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

01/05/14 KobRa (blue, Dungeon, Shakti, Shakti) def =Stinger= (red, Tower, Solmyr, Solmyr) on Diamond at 137

Chrome messed up the first report; here's a more detailed one.
Stinger chose three consecutive restarts when I had a good starting position, and then I had to take two due to unplayable situations. As a result, the map generated with a Manticore hidden deep in the resource area, a Castle, but with very little gold. I thought about it for a long time, but ultimately decided not to take the risk and play this map. In the first week, I built Manticores + 2 Dungeon towns with creature summoning. In the second week, I partially bought units for 14 Manticores, grabbed 2 towns for 14 Wyverns, and then my opponent took the Company-Barbarian camp. The distances between the castles are minimal. I have an anti-chain spell, but fear, chronic lack of money, and a tight timer prevent me from executing everything I planned. Nevertheless, on days 123-124, I managed to get 40 Cyclops with a Great Scroll, and things started to improve with the Castle; I wasn't afraid of anything anymore. Then I took a strategic hat +4 and a couple of Hydras. On days 127-131, Stinger finally expanded his territory, showing control, but it was too late. I planned to meet him on day 133, but he suddenly turned around and ran into the Snow resource area. I almost caught up with him there, but he escaped into a Castle. I saw that Angels and then Archangels were being prepared, so I decided to deliver the final blow, and then he appeared within reach in the resource area, which I had already half-conquered. A Red Sphere (lying in the resource area next to the Castle) and insane combat stats of around 40 left him no chance in a fight.
Thanks for the game!