Before you buy this game it may pay to take note of the differences between the offline and online mode for the single-player campaign.
- Unique items called Dynasty weapons are only available in online mode. These items give relatively small initial bonuses at first but increase in power over over time (they gain XP when you use them).
- There are also unique Dynasty traits (which are basically additional starting skills) that are also only available in online mode. These include bonuses to base stats, increased weekly creature growth, decreased building costs and other helpful hero skills.
- At the end of the first mission the game gives you a weapon as a plot device. This weapon turns out to be a Dynasty weapon and is only available in online mode. You can view it and see the stats in offline mode but you cannot equip it. In offline mode the game also frequently reminds you when you can equip Dynasty traits even though you can't actually use them.
- You cannot start a campaign game in offline mode, then change to online mode to access the online features part way through the campaign (and vice versa). You will have to start a new campaign from scratch to change modes.
- Online campaign games are limited to 10 auto-saves and 10 manual-saves. These save games are stored on the Ubisoft servers and cannot be accessed at all when offline or if the Ubisoft servers are having connection difficulties. Offline mode does not have any limitations on save games.
- You will get kicked back to the menu screen during an online game any time your internet connection is disrupted, even momentarily. You will lose all progress (e.g. If you were mid-battle) from your last save.
There are other limitations that involve the Dynasty system when it pertains to single-player custom games, however I haven't covered these. I've also tried to be as impartial as possible so you can make up your own mind about whether to buy the game or not as Ubisoft nor Mighty Ape make it clear what the differences are.
I personally think the system is ridiculous and alienates paying customers. There doesn't seem to be any good reason to restrict the Dynasty based system to being online only. I understand it has implications for online multi-player however I do not believe that single-player gamers should miss out on features if they do not want to play online. It wouldn't feel so crippled if the game did not use the Dynasty weapons as part of the plot and did not continually dangle unreachable carrots in front of you if you chose not to play online. Features that are now online only, worked fine offline in previous iterations of the series. I regret buying Heroes 6 and giving Ubisoft any money at all, I would return the game in a heartbeat if I was able to.