At the beginning of each scenario, the player could adjust the difficulty level and choose a starting bonus that usually included extra units, resources, skills, or a unique item. The storylines of the eight installments follow the rise and fall of the tragic hero Tarnum. His initial rise to power is chronicled in the "Warlords of the Wasteland" installment, set prior to the events of "Heroes of Might and Magic III", with all of the other installments occurring after the events of "Heroes of Might and Magic III". Half of the installments featured self-contained storylines, while the two downloadable titles "The World Tree" and "The Fiery Moon" shared a storyline and the last installment, "The Sword of Frost," served as a direct sequel to the fourth installment "Clash of the Dragons." Tarnum would reappear in "Heroes of Might and Magic IV".