Practically from the very beginning, Shakt was hanging around me and eating everything right under my nose; in the first week, I also lost all my kents and elves. But then I found an orator's hat in the treasure zone, boosted my mana, and chased after the shakter. After two weeks of playing catch-up with mains and a "war of losers," all 6 cities ended up under my control, while the opponent got stuck in the treasure zone. When the opp ran to win back the cities, I caught him on angels and one-shot him with an impl; thanks for a good contact game