Tactics for the Swamp (Fortress).

If there are many Hives

On a random map, there is usually always a Hive, you just need to look carefully ;)

if you found sulfur

You don't need that much of it, and if not hydras, then it's almost always possible to build all but hydras in the first week, if not in Castle, then at least in Stronghold.

And what if Rampart found crystal deposits and managed to build golden dragons by the end of the second week.

Exactly, comparing the value of structures between the Swamp and Rampart isn't quite right, because Rampart is one of the expensive towns, unlike the Swamp.

Nothing will be left of the Swamp, not a trace.

That's a debatable statement:)

By the way, taking a Dragon Utopia in week 2 is a utopia :-)
Even if it's the easiest one. (well, in theory, of course, anything is possible, but in practice it's hardly feasible)
If you're lucky, in week 4 you can give it a try — earlier is unlikely.

I have never taken a Dragon Utopia in the second week, but strong players do it, and without much trouble. I haven't reached that level yet, but I can assure you that I managed it in the third week, and without much difficulty.

but Swamp dwellers are distinguished by weak magic.

Qwerty wrote above that:

Magic? What's wrong with a spellbook from a Dragon Utopia? For example, Earth or Air... Pandora's Boxes can also be dug up.

Personally, lately when playing as Swamp with Tazar, I usually went with a book of Fire and decent magic parameters.

Well, I don't know, I rarely play on random maps and I don't play on 160, only on 200.

If you're already comparing with Rampart, then on 200% difficulty it's much harder to develop it than the Swamp.

And only on L and XL maps. There, Swamp absolutely definitely DOES NOT RULE

Everything I said above assumes playing on 160 and on an L-sized map with an underground ;)

and Necropolis, by the way, isn't exactly the strongest either (unless of course you found the Cloak of the Undead King).

Actually, on L and XL maps, Necropolis is even scarier, and defeating it is very, very difficult if you don't find it within the first 2-3 weeks.