We only chose the starting bonus - an artifact (I got the amulet of protection from curses). Castles and heroes were chosen randomly. My opponent took both restarts, and it seems he wasn't very lucky with the third distribution either. We agreed that he could take a block and a third restart, but there were no blocks available. In the second week, a lucky break - unicorns grow +5, but since, according to my opponent, he got into a too difficult battle on the very first day and lost many troops, we agreed that I wouldn't use this bonus to preserve his chances of winning (I think it would be good to introduce such a rule, as such a random event can change the course of the game). I break through from the grass to the snow, and in the second week, I have a secondary castle - a Tower. From the snow, I see an opportunity to reach my opponent's territory through a horde of harpies, and even along the way. But he, apparently, decided not to wait and came there himself, where he was caught.
Thanks for the game!