Posts from [HMM II TOURNAMENT OFF] New Year Arena - 2008

Let's all say thank you to Kyle...

Kids, let's all give a big round of applause to Santa Claus (c)
:D :D :D

I haven't examined all the options in great detail. There are quite a few. However, I noticed that making "incorrect" moves can lead to a loss. If you play more or less correctly, then in the scenarios I tried, I was able to win. We need to hear Lavageth's opinion, and then we can decide. If the question is whether I can win for sure, it will take some time.

Pash, a detailed explanation of your path to victory is needed. At the moment, I am leaning towards a verdict of 0.5:1.5 in favor of Lavageth (or even 0:2), so I will wait for your opinion. Write directly in this thread; everyone will be interested. This is the most difficult arena to judge in this tournament.

I looked at different (though not all) strategies. With certain opponent moves, I always lose. I couldn't find a strategy where I would definitely win :(. So, I lost. Lavageth, did you figure out how to beat me? Although it's not that important anymore.

Let's all thank Kyle together and proceed to challenge the preliminary results.
I am very interested in the duel between Pash and Lavageth. I would like to know the battle tactics of both players. The arena has a "double bottom," and I am almost certain of a "fractional" final result.

I have completely forgotten how to play due to my memory problems – I haven't won a single time in this duel – I've played about 20 times.

Added 2 minutes later

I looked at different (though not all) options. With certain opponent moves, I always lose. I couldn't find an option where I definitely win :(. So, I lost. Lavageth, did you find a way to beat me? Although it's not that important anymore.

Unfortunately, I lost because I couldn't find the right path – I don't know how to win against myself.

Then the judge will have to declare both players as losers :)))) However, I agree with a 1-1 score. In my opinion, if you cast Blind on the archers and then on the Crusaders, lavageth finishes off the dragons and liches with lightning, and then everyone else. He seems to have enough mana. I just don't have enough time to kill his troops with lightning. He finishes mine off first.

Then the judge will have to declare both as losers :)))) However, I agree with a 1-1 draw. My opinion is that by casting Blind on the archers and then on the crusaders, Lavageth finishes off the dragons, liches, and then everyone else with lightning. He seems to have enough magic. I just don't have time to kill his troops with lightning. He finishes mine off first.

All of this doesn't work - you have a dispel:p
And your archers shoot first.
Damn, I was mistaken, there is no dispel.

Added 2 minutes later

Pash, you need to provide a detailed explanation of the path to your victory.

Could you please tell me the path to victory:smile32:

So, the time has come to summarize the results. The winner's result was, in general, expected. And despite his self-critical words, the result is very good. Dust - well done! PReDS also played excellently! AASTR demonstrated a very tight and strong game. Perhaps this tournament is one of the best achievements of this unique player. SDV surprised everyone. The result is very good, an original Walkthrough. For a newcomer in tournaments of this level, it's excellent! Catch played below his capabilities (apparently, fatigue after a very busy gaming year affected him), but he did a lot for the tournament. Pash and Lavageth... I haven't encountered these players before; the results of the first part of the task are quite good, but they are clearly capable of more on the arena. Inquisitor. Not bad. A little more tournament experience, and the results will improve; the potential is definitely there. Mantic0re. This save stands out. The fact is that if Mantic0re had convincingly challenged his results, his place would have been noticeably higher. He just needed a little more. Somewhere, he needed upgraded knight troops of the third or fourth level, or upgraded ogres, especially since there was an opportunity for a free upgrade on the map. In principle, just a little more, and he would have taken sixth place. I think that in the next tournament, this participant may well take a very high place. Freza. He was a little unlucky, he didn't count correctly, he didn't explore the map enough... After a training course at the School, the results will be higher. Me4nik. A uncompromising game. However, here are gathered experienced players who are not so easy to defeat. A little more perseverance, repeated playthroughs of the map, very thorough exploration, and, of course, training at the School - and the results will come! Now about the controversial arenas. Pash-Lavageth. After consultations with Dust, a draw was awarded, 1-1. Reason: both opponents independently failed to see a clear path to victory. Mantic0re's draw arenas. No challenge to the result was received within the deadline. A draw was achieved everywhere with the same trick - killing all the initial troops, after which the elementals killed the opponent, and both heroes disappeared. Thank you all! See you next time!

And in my opinion, I didn't achieve a clean victory against Lavageth. In the sequence of his moves (see my post above), I lost in all the variations I tried. However, I think we will have the opportunity to meet in other tournaments.

