Reports on online games and their confirmations (Autumn 2009 season).

numOne (blue, dungeon, Shakti, Shakti) def Wlk777 (red, swamp, Wystan, Wystan), 2sm4d(3), 214

A very even draft for both. Roads were fast; my secondaries were Barbarian, Castle; Valentin's were Conflux, Necropolis. I was born in the basement; after the first day, Shakti on an angel with a log. In one direction, a portal and exit to the surface via the road; I pushed through in the other direction hoping for external dwellings. No external dwellings and the respawn was generally poor, but I found another Griffin Conservatory, again a mini — excellent. I send back; Tsielka on 2 angels pushes through, captures the Castle, then Shakhtyor takes Barbarian and, along the way, a Hive of 8. At home, cats in the Citadel.
On the second, I take 2 Dwarf Cottages (max and pre-max), a Chain +4, Cuirass +1 to all, go into the Inferno treasure zone; there's an external dwelling of Efreeti, a couple of Pandora's Boxes, another Hive, Shield +4... In general, until week 4 we didn't contact each other, since no quick passage was observed; I messed up once by entering a treasure zone, and it turned out to be bugged, with two sections having no passage. (Valentin, as it turned out, wasn't wasting time either and managed to clear as many as 5(!) drowners. I partially saw his movements in the Inferno treasure zone that I hadn't managed to fully clear myself.)
Meanwhile, I was operating in my native treasure zone; there were 2 external dwellings of cats and 1 of dragons. All would be fine, but on 211, Wystan, via Dimension Door, takes my capital, but doesn't have enough space to actually occupy it :). I send over, recapture the castle with a scout hero, and Shakhtyor, after buying back, attacks the hapless Wystan.
First battle: stats roughly equal: 20 20 15 15, both have expert Offense and Defense. Wystan almost out of mana, but I have plenty of mana and have Resurrection.
Wystan has: 30 gr. Minotaurs, 15 gr. Pit Fiends, 30 Dragons, a couple of Hydras, Wyverns.
Shakti has: 40+ Dragons, 15 gr. Cats, 25 gr. Medusas, 35 gr. Evil Eyes, 2 Angels, 11 Efreeti.
I cast Mass Shield, Valentin casts Mass Haste; after killing all my Efreeti and damaging my troops somewhat, but losing almost everything except Gorgons, Wystan buys back.
I relaxed a bit. On the next turn, I night-stay in the opponent's Conflux secondary. Wystan, meanwhile, having replenished his mana and bought the growth, comes to meet me... On my turn, I pick up +15% to shooting, Gloves, and a Sword +5 to all. I thought about also grabbing the Lightning Pendant, but didn't make it. Wystan attacks via Dimension Door, having equipped Shackles of War!! Both of us have almost full mana; my focus is on 40 Dragons, the opponent's on 30 gr. Gorgons.
First turn, I get hit with an Implosion for 3000 — goodbye Dragons :smile07:; I resurrect them; Valentin takes them out with either Implosion or Chain Lightning. Toward the end, there was a moment when I had 1 Evil Eye left, and Valentin had 20+ Minotaurs and 90 summoned Earth Elementals, but he had mana for only 1 Bolt, while I had enough for 4 Resurrections — that's how I managed to win. Another nuance: having 30% Magic Resistance, only 1 spell was reflected during the entire battle, but at the most critical moment :smile54:.
In short, I held on by a hair and won.

Thanks for the game and for the feedback!