Walkthroughs for custom maps.

Did you even read what was written? :) The point is that only the HD mod helps to overcome the game's freezing issues, and without it, continuing is simply impossible. Personally, I never try to create a perfectly optimal setup; I only focus on the critical things needed to complete the game, in cases where the author didn't provide them. For example, I didn't get Slow and Resurrection in my home cities, but I didn't start over: I'm hoping to make it through with what I have (Slow and something else I learned in a captured enemy city).