So, now that I understand DOSBox, I've installed HOMM 1 and started playing again. The campaign is surprisingly good (despite the AI playing to annoy rather than win) so far. It's also refreshing to not have so many things to worry about (like in the later games) no diametrically opposed elemental magic, no "spell points", no special win/lose conditions, just four players, and thier armies.

Though now my mild OCD-ness has made me infuriated with Gamespot for being the only place with the patches for HOMM1, and wanting me to pay them 3.99 a month to download them. (grr...if this were Space Quest, or XCom, or Fallout, I could just go to Age of Heroes or Celestial Havens and find them...but nooooooo). Ah well, I'm sure I'll find *someone* who has them eventually :p . That or I'll find out that the patches don't do anything (compatibility issues with a sound card I don't really have aren't much of a problem for me).