The cheat codes for the game are all references to Monty Python and the Holy Grail. Similarly, the cheats in the game's expansion packs Armageddon's Blade and The Shadow of Death are references to Star Wars: Episode I and The Matrix.

There was originally going to be a joke creature in the game called Lobstrosity. The creature would have been part of an Easter egg triggered by entering a cheat code. The name Lobstrosity is a reference to Lobstrosities from Stephen King's The Dark Tower series of novels.

New World Computing scrapped an entire faction that was planned to appear in Armageddon's Blade called Heavenly Forge. Carrying on the tradition of implementing aspects of both science-fiction and high fantasy in the games (which had been a factor in the Might and Magic series since its 1986 origin), the town was to be predominantly technology-oriented. It showcased at E3 1999, with concept art released to GameSpot and several fansites. Roughly a week after the concept art was unveiled, GameSpot's Micheal Mullen interviewed Heroes III designer Gregory Fulton. Fulton revealed that the Forge had, in response to fan demand, been removed from Armageddon's Blade. It was to be replaced with the Elemental Conflux faction, which had been on the drawing board for a second expansion pack.

The developers received less than 100 emails requesting the removal of the Forge faction from the Armageddon's Blade expansion, but at least one email was a death threat. The threat led to designer Greg Fulton quitting his job.