HumanSt
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I want to respond.
Firstly, I said that the Castle Ability (CA) might not even help. That is, at a certain level of development, the Hive can lose even with a CA.
Secondly, regarding the Demons, simply increasing the army by 40% is easily compensated for by training. Besides, 40% is not a given, because you can't summon the strongest Tier 7 creature – that's one; Paladins might be able to eliminate some of the Demon's units before they can summon – that's two; to win, it's not necessary to kill all the summoned creatures – that's three...
Thirdly, regarding the Dwarves and campaigns, it has long been noticed that if you play the game a second time, when you already know what to expect and how to develop best, it is much easier to cope with the standard opponent. That is, it is not a fact that the effect is solely due to the CA.
Fourthly, regarding the fact that Humans became stronger with the appearance of the Red faction. Other factions also received an alternative upgrade, and it is debatable which faction it strengthened more. In the case of the Demons, the alternative upgrade, in my opinion, gives much more advantages than for the Hive...
With CA, of course, it's easier to play, but Humans manage perfectly well without it.
Regarding "secondly," either way, at level 23, the Knight of the Paladins will have a lot, but the Demon can be developed in different ways, both with and without CA, and in the second case, in my opinion, it will be much easier for him, because the CA for the Demon boosts the least useful skills, and in general, level 23 is not that much on a large map, and on a small map, it is unlikely that anyone will bother developing the CA... although, in principle, the same Demons, Silvans, and Tower factions can try because they have a good CA and (most importantly) development doesn't cripple them much.
Regarding "thirdly," you are right, but we are talking not about the campaign as a whole, but about a specific battle. Yes, I knew that Laslo would come in the middle of the second month and that he would be well-developed, and how did that help me??? Laslo was still strong, he arrived at the same time, I had the same level and the same... eee... problem with the economy (half of the troops are not bought back in the castle). You can't put troops in another corner, not opposite him – no way, his troops are always opposite. In general, the only difference was that this time I had a CA, my knowledge of this campaign in that specific battle didn't help me at all. But the CA helped, and VERY MUCH, I repeat, Laslo was almost helpless, I even felt a little sorry for him :D
Regarding "fourthly," that's a separate topic. I will only say that IMO (!) the alternative upgrade strengthened the factions unevenly, and Humans and Silvans benefited the most.
Added 8 minutes ago
And if you play several battles in a row, you might run out of mana, in my opinion, there is no such thing as too much mana, there is only not enough. Regarding buying, I meant not experience, but the fact that magic in skills can be replaced with something else, for example, with luck or attack.