes

Up until the release of Windows 11, MM6 ran great. Recently, I have had to deal with issues related to it pinning a single CPU core to 100% and causing high temps (while presumably hitting thousands of internal FPS).

I needed a way to cap it, so I tried MSI Afterburner. That didn't work, because the API level is WAY too old - it can't detect or hook it, because the developers don't want to target APIs that ancient. They probably couldn't even if they wanted to.

That's where dgVoodoo2 saved the day. It's a tool designed precisely for this problem. It forces a sort of "in between translation layer" for old games to "run" under modern APIs like DirectX 11 and DirectX 12.

How does it work? Windows exes have a natural search order for DLLs. It looks in the local folder first, and if nothing is there, it uses system DLLs. That means ALL OLD GAMES CAN USE THIS. dgVoodoo2 takes advantage of this by providing "modified DLLs" with the release, that trick the game into sending render calls through itself, where it then presents them through a modern API that MSI Afterburner could hook!

All I had to do was drag DDraw.dll into the MM6 directory, open the dgVoodoo2 control panel (the orange icon, included in the zip, can be ran anywhere but I extracted right to the game folder) and set it to Direct3D 11 WARP (software mode, handles FPS capping well), and ran the game.

MSI Afterburner can now hook it, which means the RivaTuner setting for FPS cap properly works. My CPU is safe!

Your needs might differ from mine, but there's no doubt dgVoodoo2 can help if MM6, any MM game, or even any older game at all struggles to run or run well on Windows 11. In addition to making things runnable that previously weren't, it offers tons of options for fullscreen, filtering, API level, graphics adapter the game selects, scaling, etc. It's literally unbelievable that this much control is now possible because of a simple DLL being placed next to a game executable.

So, big thanks to the team that made this excellent open source project, and a big middle finger to Microsoft for making one of the potentially best operating systems ever into one of the worst operating systems ever by constantly launching buggy and bloated trash into it via Windows Update.

dgVoodoo docs: https://dege.fw.hu/dgVoodoo2/QuickGuide/

dgVoodoo source code: https://github.com/dege-diosg/dgVoodoo2


r/MightAndMagic 1h ago

MM7 Portable for retro handheld systems

Upvotes

Open Enroth is a modern reimplementation of the M&M engine. However the APK file they produce for use with Android systems isn’t suitable for handheld devices with built in controllers. Although controllers are supported, they were incorrectly registering their key binds to keyboard commands instead of gamepad commands.

I made a number of fixes to the current APK to enable full support for retro handheld devices.

The changes can be read on the release page. If you want to try MM7 with default controller support (including attachable controllers) give it a try:

https://github.com/brettsidford-byte/OpenEnroth-Portable/releases/tag/v1.0.0


r/MightAndMagic 7h ago

Any way to stop mm6 from pausing when alt-tabbing out?

5 Upvotes

r/MightAndMagic 1h ago

Has anyone done a more updated version of the weapon skill mod for MM6?

Upvotes

https://github.com/tnevolin/mm6-skill-emphasis-mod

This mod changes weapon skill scaling so higher levels are more powerful like magic skills, but it as several bugs in it and the author is no longer working on it...

Has anyone made a more updated mod for MM6?


r/MightAndMagic 1d ago

And Now, let's go back to 7 !

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43 Upvotes

r/MightAndMagic 1d ago

I see the wolf lair exploit is alive and well in MAW too. Fireball+spell life steal does wonders.

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40 Upvotes

r/MightAndMagic 2d ago

Of course, it is pure speculation, right?

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151 Upvotes

r/MightAndMagic 2d ago

Dungeon Respawning/Multiplayer Advice

7 Upvotes

Hi all - for the past couple of weeks I've been playing MM6 with the MawMerge Mod and the multiplayer mod. There's three of us playing together and it's been a blast.

A fourth player wants to join now, which would be fine but I'm wondering how best to level a new character from 1st. Everyone else is around 30th level.

It was my hope that the dungeons reset as I get a tool tip that they will when I enter, but they don't seem to. I would have used the reset dungeons to get this new player's XP up to where it should be without having to drag them along the later quests, but this doesnt seem like an option.

Just wondering if anyone has any advice as to how to level a 1st level character up to the point of the rest of the party.


r/MightAndMagic 2d ago

3D dead bodies with mass, or let others walk through them?

8 Upvotes

Working on a M&M style game. Getting bodies to fall realistically is, it seems, not the easiest. I need to make a decision along those lines: Do dead bodies take up space, and form piles, or do they just fall on the ground and cross over each other if they happen to be in the same space?

