Sacred Tree

No, there are no double standards, although this feeling is certainly subjective. In the map "Two Sisters," the strategy remains almost unchanged until the end of the game. In your map, the strategy only exists up to a certain point. The question is, "where are we going?" (a principle that was often declared in Heroes 5). With respect for your serious work, which I apparently don't fully understand.

I think this is a matter of taste. I, for example, enjoy playing both strategic scenarios (I recently enjoyed playing "The Veil Falls" by RedHeavenHero) and more adventure-oriented maps. Regarding the "principles of Heroes 5": even in the developers' campaigns, there are usually both missions with strategic gameplay and "exploration" (as you call it) without cities. The game initially allows you to create maps in various genres, and this is what makes it interesting.