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2 Feanor, check out FizMig, it has information about all of this.
Let me explain the castle selection in more detail.
If you choose Rampart, you'll find Ivor there. You can recruit centaurs and elves from other heroes, or maybe even bribe some more – and you'll have an army capable of breaking through many things, like Crypts, for example.
If you choose Castle, you'll get Valeska. Recruit spearmen and archers from other heroes, and go on the offensive.
If you choose Dungeon, you'll get Shakti. Recruit troglodytes from other heroes, upgrade them, and break through a lot of things.
Necropolis is usually not a good choice.
As for the Barbarians, their starting troops are either not powerful enough or not in sufficient numbers. That's why Barbarians are chosen less often, specifically because of the problem with the very early start.

Орден Феникса – харизматический :) лидер