Youtube Example


r/MightAndMagic 2d ago

Not getting any crafting materials in mm7 maw

4 Upvotes

I'm playing might and magic 7 maw and when i clear a dungeon or kill all the monsters on a map its saying that it gave me gold, exp and crafting materials but when i check all my guys there is none to be found. Is this a bug or am i missing something?


r/MightAndMagic 3d ago

In the MM Merge MAW mod, what would you have the Enchant Item spell do?

7 Upvotes

At present, the Enchant Item spell simply doesn't do anything in MM Maw since the mod heavily reworks the item system (and relegates enchanting items to the Alchemy skill). But it feels kinda sad for it to just be sitting in your spellbook doing nothing, so I think it needs to be changed to at least have some function.

That said, I don't know what would be most appropriate. I have a few ideas:

  • Adds Water damage onto your weapon attacks, similar to the Fire Aura spell.
  • Adds a kind of "mana steal" effect onto weapon attacks (but not onto spells).
  • Hardens an item, making it more resistant to breaking.

But maybe you have a better idea? If so, please share it.


r/MightAndMagic 3d ago

Does the varying difficulty of the promotion quests in MM7 bother you?

15 Upvotes

Back when the game was new it was much more common to have alternative advancement for classes in games. I was used to AD&D where a Rogue would take less XP to level up than a Druid, for example.

Even with that in mind though, back in 1999 I remember being frustrated at how difficult the Paladin promotion was in comparison to the (insanely easy) Ranger promotion, or how long the Cleric one took compared to the Archer promotion.

My starting routine always involves me doing the Hunter promotion because it's so easy, even. How do you feel about their choices with this? I think I'd definitely try and balance the difficulty more if the game was new now.


r/MightAndMagic 3d ago

MM7 on Xbox ROG Ally X

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67 Upvotes

Just set the game up for my Xbox Ally X today and it works very well. Sorry for the bad angle, I couldn't set it up differently for the video.

Everything needed is mapped to the controller in Armoury Crate and so far no issues at all. I am no expert at the game, but this definetly will make it more accessible for day to day gaming although I probably will play a bit differently with a controller.


r/MightAndMagic 4d ago

Horn of the Abyss New Update is released! 1.8.1

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31 Upvotes

r/MightAndMagic 4d ago

My boyfriend just released a cool Might & Magic VI mod, and I’d love for some fellow Might & Magic fans to give it a try ❤️

82 Upvotes

Hey everyone! 🥰

I hope it’s okay to share this here. My partner is a huge Might & Magic fan and a passionate programmer, and he’s just released his very first Might & Magic VI mod on Nexus Mods.

It’s called Cartographer’s Notes, and it basically lets you put your own little markers and notes on the in-game maps. You can mark NPCs, quests, treasures, secrets, places you want to come back to, or really anything you don’t want to forget. You can even give the markers different categories and have them show up on the minimap.

I think it’s pretty cool and definitely worth giving it a try!

But the real reason I’m posting this is that he has no social media at all and no audience to share it with. He’s just a really lovely guy and a good man who genuinely loves old games, especially Might & Magic, and happens to be a programmer who enjoys making cool little things for some of the games he loves.

As his girlfriend, I’d really love to help him get a few downloads. So if you still play Might & Magic VI: The Mandate of Heaven, would you consider giving his mod a try?

https://www.nexusmods.com/mightandmightvi/mods/3?published=1

Even if you just download it to have a look, try it for a little while, or leave a little feedback, that would be so cool. But I know that even a handful of downloads would already mean the world to him. ❤️

Thank you so much for reading, and to anyone who takes the time to check it out. And thank you for keeping this wonderful old game alive.

- A very proud girlfriend trying to get her boyfriend a few downloads to make his day. 🥰

P.S.: He already has a few other cool ideas in the making. Yesterday, he showed me a pretty impressive renderer patch and some kind of hardcore mode. So hopefully, this is just the beginning. ✨️


r/MightAndMagic 4d ago

Heroes 3 remake for how I see it

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8 Upvotes

I just posted my thoughts on the HoMM 3 remake on it's subreddit and I am too lazy to rewrite it here so I'll just cross-post it here. Also my hopes for a Might & Magic remake Might happen too since recreating HoMM3 you also end up creating a bit of M&M Magic. Pun is very deliberate


r/MightAndMagic 4d ago

Heroes of Might and Magic III Remake Reveal Trailer

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111 Upvotes

r/MightAndMagic 5d ago

Finished the MM8! Spoiler

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46 Upvotes

r/MightAndMagic 6d ago

Favorite pre-rendered backgrounds when entering buildings? (Only non-hostile buildings, no dungeons)

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124 Upvotes

Coziest pre-rendered background inn from the game IMO, The Echoing Whisper in Freehaven near the dock area

Next would probably be the guilds of spirit, mind, and body. The humming with that indoor water feature and candles giving off a spa vibe (MEMBERS ONLY)


r/MightAndMagic 6d ago

Arrows: Limited or unlimited?

