One mega treasure zone was revealed, and whoever cleared it first would win.
Starting troops were scarce, but a decent amount of free gold was given. Castle has a mini-Griffin Conservatory, one road blocked by 20+ gr. Harpies. The other immediately ran into secondary guard — 20-49 Flies or 20-49 Rag dolls.
On 112 I decide to hit the Ghosts. And there are 40+ of them. Unexpected. Lost all the Tower-ogre crew and most of the Goblins. 17 Wolves and 16 Gobs left, but I broke through to my native secondary.
Next turn, thanks to an external Tavern, I took the town, where a decent amount of gold was found. Though terrible issues with Wood and Ore started, plaguing me until the end of the game.
Then Tyraxor ran back to the Conservatory, while the troops secured Wood and Ore.
On 115, through a bugged passage, I ended up on Snow, where scouting revealed some more gold.
On 116, entering the Dwarven Treasury was postponed (20-30 — could have easily been lost), but the Behemoths were still hired thanks to a trade at the external market. The Conservatory with a Behemoth is taken almost without losses; the army moves to Snow, where a Sword +3 and a town are captured.
On 117, Tyraxor just stalled because he started moving toward the Stable too early. Shield +4 is taken. Angel headed to a third secondary on Grass. Build order — Behemoths in the Castle. Magic school — Air. Haste is available.
On 121, same as the opponent, I grab a Pandora's Box for 10k XP defended by 10+ Manticores near the Stable. It gives Logistics — excellent. I go into a tiny treasure zone with another Pandora's Box. Angel takes the Rampart.
On 122, Pandora is cleared but not taken. I break through a passage to the opponent's Plane, but it's Snow and everything is bad.
123 — 5k XP is given, and I decide to clear some Snow. I steal a Pandora's Box for 2nd level, visit the Arena. Leveled up Earth. Same turn, the army returns home, clears the Dwarven Treasury (maximum).
124 — I break into the Rampart, from where there is a fairly convenient exit to a treasure zone on Lava. I immediately grab a Dragon Fly Hive for 8. Upgraded 3 Behemoths, which helped greatly in beating everything without losses and with ogre crew. In the treasure zone — a Dragon Utopia, another Dragon Fly Hive is visible.
125 — it turns out there is not one Dragon Fly Hive, but as many as 6. So far I've taken 4, for 30 Wyverns, lost one. I visit the Library. Astral on Angel breaks into another treasure zone.
126 — I clear both remaining Dragon Fly Hives. Total — 49 Wyverns. And here the opponent reveals himself. Tyraxor can't reach, so I attack with a weak Kalid (having previously eaten an empty Pandora's Box cleared by the opponent (with Advanced Wisdom)). There — an Angel, 30 Wolves, and 2 Behemoths. The Behemoths kill the Angel, the Wolves kill the Wyverns with Haste. The opponent buys peace with two retreats. I return the army to Tyraxor, grab the Dragon Utopia. Level 2, Shield +4 on everything, and a bag of gold.
127 — obviously, I need to break into the same treasure zone via the opponent's route. I break into my native secondary, upgrade Birds there, and run. Meanwhile, Astral runs through his treasure zone and emerges onto the opponent's Plane. Nothing interesting along the way except risky battles on the verge of defeat.
131 — I bring full weekly growth and stand before the portal to the super-treasure zone.
132 — the opponent hasn't managed to clear everything yet. I grab a Pandora's Box behind Manticores — 10k XP there, just enough to skill up Wisdom. Then I take all of 5th level. And I also get a Dragon Fly Hive for 8. Astral finally reaches a village and sits down to replenish mana.
133 — the opponent brings a secondary army (weekly growth from Barbarian) right into Astral's clutches. A 175-damage Bolt leaves no chance, and the opponent realizes they are already cornered from all sides. GG. Same turn, Gunnar with the main army would have been caught and likely killed with Mass Haste in 1 round.
Thanks for the game.
Thanks for playing!
Осень-Зима 2013-14.