Nick	Army Strength	Stats	Dust	PReDS	AASTR	SDV	Catch	Pash	Lavageth	Inquisitor	Manticore	Freza	Me4nik	Points	Place
Dust	19630.0070	7-7-17-8 (80)		2-0	2-0	2-0	2-0	2-0	2-0	2-0	2-0	2-0	2-0	20	1
PReDS	22366.3170	8-3-8-9 (90)	0-2		2-0	2-0	2-0	2-0	2-0	2-0	2-0	2-0	2-0	18	2
AASTR	6954.8380	5-7-21-12 (240)	0-2	0-2		2-0	2-0	2-0	2-0	2-0	2-0	2-0	2-0	16	3
SDV	14115.0580	6-3-14-9 (180)	0-2	0-2	0-2		2-0	2-0	2-0	2-0	2-0	2-0	2-0	14	4
Catch	11529.5135	9-10-8-3 (15)	0-2	0-2	0-2	0-2		2-0	2-0	2-0	2-0	2-0	2-0	12	5
Pash	5962.7895	3-2-8-6 (60)	0-2	0-2	0-2	0-2	0-2		1-1	2-0	1-1	2-0	2-0	8	6-7
Lavageth	5281.3265	4-3-12-6 (58)	0-2	0-2	0-2	0-2	0-2	1-1		2-0	1-1	2-0	2-0	8	6-7
Inquisitor	5393.7380	5-3-2-3 (22)	0-2	0-2	0-2	0-2	0-2	0-2	0-2		1-1	2-0	2-0	5	8-9
Manticore	1490.8465	2-2-14-10 (100)	0-2	0-2	0-2	0-2	0-2	1-1	1-1	1-1		1-1	1-1	5	8-9
Freza	3448.8450	2-2-6-4 (40)	0-2	0-2	0-2	0-2	0-2	0-2	0-2	0-2	1-1		2-0	3	10
Me4nik	3038.4060	4-2-1-1 (10)	0-2	0-2	0-2	0-2	0-2	0-2	0-2	0-2	1-1	0-2		1	11

Catch didn't play up to his potential (apparently, the fatigue from a very busy gaming year took its toll).

Here, it's probably not about fatigue, but rather that he decided to participate in the tournament at the last minute (the map was appealing), but didn't realize that he had little time, and aimed for ambitious plans, ultimately not managing to complete anything. It's a pity that tournaments in other places took up a lot of time; he could have made it into the top three. ;)

but he did a lot for the tournament.

:smile11:

It's been a while since I last checked in :)\

To be fair, I contested the results by sending a letter to Dust – his email was listed as one of the alternatives – I sent the save files there, and also the contested result.\

In the letter, I wrote that I defeated Freza and Me4nik without suffering complete losses to my main troops – it was easy :) (which gives +2 extra points).\
Just Blind and Lightning, and one stack of elementals – just in case :).\

It's strange that Dust didn't notice my letter.\
But it doesn't matter anymore :).\

Regarding my game, I absolutely agree that I could have shown better results – I was playing in the evening of the 15th :).\
And in the last 2-3 game days, I didn't have time to do anything; I just mindlessly clicked "end turn" because I was afraid I wouldn't have enough time – I submitted it at 12 midnight :))).\

I didn't sign up for "Witch Hunt" – I don't have time right now (although it's interesting to play for money – I think I'll participate later).\

P.S.: I'm almost finished writing a program – a decoder for saves and maps for Heroes 2.\
I think it will be useful for those who have limited time but want to play in tournaments.\
Functions:\
- Obtaining a ready-made, complete image of the map/save with the ability to save it (for those who like to think like Napoleon with a paper map in their hands and pencil marks – it's perfect :)))\
- Quick reconnaissance: searching for specified portals, tents, artifacts\br>- Convenient calculation of army strength and the possibility of joining\br>- I want to make a DIGGER that would dig not only for a specified resource (as in the existing version by vbn), but also for a specific hero.\
- Requests for other functionality are welcome :))

Off-Top:
Suppose someone might need to dig up, say, the Warlock Barok or the Barbarian Jacqueline (whoever is found first).
At the moment, the program does not allow this.
Simply put, I considered it unnecessary.
Well, indeed, it can be necessary, for example, at the start of the game, to "scan" all heroes.
I will probably add this function to the program a bit later.
As for Mantic0re, let him go his own way; good luck to him in that. ;)

Off-Topic:
Let's say someone might need to find, for example, the Warlock Barok or the Barbarian Jacqueline (whichever comes first).
Currently, the program doesn't allow you to do that.
I just thought it was unnecessary.
Well, actually, sometimes it is necessary, for example, at the beginning of the game, to "scan" all heroes.
I will probably add this function to the program a little later.
And let Mantic0re go his own way, I wish him luck in this. ;)

You are wrong to think it's unnecessary...sometimes such precise calculations are needed here...to find a Warlock with 2 Gargoyles, or with 4...two Gargoyles can make your life so much easier...or you know that the hero Jacqueline gets Logistics or Wisdom on level 1, while all her other colleagues from the Castle don't get any: (

Therefore, Manticore is right about the algorithm...besides, it is very easy to implement - the save file is not encoded, the structure is simple...start by creating a list of heroes - who is in taverns (with whom), who is free, and who has what army.

Please ask the player lavageth to provide their nickname on HeroesLeague (if they registered) for summarizing the tournament results and on the second resource.
There don't seem to be any problems with identifying the other players.