Reports on online games and their confirmations (Summer 2008 season).

Lider1 (red, Dungeon, Shakti, Galthran) def Babek (blue, Swamp, Tazar, Tazar) 2SM4d(3) 2.3.4

We played hot-seat.

Gosha appeared as the sixth hero in the tavern, decided to level him.

On the first week, days 1-5 in the Stronghold, external dwelling of Minotaurs, portal, +1000, human secondary hero +1000. The map is very poor. A Dragon Utopia scouted in the treasure zone.

On the second week, upgraded archers and farmed skeletons.

1.3.1 Griffin Conservatory — tier 3.
1.3.2 I see Tazar coming to visit me, a horde of Wyverns and Gorgons filled me with terror.
1.3.3. I sit in the castle. He doesn't dare attack, turns around and runs home, towards the Dragon Utopia.
I buy whatever I can and run to the treasure zone (the swamp one! :( ), picking up 4 beehives along the way. (days 4-6 Wyverns)

Fourth day, another 2 beehives, just minimal units and a Priest (days 4-6 Wyverns). I take the Dragon Utopia — also minimal. I emerge onto the Conflux respawn, another Dragon Utopia — tier 3.

During this week I lose my native castles, but capture Conflux.

2.1.2 I transfer troops to the noob and take the Griffin Conservatory for 2 Angels. Tazar gets defeated, and the poorly set up chains fail to deliver troops to the destination.
On 2.1.3 I try to catch and kill through the underground, but I'm 6 hexes short :(. I build Mage Guild level 1.
2.1.4 I get beaten, Mage Guild level 2, Gosha 9 20 16 (60) has Lightning Bolt.
And again into the swamp! (, during the week another beehive and an external dwelling of Angels are taken.
Tazik is stalling and sitting in the castle. His noobs are clearing the Griffin Conservatories.

I take another 2 beehives, Gauntlets, Sphere of Air, and finally get out of the swamp!
On 2.2.5 Tazik attacks!

Tazik: 15 21 16 (150) level 18, 9 Angels, 35 Gorgons, 33 Wyverns, 17 Minotaurs, 46 Fire Flies, 28 Evil Eyes, 12 Basiliks.

Gosha: 9 20 17 (50) level 18, 7 Angels, 51 Wyverns, 33 Minotaurs, 19 Eyes, 8 Medusas, and 22 Harpies.

After we exchange Mass Slow, I start sniping with Lightning Bolt. Luckily, mana is abundant. Tazik buys his way out. (He had the Speaker's Hat, but decided a Helm +6 all was better :D)

I capture my human secondary town, another external dwelling of Angels in the treasure zone, and build Angels in the Stronghold.

Tazik jumps into the same treasure zone too. I've never seen such a rich treasure zone, almost 6 Dragon Utopias in a row (it compensated for the poor map at the very beginning :) ).

2.3.4 Tazik also takes Wings. He Dimension Doors next to me, I was about to surrender, no chance at all. But! He gets greedy! And wants to take another Dragon Utopia! He's 3 hexes short (and I have enough reach to get him! :)) This time Tazar was "smarter" and put on the Speaker's Hat, or rather, he never took it off, because he didn't think I could reach him with Expert Logistics and Gauntlets.
I attack:
Taz: level 21, 26 19 10 (30) 4 Angels, 44 Wyverns, 34 Gorgons, 5 Hydras, 21 Greater Basiliks, 7 Wasps, 13 Lizardmen.

Gosha: level 19, 12 23 21 (120) 12 Angels, 67 Wyverns, 33 Minotaurs, 6 Monks, 10 Champions, 15 Eyes, 66 Troglodytes.

His mana was enough for one Implosion (1050), my Lightning Bolt for 950 with 8 mana was more :) !!!

And the Shackles of War were uncompromising with Expert Diplomacy!

Thanks for the game!!! A very exciting match, at times I was just surviving in it! And I won because I didn't give up!