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I've attached screenshots of some battles.
Jules Winnfield
Posts from Walkthroughs for custom maps.
Jules Winnfield
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Has anyone tried to investigate the circumstances under which the AI splits its ranged unit stack? For example, as shown here:
Are there any clear criteria that determine when it does this?
Are there any clear criteria that determine when it does this?
Marlo_Stanfield
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I would consider the possibility of freeing Boragus and Gretchin with a berserker, azure dragons, and rusty dragons as a conditional disadvantage, unlike Marlo, because they need to be freed quite early, and the enemy is not idle and also wants to do it. However, the difficulty also lies in the fact that there is an event with very strong guards at the beginning of the 3rd month before the prisons, which is almost impossible to break through with the same Craig due to the simple lack of mana. So, I would definitely not call it a freebie.
I started breaking through the 3 main bosses with Gundula; I also chose the landscape for her, but not the one he chose. I managed to find a place with access only for 1 hex unit, and then everything is simple.
I managed to conduct the battle with Mephala on the castle defense in such a way that she did not teleport the golems until I squeezed all the mana out of her to 0. I noticed a pattern when she threw the golems and when she didn't, and the battle was won based on this.
It is also interesting how it was possible to kill 7000 Xerxes' ifrits. In general, the result is good; if I hadn't used quick spells at all, I think I would have finished the walkthrough somewhere around the 6th month.
Has anyone tried to investigate the question of when the computer will split its ranged unit stack?
Jules Winnfield
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It seems to me that this event is the easiest for Craig to complete. We get mana from one of the events in the starting area near Roland. The units from the information post at the crossroads can quickly reach the Necropolis at 43.11.0 through enemy cities, and then we send our main hero there. But the author took care of players who are too lazy to complete the event and would rather play on Expert difficulty. We take the Air book and fly/jump to Boragus.
I remember this terrain; it's one tile away from mine. But it wasn't very suitable for my main hero because even with Malekith's Frenzy, he couldn't quickly kill the Azure Dragons, so without taking precautions, the chance of Malekith getting Fear is close to one hundred percent. Although, now I think that I could have additionally summoned more dragons.
It would be interesting to hear more details about this. What's the pattern? In my case, Mephala behaved completely randomly and threw Golems into the city whenever she felt like it. Even when there was exactly enough mana left for the last clone.
In my case, Mephala teleported the Golems in most cases in 3 scenarios: 1) she didn't have enough mana for other spells. 2) the number of Azure Dragons became less than half. 3) when the Clone spell was stuck on the Rust Monsters, as soon as they got Fear, she immediately teleported the Golems. Accordingly, it was necessary to eliminate these 3 scenarios. I encountered a situation where there was exactly enough mana to cast Clones with 0 mana, while I was standing under Fortitude, after quickly killing the Charmers and Vampires with spells. I looped her on casting Clone from the Azure Dragons, on their turn, and as you know, they are immune to Fear. The Imps helped to survive under Fortitude, and when the mana ran out, the clones, almost 600 Charmers, incinerated Mephala.
It's also interesting how you managed to kill 7000 Xeron's Ifrits. In general, the result is good; if I hadn't used Quick Capture at all, I think I would have finished the Walkthrough somewhere around the 6th month.
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Regarding the question "What should I play?", I suggest trying Siege tricks. Has anyone else played it besides me? I didn't mention it, thinking it would be a nice surprise, but it uses a very good feature that hasn't been described or used anywhere else. It's worth trying just for that. The current version allows you to bypass the author's intent at some point, but I wouldn't say it breaks the map; rather, it allows you to skip a couple of battles if you want and go a different way.
I also want to recommend the recently released Ascension, but a newer version of the map is desirable here, as the consequences of the bug are much deeper than just skipping a couple of battles. But the map has great potential; just take a look at it for a few seconds in the editor.
Among other small maps, there's Ville'de'Porte and Gremlins & Titans. Yar played the first one on stream the other day, and Silent played it before that. I recorded a few battles with it. It's a good map to pass the time. I haven't played the second one, but it has received a lot of positive feedback since then. The map itself has three versions in the archive, differing in difficulty level (timer limit).
I also want to recommend the recently released Ascension, but a newer version of the map is desirable here, as the consequences of the bug are much deeper than just skipping a couple of battles. But the map has great potential; just take a look at it for a few seconds in the editor.
Among other small maps, there's Ville'de'Porte and Gremlins & Titans. Yar played the first one on stream the other day, and Silent played it before that. I recorded a few battles with it. It's a good map to pass the time. I haven't played the second one, but it has received a lot of positive feedback since then. The map itself has three versions in the archive, differing in difficulty level (timer limit).
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Soon pink heroes come out from the one-way portals: Galthran with legions and others. After the hitrans and killing Galthran, I managed to get the Cloak of the Undead King from him (what a cheat!).
Did you actually play the enhanced version of the map for 3? In it, the Cloak of the Undead King itself and its parts are banned and not visible on the map in the prospecter. But in version 2, both the Cloak of the Undead King and its parts are present on the map.
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Have you actually played version 3, the harder version of the map? In it, the Cloak of the Undead King itself and its parts are banned and can't be seen on the map in the prospect. And in version 2, both the Cloak of the Undead King and its parts are present on the map.
