ASW – Alternative hero leveling.

1) Other towns won't appear early, and magic is needed (or there are very few such maps).

It depends on the map. I prefer maps like those in Heroes 3, where there are plenty of places to expand to in the first week. Or do you only envision maps with completely blocked passages and staying put in the starting zone? On closed maps, the role of the starting guild is more important, which is understandable.

2) Cumulative buildings? Is an army from the second home town not important? The guild can help raise the level of the second town if needed.

I agree about raising the level. Regarding the army from the second home town, read the previous post carefully, specifically:

If there are more towns, nothing prevents you from developing the home town into troops and the non-home town into a guild.

(for clarity: second home town).