Aya
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A tiny respawn gave me a nook with birds behind 10+ Efreeti, a sword +2+2 behind 20+ Arbalists, and +1 Speed behind 20 Gr. Liches, who also blocked an ore mine. No level 2, the army turned out not particularly impressive either — with a purchase of air elementals on day 112, about 10 air elementals and 45 Fairies. The only good thing was getting Aislin. I immediately made her my main: first, Rain, and second, I could show off my expert necromancy skill.
There wasn't much gold lying around, so I only had 4 or 5 heroes. The opponent had about the same number lit up, so apparently things weren't all smooth for them either. From the Castle, a road led up to the center and right to the corner, but there was an archer block there. I ran to the center. From there, passages: up to a Necropolis village behind Archmages, down to a Dungeon village behind moved Hounds, right to a computer-controlled Inferno. I pushed through to the computer, took its empty Castle. The computer built Hounds in 2 turns and that was it — no Prefecture. All week, with huge gold and ore problems, I ran around with 5 heroes, spending a lot of time beating all possible stacks. I took the Dungeon village, income was 1500, but still catastrophically short on birds. On day 117, with a trade, I got 8150. I passed the army to a scout via chain and broke into the corner zone through the archer block. There was a guarded chest and a stack. I lost almost everything, leaving 15 Fairies and 6 air elementals, the chest was mini, the stack was mini... I was just 350 gold short, so I had no birds. And I had such plans for the second... nook, the Dungeon. Oh well, at least I necromancied a whole 20 Skeletons on the first. Too early to surrender.
The computer retook its Castle. I ignored it, built and bought birds, and ran to the Dungeon zone. From there, there's a portal and an underground exit. I broke through the portal, a road was visible not far away, but running across sand with no road — I decided not to go there and broke through the Underground exit instead. Then Dess comes through that portal, on Wolves but with decent stats, something like 9-4-8-8, and kills 2 of my scouts. Now I have 3 heroes, no gold, and nowhere to get any. I chase Dess away, can't kill them, too few birds. I break through the Underground exit, see a Griffin Conservatory. Level 1, I take it immediately. I find a scout exit to grass, pass the army to it, and take the computer-controlled Castle. It has a Town Hall, which is very nice. I take 2 Crypts. By the end of the week, Aislin is standing near the bird nook.
On day 131, I take the nook and the sword +2+2, buy out from the Dungeon, that's 9 birds, and I run to my corner treasure zone with scouts, a Griffin Conservatory was lit up there. I take it — level 3 with Grandmasters, find 3 Dragon Fly Hives, take them all, 20 Wyverns. I annoyingly messed up the chain and couldn't return the army, my main stood idle for an extra turn. Then I took the Speed artifact behind Liches and discovered that the quest for this artifact was right next to my Dungeon. A computer hero was creeping towards the Dungeon, so I gave a scout 3 birds, killed the computer, and also checked what the quest gives — 15k experience. I planned to crash into the Dungeon with my main the next turn, complete the quest, and build *2 Mana, but... then Dess comes and kills my scout with the birds. I had nothing to buy back with, and there was a Lightning Bolt for 200. And as luck would have it, no one could even reach that spot.
On day 136, Aislin stationed herself on her Castle Underground, planning to decide where to go next turn or to take someone out. And she positioned herself well — because then Gundula rides into the Necropolis village zone and takes a Dragon Fly Hive there. And Aislin, running at the speed of a lively snail, beats the Archmage guards and finally reaches it. I left the mighty horde of 60 Skeletons necromancied by then on a scout, resulting in:
Aislin 7-3-7-(56), 5-1 birds, 4 Angels, 20 Wyverns, 3 Psychics, 1-1 Fairies.
Gundula 10-4-10-(60), 24 Wyverns, 2 Angels, 1-50-1 Gr. Wolves, 6 Bears.
I realize that if there's Mass Haste, I'm done for. I immediately cast Rain in the center — an Angel, 30 Wolves, and a tier-1 unit fall. In response, Oil hits and everyone rushes forward. I think about what to do on turn 2 and decide to cast Oil. It works — there's no Haste at all. Gundula casts Dispel on the Wyverns and, after removing the retaliation, hits with a tier-1 unit — 8 health gone. With a Wait, I kill the Angel and all the tier-1 units, so I have the first turn. I attack the Wyvern with everyone. Unfortunately, I have to hit first with 5 birds — losing 2 on the retaliation. Then comes some utterly brutal meat-grinding with Rains and Lightning Bolts — in the end, I'm left with 2 Angels, 1 bird, 12 Wyverns, and 3 Psychics, who somehow managed to hit five Bears and leave one with 1 health, followed by a buyback.
On their turn, the opponent buys Gundula back and attacks again. There are 5 Bears, a Thunderbird, and tier-1 units. More magic exchanges, my mana is running low, and the opponent buys back with 2 Bears. I have 1 Angel, 12 Wyverns, and 3 Psychics. My turn again — new week. I have Aislin block the portal from which the opponent could bring reinforcements, I buy birds, leaving gold for a buyback. Gundula, bought back in the Dungeon, attacks again. There are 1-1 Bears and some meat. I'm left with 4 Wyverns and 3 Psychics; Gundula buys back again. Fortunately, Dess is in range with 7 Wolves. I bring 6 birds, kill her, and give the birds to Aislin, who, with 20 mana, runs to the opponent's respawn. After a few turns, I reach it and kill Gundula in the Castle; they have very little gold and have only bought 2 Bears and tier-1 units.
