Favorites, to battle! - 6 - The Battle of Favorites! - 6

Group M
29.11.13 Sanin (Red, Tower, Neela, Dessa) def Piterius (Blue, Castle, Valeska, Mullich) 8mm6a 146

There was still some respawn left, but it was quite playable. Right under the castle there was a Griffin Conservatory, guarded by Manticores along with a scroll and resources, blocking one of the roads. But the better half of the respawn was still there, so I ran there. The roads were fast but long; Dessa ran far into the distance, there were a lot of experience crystals. There were also Clavius and Neela, but with such roads I needed a Logist. On the first day I built Nagas in the Citadel and took two Refugee Camps; in one I bought Archmagi, didn't make it to the Conflux dwelling. Dessa, by the way, leveled poorly, and after Expert Logistics and Wisdom I had to take Resistance.

On day 121, a scout hero takes a tier-1 Griffin Conservatory on the respawn; on day 122, two other scouts take two Dwarf Cottages, and Dessa breaks through the Manticores. The Griffin Conservatory turns out to be a max one; only Earth magic was given, nothing to go in there with. I take a Dragon Fly Hive with Greater Efreeti and run the other way. In one of the Refugee Camps, Unicorns were given; as a result, I burst into the computer's area from two sides, Torgrim with horses along the road, Dessa through rough terrain. I farm his respawn, build birds. Then I explored a dead-end treasure zone; there were two Dragon Utopias nearby, everything beyond that was somewhat bare. I grabbed a Pandora's Box for 10k experience and broke out from there. Defense and Pathfinding were given. By the way, from the computer's lookout point I can see a piece of the opponent's center; he has one exit via a one-way portal, the second is far away and over sandy rough terrain (I had broken in from another central zone back on the first day).

On day 131, Dessa, with Oil and a meager army, takes the max Griffin Conservatory near the castle and breaks into a Conflux. I visit the Stables, transport troops along winding paths, buy everything in the Conflux, and go to take the Dragon Utopias. The first one is a minimum; I lost three Nagas out of eight, birds, and a hungry eater. They gave K.O., Swift Steeds, and a Collar 3/3. Under K.O., I even grabbed Fire magic on level-up. For the second one (tier 2) I didn't take Nagas; I took it barely, not without help from Summon Fire Elementals, and came out with 4 Angels. The Dragon Utopia was a papal one; they gave Captain's Hat, Boots of Levitation, an Ore Cart, and an unnecessary pendant. The troops were 4 Angels, 5 Greater Nagas, 4 Wyrvens, and a dozen Mages + Arch Devils in one of the Refugee Camps. With Oil, I take a couple of Pandora's Boxes in the central zone; in the first one, all level 5 magic; in the second, 10k experience. Then I go to the next zone in the center, take a village; not far away is another Refugee Camp, a Shield +5, a Cyclops Dwelling; I start building a Mage Guild at home. The village, by the way, is a Conflux one; nearby there are 3 external air dwellings, another one near the Conflux dwelling, and there are two more Confluxes on the map. On day 137, I collect the 3 external dwellings near the village; Dessa rushes to the orange Conflux. In my own Conflux, I built a Castle; at home, a Castle and Mage Guild level 3.

On day 141, Dessa takes a Dragon Fly Hive, a mini Griffin Conservatory, and the orange Conflux; there are birds in the castle. I build Mage Guild level 4 at home; no Town Portal. So I build Mage Guild level 3 in the orange Conflux; the next day, Mage Guild level 4, and there is no Town Portal either. Instead, the computer built a University; I buy Air Magic. I move towards the pink Conflux, settle there on day 143. Then I grab a Dragon Fly Hive and a max Griffin Conservatory there and leave for an underground treasure zone. In the treasure zone, I spot a Dragon Utopia, but pass by it, as Mullich on Red Dragons appeared on the horizon. I take a Griffin Conservatory and a Dragon Fly Hive, settle in a village to restore mana, and build a chain for transport. In the third Mage Guild level 4, there's no Town Portal either... In the first Conflux, I built an Artifact Merchant hoping for Armor of the Wraiths, but they weren't there. Mullich runs towards one of the Confluxes. On day 145, I deliver 4 birds, 70 Air Elementals, and two Greater Nagas from a Refugee Camp, and Dessa catches up to Mullich. I have 8 birds, 11 Angels, 20 Wyrvens, 70 Air Elementals, 7 Greater Nagas with me. Mullich buys his way out with Tactics; on the next turn, a surrender follows. Thanks for the game.