2010

Wic (red, Tower, Serena, Neela) def Volland (blue, Conflux, Aenain, CragHack) @ 8mm6a, 125

Knowing that the opponent does not like and cannot play Flax, I gave him exactly that town on the random slot. I myself got Tower, which is quite good when starting with a random hero.

Scouted the terrain from the lookout, found 4 external dwellings of gremlins, a Griffin Conservatory, and a pile of gold. In the tavern: Neela with Jabarkas. Decided to split duties — Jabarkas went off-road to break crypts and Dwarf Cottages, and Neela headed to fight the neutral, where she picked up Offense on the first level-up; the main hero was decided.

On 113, I ran into an empty castle, saw two heroes from the scout view. Bought an 8th hero, collected a couple of chests, and was one tile short of returning to the castle :(. Fired him.

Bought a 9th hero, ran to trash the neutral, got distracted by chests along the way and was one tile short again :(. What clownery...

Fired someone, bought a 10th, finally reached the neutral, after the battle fired him and brought Neela out of the castle (the second neutral hero is far away, but you never know if he'll run over).

After all the proceedings, I had 500 gold left and a debt of 2K. Had to build a market in town.

On 114, during the turn transition, he not only reaches Neela but also manages to capture the castle. Bastard :( ... I kill him, buy back Neela, transfer troops back to her, Jabarkas breaks another crypt and a Dwarf Cottage.

On 115, I dismiss Neela home, run to take the Dwarf Cottages in another part of the respawn. Somewhere around here I notice that the neutral's castle has grayed out, but I just can't be bothered to roll back.

On 117, Naga at home in the Citadel, Neela picked up Tactics and Air (in the hut).

On 121, Neela takes the last Dwarf Cottage, dismisses home to refill mana. Upgrade for Gargoyles.

On 122, upgrade for Naga, Neela takes a Naga Bank tier-3, runs off-road to the Conservatory, Air is already Expert, Haste is there.

On 123, a scout hero sent ahead checks the Conservatory — min, and takes it. MaMa turns around and runs to the center, enters the village.

On 124, Crag appeared in the one-way portal. I take a beehive with 8 Wyverns using the scout and run after Crag. Along the way, I take out 3 chain heroes; by the direction of the horses' muzzles, I determine which way Crag fled — toward the green neutral. I send a scout hero into his starting respawn.

On 125, the tavern shows that green is dead, I keep running.

On his turn, Crag attacks — there are 3 Phoenixes and almost all the rest of his power, but Neela has Tactics, Expert Haste, and 245 Gremlins. GG.

Thanks for the game!