Is diplomacy necessary?

450 monks??? :confused: Is this only possible on an XL-sized map and in the tenth game month? Maybe it makes sense on huge maps. But I'd rather take Earth Magic instead of Diplomacy and complete the map in 4 game months.

Actually, it's neither two nor one and a half, as they say... :) Diplomacy isn't needed for the main hero, and that's correct...

But it can be given to a secondary hero, especially in the early stages of the game, and it can be a very useful skill for your kingdom as a whole, because it helps solve many problems at the start (you can use the meat for experience, and you can also somewhat cover your main army). But if you remember the old tournament in Heroes of Might and Magic III (Best of the Best), here's a clear example: when 1.5k gargoyles and almost 1k vampires join in the beginning of the second month. So, it's not worth talking about its uselessness...

But diplomatic artifacts are really almost useless junk, because they can't be taken into battle, and they don't work in your backpack... :)