As far as I remember, from that file I had with the maps, I downloaded exactly 3.3. I was surprised myself when Galthran dropped the Cloak of the Undead King.
How are your results?
Marlo_Stanfield
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In response to the question "What should I play?", I recommend trying Siege tricks. Has anyone else played it besides me? I didn't mention it, thinking it would be a nice surprise, but it uses a very good mechanic that hasn't been described or used anywhere else. It's worth trying just for that. The current version allows you to bypass the author's intention at some point, but I wouldn't say it breaks the map; rather, it allows you to skip a couple of battles if you want and go a different way.
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Regarding the question "What should I play?", I recommend trying Siege Tricks. Has anyone else played it besides me? I didn't mention it, thinking it would be a nice surprise, but it uses a really good mechanic that hasn't been described or used anywhere else. It's worth trying just for that. The current version allows you to bypass the author's intention at some point, but I wouldn't say it breaks the map; rather, it allows you to skip a couple of battles if you want and go a different way.
Hmm, I completely forgot to send the version with the fixed battle against Adel :smile35:, but I remembered it now, thanks for the reminder.
At the point where we're asked for 2 Amulets of the Dragon, I suspect I didn't follow the author's intention in a number of battles, but that's okay.
And here's wenwell, who also didn't turn in 2 Amulets of the Dragon at that tower. I think people are already used to the fact that if a small map-puzzle asks for 2 identical artifacts in a quest, it means you definitely need to use a bug and save one. I guess I'll have to make a new version where I replace this pillar with 2 separate ones, each of which asks for 1 Amulet of the Dragon.
Marlo_Stanfield
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Instead of replacing a column, you could add another one right after it, which would also require an AOTD. This way, you'd have two AOTDs available, while they're asking for three. This is a more interesting option. Although, this was already done in Rise of the Sun King.
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Instead of replacing a column, you could add another one right after it, also requiring a specific item. This way, the player would have two of the required items, but the quest would ask for three. That's a more interesting option. Although, this was already done in Rise of the Sun King.
It's a debatable question whether something used on a map can be considered a bug. If so, then all the "Chinese" siege tactics, which exploit the AI's stupidity, could also be called bugs.
Reading various forums, I've repeatedly seen people who, after learning about the siege tactics used on hardcore maps, followed the same path. First, they experience childish delight at realizing they can defeat a computer army that is 10 times larger than theirs. Then, they feel disappointment and ask, "Is it really interesting to defeat a stupid AI that sits in a castle and does nothing?"
This question has repeatedly bothered me and depressed me while I was making this map, even though I tried to make the battles as diverse as possible. It still bothers me now as I'm making the XL map, but fortunately, there are already many other options and possibilities for creativity. Battles based on castle sieges are just one part of the map, albeit a rather important one.
Marlo_Stanfield
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It's a debatable question whether a "trick" used on a map can be considered a bug. If so, then all "Chinese" siege tactics, which exploit the AI's stupidity, could also be called bugs.
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Yes, it's definitely a bug, as is the ignoring of summoned elementals, because there can be no reasonable explanation for this ignoring in a situation where the computer cannot win without using its army. But I don't see a problem with this. A knowledgeable mapmaker can always make it so that the computer doesn't switch to AFK mode during a siege.
And it's also very easy to trick the computer with summoned elementals into wasting mana, and the only way to prevent the player from doing this is to give the computer a very limited set of spells.
АртеммЯ
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Hello. Could you provide some tips for the "Lord of the Rings" map, specifically the Chinese version, where you start with one creature? When you free the third hero from the prison, which is guarded by Azure Dragons, which hero is more advantageous to make your main character? I understand that different battles require different heroes, but overall, which one is the best choice? This map severely punishes mistakes.
Also, if anyone remembers the map well, could you point out the key moments (perhaps certain creatures need to be saved, or there are specific timings, or something else)?
Also, if anyone remembers the map well, could you point out the key moments (perhaps certain creatures need to be saved, or there are specific timings, or something else)?
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Hello. Could you give me some advice on the "Lord of the Rings" map, specifically the Chinese version, where you start with one creature? When you free the third hero from the prison, who is still guarded by Azure Dragons, which hero would be more advantageous to make your main hero? I understand that different battles are won by different heroes, but overall, which one is the best choice? This map is just too punishing for mistakes.
And yes, if anyone remembers the map well, could you point out the key moments (maybe some creatures need to be saved, or there are specific timings, or something else)?
If we're talking about the Sizzon map, then there's no point in making one hero your main hero, and it won't even work. Eventually, everyone will get around the stat-boosting structures. Some battles are built around the special abilities of certain heroes. For example, the battle with the hero with the Sphere of Inhibition + Black Dragons + Cerberuses can only be won with the attack special ability (least losses). The battle with the Legion of Ifrits can only be won with the ranged attack special ability. It's not possible to make one hero your main hero, in my opinion. In later battles, you can choose who to fight with: some people killed Tazar with the magic special ability, I did it with the ranged attack special ability. You definitely need to save your army and not lose it. Browse this forum or use the search function; this map has been discussed here, and it explains which heroes are useful.
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