Heroes of Might and Magic 1-5, who plays?

Ive been around the series forever, but only slightly dabbled in it and with my new found love of Civ, it got me kind of wanting to give HOMM a new go. I always had other rpgs lined up before i hit the Heroes, but i got them all and i was asking on some other board about strats, and alot just seems soooo indepth.

My question is, i just want to get started in them...but how do some of you play? Do any of you play on a whim or like play without a set agenda...or like a set pattern and are able to make progress?

I love playing my games kind of my own style without a set pattern thats been established, is it possible with the Heroes games?

i play 5

usually with friends or in between games i play a few maps

just pick a default map, number of computers, keep teams and starting stuff random and play

don't do their campaigns

I mostly play 3. 5 is kinda boring for me.

I usually play Homm 3, coop on hotseat ^^

one game can pretty much take an entire night, but it is fun, and simple ^^^