"Newcomer - 2015. Summer"

12.09.2015 silenthill (Red, Random, Dungeon, Random, Dimmer, Dimmer) def unq_flipmo (Blue, Random, Castle, Random, Sorcha, Sir Mullich) Skirmish 126

He started with a Dungeon and Dimmer. I thought my opponent would rush and he went into day 1 without upgrading his Troglodyites in 3 Crypts, one of which was maxed. On Necro territory, it wasn't easy; he lost 30 Troglodyites. He scouted well on day 1, finding a nest of Troglodyites, Harpies, and 3 +1 Spell/Knowledge buildings. My opponent didn't take a rest, and I was shocked. I immediately rushed and thought I would lose because he was probably doing great. For a week, I ran around the +1 Spell/Knowledge buildings and couldn't place Cats or Minotaurs because I was 100 gold short. At the beginning of day 2, I bought some things and started taking mines and chests on the secondary town, slowly building up my economy, where I got a Lightning Bolt, which was useful. I had 7 Spell Power and 7 Knowledge in the Castle, doubled my mana, and headed for the Treasure. Then, my opponent appeared, killed my Loshaks, and made a mistake by not retreating his army. This largely influenced the game; I could have lost because he had Mullich as his main hero, and we were on grass terrain. My Griffin and Harpies wouldn't have outrun his Archers, and it would have been bad. I defeated his main hero and attacked with 180 mana, using a Lightning Bolt on his Loshak for 200 damage. I killed him without a chance, closed the Eye and Medusa buildings, and cast Lightning Bolts. Thanks for the game.

We played on slow road (the slowest, I don't know why it's played using this option, the mechanics of the game change). Day 1 even without playing looked very good. 7 archers on a hero, another 5 on the second one + archers prebuilt. Caitlin in the tavern too (should have recruited her day 1, first (but not that big) mistake). Also external of archers on the road. And the big +, free prison (never saw one on the 10-15 skirmish maps I've generated). As I was talking with a friend, apart from being with a Castle army, it wouldn't have been bad at all if there was a Fortress hero inside with Flies. Andra was there with 4 Flies. The stables was far away so only a scout had reason to reach it so the Flies were great.

Day 2, I understood that there should be enough wood for Cavaliers + a Citadel if I had the money. I didn't build anything on day 1, and on day 2, I upgraded Archers + recruited Caitlin. Day 3, Mullich would be recruited + 21 Marks. Day 3, I took the Necro Castle, and day 4, Mullich was preparing to break a pack (19) Pit Fiends, who created more problems than expected due to the lack of morale of my troops. Only one Crypt was far in my zone (took it later) + one after beating the Fiends, but money wasn't a problem. I saw +1 all (lots of Gogs), +3 Knowledge (lots of Lizard Warriors), and +1 Speed (pack of Greater Basilisks). I took them all on week 2. The thing is, I made another two mistakes (not important regarding the final result, in my opinion). 1. I had the impression I built two Marketplaces when, in fact, I built only one (Castle, day 7, money wasn't great for a Citadel) and didn't build a Mage Guild for Mullich (who received Water anyway, but it doesn't matter if you don't have a
book). So when I had money for a Mage Guild, I didn't have money for a book, so after losing a day and a half (not much to do anyway, all cleared, and the final frontier was a pack of Minotaur Kings to reach his secondary town (Necro)), I left without a book. This time knowingly. I'll buy it once I take his Necro town, I said. I was pretty sure my army was vastly superior. And it was. The zone I entered so early had a single Pandora guarded by a horde of Master Genies, so no. The gold mines were guarded by lots of Medusa Queens and a horde of Orc Chiefs (took that + +1 all, +3 Knowledge, +1 Speed).

My big error was not realizing that a 0 0 7 7 hero can pack quite a (magic) punch. 180 a Lightning Bolt. So instead of going for his secondary town, I should have visited another zone and 1. waited for the 3rd-week army (and I had a big plus there since week 1) and 2. found one or more Pandoras I could take. Instead of that, on day 126, I took his Necro town, and on day 127, I lost the match.

Thanks for playing