14.10.2010. R55Max(blue, Castle, Valeska, Valeska) def Neverminder(red, Swamp, Wystan, Wystan) 2sm4d(3) 134
000 - we decided to play without any restarts at all.
111 - the only generated map was more than favorable: Wystan with three stacks, in the tavern - Bron with five Basilisks and Clavius. Behind Bron - Tant. Built Serpents. Wystan killed mummies and gnomes, got Logistics. Discovered Naga Guardian, Griffin Conservatory, several piles of gold lying around, Bron took the ore mine.
112 - Wystan advanced Logistics, ran into GO (20-49 Nagas). Turned onto another road. Clavius found the wood mine. Built Basilisks.
113 - Wystan killed zombies, then the guard of the secondary dwelling - 40-some stacks, which gave Earth Magic. A Rampart secondary dwelling is visible, but it's quite far from the castle, so not captured yet. On the grass respawn there is a Hive guarded by 10-19 Genies, a Pandora's Box guarded by 50-99 Air Elementals. Built Wyverns.
114 - Bron, using Clavius's necro army, retook a mercury pile - placed Gorgons. Wystan takes the secondary dwelling with minor losses, I build a Mage Guild there, buy the spellbook: got Slow. Logistics becomes Expert. Wystan level 5. 1-6-2-1. Expert Logistics, basic Archery, Armor, and Earth Magic. Scouting the territory for free Sulfur and gold, dreaming of Hydras in the castle on week 1. Blue captures their native secondary dwelling, which means lots of Archers...
115 - Stables scouted, I visit them with the main hero, in Rampart I build a Tavern and hire Ain. At the experience stone Bron gets Logistics. In the capital I build a Citadel.
116 - I realize I can't get Hydras with the castle on week 1 and will have to settle for 1-7 in the Citadel. I skip the build. Wystan fights a couple more battles and visits the experience stone. Offered a choice between Wisdom or Advanced Archery. After a long deliberation, I take the latter. Another Pandora's Box is scouted, guarded by 20-49 upgraded Basilisks.
117 - Val shows up in the tavern with 4-3-2-1. Not too scary yet. I decide to start the new week at the stables, run the main hero to them, the army goes to retake a Sulfur pile needed for building Hydras. The operation is a success, though not without losing some Gnolls. End of week result: Wystan level 6. 1-7-2-1. Expert Logistics, Advanced Archery, basic Armor and Earth Magic. In the capital, 1-7 in the Citadel. Another Griffin Conservatory scouted.
121 - Wystan visits the stables. In the capital I upgrade the Lizardmen, upgrade mine and buy them. I end up with 38 upgraded Lizardmen, preparing to bring them to the main hero. A third Griffin Conservatory is scouted, as well as an external dwelling of Green Dragons guarded by 50-99 Magogs. Over a hundred Air Elementals, over 50 Nagas.
122 - Wystan picks up the army, breaks through a passage into the underground treasure zone, gains another level - I advance Armor.
123 - I send two scouts into the treasure zone. Need gold, so Wystan attacks a mini-Medusa structure, losing all Gnolls there, then a block of 40-some Warlizards, on which I lose 6 of my own troops. Still haven't bought anyone except Lizardmen, in the capital sit waiting their turn 2 Hydras, 5 Wyverns, 7 Manticores, 10 Basilisks, 18 Gnolls.
123a - I see Valeska on Champions, Archers, and Pikemen, who takes the Medusa structure and runs back into the darkness.
124 - A gamble: I enter a crypt with only Lizardmen. Fortunately, it's near-max. I exit without losses with 2500 gold and a ring of +1+1 Attack/Defense. Archery becomes Expert. I buy Hydras, Wyverns, and Manticores in the castle. I prepare to transfer them to the main hero in order to take the Pandora's Box guarded by Air Elementals and the Hive. I continue exploring the treasure zone.
125 - Extremely unlucky fight against Air Elementals (there are 102 of them, thankfully no Storms), losing all Manticores and a Wyvern to them. The Pandora's Box gives... 10000 gold. I start thinking about surrendering. Then the Hydra is killed in the Hive due to moral of several Fire Flies. No longer have the will to play...
At 134 we talk about the situation. Upon learning that there's Mass Haste, Golden Bow, and Tactics, I decide not to continue. Thanks for the game, Andrey!
