It all started with a game on 2sm4d3, where I was dealt something unplayable without rests (a striker with 1 stack, 2 roads to ГО and a horde of gr. lizards, an empty small underground respawn). I poked around for a couple of days, scouting what was possible. I weighed the options for outs, and seeing none, decided to surrender. FTS suggested not counting the game and playing from scratch on another template. For which I am very grateful.

This time random was quite favorable to me, and an interesting game unfolded. I was dealt a large surface respawn with a long road. Along it were several experience stones and Dragon Utopia. Also at the respawn, max cons and necro-boots were found. Aislin, who took expert earth, captured them in the first week. The layout was spoiled by the road — a one-way path into the underground and then to the exit.

But there was a decent detour to a normal road network, which I slowly headed toward around the middle of the second week after taking cons and Dragon Utopia. I got stats and wings in the second Dragon Utopia. A good run started; the angels were working hard. The main army with Tant took a strategically located Castle from the AI at the beginning of the third week. On the way, I managed to stop by the well and spent the night in the city. Around this moment, TP was finished building at home.

Unexpectedly, my Tant with 120 mana, 1 angel, and 500 bones is ambushed by Solmir with 200 mana, 9 angels, 3 birds, ducks, and tower shooters. It turns out to be a very brutal battle; an Armageddon from a scroll and anti-magic cast only in the second round on the angels save me. The opponent has no resurrect, but with air elementals and a mana advantage, he easily outmasses the skeletons. In the end, it's either mutual destruction or Solmir's retreat; the opponent chooses the latter. I somehow fend off the AI with my remaining bones, and the game continues.

Converting everything possible, I get a proper army and start to grow strong. I miscalculate some moves and lose two central cities. A few turns later, I manage to take them back; Alamar on angels finds an area with 2 more Dragon Utopias, from one of which I finally get DD and start taking castles. After a few turns, seeing the archangels and high stats, the opponent surrenders. Thanks for the game!

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