With restarts we picked everything we could. The last generation was just terrible. Even though I spawned at the top and had gogs built, the roads were slow, and I didn't have much money. There's one external dwelling of gogs and a Griffin Conservatory. My opponent has one road to ГО, but tons of external dwellings and two Griffin Conservatories. Midweek, I decide to break through the secondary hero's guard (50-99 harpies) with a weak mage without magic, and it turns out there are nearly 70 of them. It was a long struggle. I only broke through with 15 gogs. I get to the secondary town, and there's a block (50-99 gr. demons :D ), which I attacked with my main hero and couldn't handle :rolleyes: Having lost my entire army and a money hero on week 1, I was ready to surrender immediately with no chance... But since it's a tournament, I decide to keep playing! With the remaining three heroes, I build a chain to break through those 15 demons :D End of the week: pit fiends + hell hounds in the stronghold + cages and 1000 gold, my opponent has cerberi in the stronghold.
On 121, I hire a hero from the tavern, kill the demons, and capture the Tower secondary town. It turned out to have decent money. I buy Alkin. I give him 7 pit fiends and off he goes. He breaks through to the Dungeon secondary town. There are, of course, shooter blockers... Only 4 pit fiends remain, but I took the Dungeon, and also captured a Gnoll chain +4 attack. I spent the entire second week gathering resources. I built 1000 gold and marketplaces in the secondary towns, and in the main town, efreet in the castle and Mage Guild level 2. Money is decent.
On 131, I hire my main hero. From neutrals, I cut +8 demons. I check the Griffin Conservatory — minimum spawn. Took it without losses (which, you'll agree, is strange on day 131 :D ) and take a Naga bank. On 132, Theodorus appears on an angel, targeting my Dungeon secondary town. But I noticed him too late, and there was no way to fight my way back there. I didn't want to attack with a weak hero to avoid risking an army wipe. I gave up the Dungeon. Luna emerged from there, I attacked her, but only lost my pit fiends. Then a few more runs, and they killed off some of my demons... Ignissa shows up with the full army. I make a bunch of splits to buy a spellbook in Inferno, split back to the Dungeon, buy an Altar of Wishes there to gain a level, which offered Expert Water Magic or Basic Logistics. I declined Logistics. I'm ready to hold a siege in the fort. But Ignissa turns around and heads to my treasure zone. There, she frees a mage — Aenain level 20!!!! :eek:
On 141, I bring in the weekly growth and go deal with the mage, taking advantage of the fact that he most likely has no magic, only scrolls. It was a tough battle. Aenain retreats, pays 13000, rehires in Conflux, and prepares to hit ГО. I build a chain back home. The fight for ГО takes very long but is won. Aenain doesn't make it to the castle. I split with Alkin and attack! Victory! Alkin, despite inferior stats (7-8-4-4) vs (8-10-10-10), confidently handles the mage thanks to Expert Defense, Expert Offense, and Expert Water Magic — in the best traditions of TK-3!
Thanks for the game, Pasha. It was very interesting and dangerous. You had every chance.