Let's get back to the topic!

Honestly, I think your "fallen ranger" tactic is too adventurous, although it has its merits. This tactic relies too much on chance, for example: whether you get a second Castle, Stronghold, or Necropolis; whether the right skills and artifacts drop. In my opinion, you can pull off an even more unrealistic, but significantly more promising, stunt: start playing as Necropolis, develop Mentorship on your Necromancer hero, and simultaneously wait for Wingheel to appear in the tavern (the chances aren't that high, but they exist). Then, develop Wingheel with: speed aura, retribution, soldier's luck, skilled light, and sharp mind (the probability of getting the necessary skills is quite high). Also, equip him with boots of speed. As a result, you'll have a real killing machine: Wingheel's ability, multiplied by a huge army of undead, allows you to wipe out the entire enemy army with the very first attack – tactic + speed aura + boots of speed = infantry and flying units are already "here" on the first turn; you can gather up to 2000 skeletons and archers in the late game, and with them, Lynchs finish off the rest. And with sharp mind, Wingheel can cast General Divine Power, General Haste, or General Smite (depending on which spell is available) before his army moves, which is terrifying to imagine!

This is all theory, but I think there's some truth to it!