"Новичок-2012. Winter"

17.01.12 Group H, Vinceras (red, Stronghold, Crag Hack, Crag Hack) def Necrotal (blue, Swamp, Wystan, Wystan) 2sm4d(3) 211

Opponent took all the rests, I still had 111 left. Respawn is small, but there are two pickups behind weak guards. Wolves are not built, two heroes came with orcs, so I placed orcs; two paths to secondary towns — one leads to 20+ pit fiends, the other to hives. On 112 I kill 28 earth elementals, on the other side the same number of fire elementals, secondary town is Inferno, waiting for birds. The next day I kill fire elementals, claim a shield +3 behind centaurs, and over three days earn some gold and resources, barely upgrading bears in the fort. On 121 I take a minor medusa dwelling on my main and head toward the pit fiends, no gold. Spent the whole week on the secondary town, took 2 max crypts, a medusa dwelling, and the sphere of earth behind mummies; a convenient exit to the treasure zone is visible, but it's swamp, not an option to go there. Leveling was pleasing — second slot gave earth, then air, tactics, and slow with haste:), though knowledge was only 1 :D . On 131 I return home to grab pickups, meanwhile the opponent's folder appears underground. 133 — I took the beehive, finally leveled knowledge, took the booster, it becomes 3, and I speed up near the second beehive. The opponent with a large surplus of movement points reaches the gates, kills my 2 heroes, and stays on my land. On 134 I claim the beehive and attack (there was also an option to sit in the castle without claiming pickups). Crag Hack 13 6 4 8 mana, 12 greater birds 10 wyverns, 4 bears, about 30 orcs, 45 greater wolves, 45 greater goblins. Wystan 6 9 1 30 mana, 2 angels, 16 wyverns, 2 hydras, 15 basilisks, about 40 lizardmen, 9 dragonflies. I have mana for 1 cast; at the end of the round I cast mass slow, but he has expert water and dispel, then a tough exchange began, eventually I had 12 wolves, 1 bear, and 22 orcs left), Wystan fled. What to do — I take the external dwelling of pit fiends, build them without upgrades, on 141 full trade and buyout; initially I wanted to go to the opponent, but on the way there's a convenient exit to the treasure zone; I took 1 pickup there, but then Wystan runs out; he has no gold, didn't even buy hydras, but has decent movement range. I give chase, and eventually on 147 he sits in my capital. On 211 the battle is easily winnable, but during the fight there's some disconnect; opponent decides not to continue.
Thanks for the game!