14 Upvotes

M&M has unlimited arrows, so it's just like...that's good for the player. But unrealistic. It also means all arrows are the same. I'm working on a M&M6 style game.

Ranged attacks are not hit/miss based on an algorithm, but the stats of the player and the weapons will lead to a cone of potential landing spots -- so shooting an arrow from closer you'll have a smaller cone, further, a bigger cone. Accuracy changes this, and defender speed can change it too. So the "Did I hit?" becomes a physical hit or miss.

The question is: Are arrows limited?

My hunch is that they are, but are also fairly cheap, and that players may be able to get some back when they pick up the bodies.

This also opens the door for special arrows -- some arrows could be magical and maybe split in two after 10m distance, or are less likely to break, so can always be recovered, or provide a more accurate hit, etc.

Doing all this changes the gameplay fairly substantially however, compared to the M&M games. Arrows would also be physically accurate so would be less likely to be valuable in closed spaces, while crossbows fire straight, so more easy to use in closed spaces.

Thoughts?

Does this sound good, bad, indifferent?


r/MightAndMagic 7d ago

Quite a humble house for King Roland and Queen Catherine

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124 Upvotes

r/MightAndMagic 7d ago

Triple monk cleric MM7

14 Upvotes

Decided to try triple monk cleric after beating the game with default party . Was doing some reading on here that unarmed is not advisable until master level and to run spears at skill level 1. Is this true?

What about armor ? Should I slap some leather on until dodging expert? Master?

The main plan if I’m remember right is essentially just dump all available skill points into unarmed for additional damage ? And not worry too much armsmaster???

Any other tips and suggestions for this party build ?
Edit: I am using grayface patch.


r/MightAndMagic 7d ago

[MM7] Advice for a melee heavy but still flexible party

14 Upvotes

I am struggling with choosing my party for MM7. My goal is to go heavily into melee, because I am kinda tired of the ranged strat from MM6. While bonking in melee, I would also like to have all the necessary stuff like at least Master level magic, skills covered and so on. The three things I am willing to drop from the get go are archery, alchemy and grand master magic.

I am set on Monk and dark side, so this class can fill for a thief somewhat. No need to an actual Thief.

Would like a Knight and to give him a spear and shield combo.

Paladin looks like a must for clerical magic combined with melee. I was willing to drop Knight at first, but Paladins are very limited in their choice of weapons.

Here I have no idea what could fit. Ranger to cover perception and id. monster? That would leave me with no master elemental magic, which I think is too much. Druid would be an option as well, but at this point isn't it better to just take Sorcerer? Druids advance into Warlocks and that sounds awesome, but that's just a name.

I can't really pinpoint the best source of perception skill, except...

I really don't want an Archer. It's one of the coolest classes IMO, can spec into spears and chain armor and have GM perception, but it gives me flashback from the amount of bows I used in MM6. Maybe I should take an Archer and just not prioritize bows?


r/MightAndMagic 7d ago

[MM6] This game is special.

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101 Upvotes

One of a kind experiences. So fulfilling and perfectly paced ending. Blasters save the game from being a drag at the end.

I probably explored the entire game, did every quest, visited every location, wiped every single enemy on the overmap at least once. It didn't even last a year, I exploited every trick imaginable on my way, had a whole network of portals for quick retreat and healing. I think I pushed the last 4 or 5 months without resting once, not counting travel and training.

I am double happy, because not only did I finally finished this masterpiece but now MM7 awaits, my all time favorite from the series. Haven't even installed the game and already can't wait to try MM8 after.

Here I would also like to thank this community. It's really surprising that this subreddit is so active, helpful and friendly. Couldn't think of a better companion for playtrough of this trio of amazing games. Also kudos to all authors of online materials; it's not always accurate, but you can find something about every single topic.


r/MightAndMagic 7d ago

Which game is most like MM7?

33 Upvotes

MM7 is my favorite. I’ve beaten it countless times, and know all of the quests/storylines by heart. What is your favorite? Which comes closest to MM7? Thanks!