As it turned out later, Gundula had Expert Air Magic, and the whole problem was the lack of Haste. Which, essentially, decided the game.
Thanks for the game.
There wasn't much gold lying around, so I only had 4 or 5 heroes. The opponent had about the same number lit up, so apparently things weren't all smooth for them either. From the Castle, a road led up to the center and right to the corner, but there was an archer block there. I ran to the center. From there, passages: up to a Necropolis village behind Archmages, down to a Dungeon village behind moved Hounds, right to a computer-controlled Inferno. I pushed through to the computer, took its empty Castle. The computer built Hounds in 2 turns and that was it — no Prefecture. All week, with huge gold and ore problems, I ran around with 5 heroes, spending a lot of time beating all possible stacks. I took the Dungeon village, income was 1500, but still catastrophically short on birds. On day 117, with a trade, I got 8150. I passed the army to a scout via chain and broke into the corner zone through the archer block. There was a guarded chest and a stack. I lost almost everything, leaving 15 Fairies and 6 air elementals, the chest was mini, the stack was mini... I was just 350 gold short, so I had no birds. And I had such plans for the second... nook, the Dungeon. Oh well, at least I necromancied a whole 20 Skeletons on the first. Too early to surrender.
The computer retook its Castle. I ignored it, built and bought birds, and ran to the Dungeon zone. From there, there's a portal and an underground exit. I broke through the portal, a road was visible not far away, but running across sand with no road — I decided not to go there and broke through the Underground exit instead. Then Dess comes through that portal, on Wolves but with decent stats, something like 9-4-8-8, and kills 2 of my scouts. Now I have 3 heroes, no gold, and nowhere to get any. I chase Dess away, can't kill them, too few birds. I break through the Underground exit, see a Griffin Conservatory. Level 1, I take it immediately. I find a scout exit to grass, pass the army to it, and take the computer-controlled Castle. It has a Town Hall, which is very nice. I take 2 Crypts. By the end of the week, Aislin is standing near the bird nook.
On day 131, I take the nook and the sword +2+2, buy out from the Dungeon, that's 9 birds, and I run to my corner treasure zone with scouts, a Griffin Conservatory was lit up there. I take it — level 3 with Grandmasters, find 3 Dragon Fly Hives, take them all, 20 Wyverns. I annoyingly messed up the chain and couldn't return the army, my main stood idle for an extra turn. Then I took the Speed artifact behind Liches and discovered that the quest for this artifact was right next to my Dungeon. A computer hero was creeping towards the Dungeon, so I gave a scout 3 birds, killed the computer, and also checked what the quest gives — 15k experience. I planned to crash into the Dungeon with my main the next turn, complete the quest, and build *2 Mana, but... then Dess comes and kills my scout with the birds. I had nothing to buy back with, and there was a Lightning Bolt for 200. And as luck would have it, no one could even reach that spot.
On day 136, Aislin stationed herself on her Castle Underground, planning to decide where to go next turn or to take someone out. And she positioned herself well — because then Gundula rides into the Necropolis village zone and takes a Dragon Fly Hive there. And Aislin, running at the speed of a lively snail, beats the Archmage guards and finally reaches it. I left the mighty horde of 60 Skeletons necromancied by then on a scout, resulting in:
Aislin 7-3-7-(56), 5-1 birds, 4 Angels, 20 Wyverns, 3 Psychics, 1-1 Fairies.
Gundula 10-4-10-(60), 24 Wyverns, 2 Angels, 1-50-1 Gr. Wolves, 6 Bears.
I realize that if there's Mass Haste, I'm done for. I immediately cast Rain in the center — an Angel, 30 Wolves, and a tier-1 unit fall. In response, Oil hits and everyone rushes forward. I think about what to do on turn 2 and decide to cast Oil. It works — there's no Haste at all. Gundula casts Dispel on the Wyverns and, after removing the retaliation, hits with a tier-1 unit — 8 health gone. With a Wait, I kill the Angel and all the tier-1 units, so I have the first turn. I attack the Wyvern with everyone. Unfortunately, I have to hit first with 5 birds — losing 2 on the retaliation. Then comes some utterly brutal meat-grinding with Rains and Lightning Bolts — in the end, I'm left with 2 Angels, 1 bird, 12 Wyverns, and 3 Psychics, who somehow managed to hit five Bears and leave one with 1 health, followed by a buyback.
On their turn, the opponent buys Gundula back and attacks again. There are 5 Bears, a Thunderbird, and tier-1 units. More magic exchanges, my mana is running low, and the opponent buys back with 2 Bears. I have 1 Angel, 12 Wyverns, and 3 Psychics. My turn again — new week. I have Aislin block the portal from which the opponent could bring reinforcements, I buy birds, leaving gold for a buyback. Gundula, bought back in the Dungeon, attacks again. There are 1-1 Bears and some meat. I'm left with 4 Wyverns and 3 Psychics; Gundula buys back again. Fortunately, Dess is in range with 7 Wolves. I bring 6 birds, kill her, and give the birds to Aislin, who, with 20 mana, runs to the opponent's respawn. After a few turns, I reach it and kill Gundula in the Castle; they have very little gold and have only bought 2 Bears and tier-1 units.
As it turned out later, Gundula had Expert Air Magic, and the whole problem was the lack of Haste. Which, essentially, decided the game.
Thanks for the game.
