Posts from Stage 10, named after John Van Caningham. Auto-translated

The result was unexpected, to be honest.
I want to congratulate the winner, LordViRuS – "you're really awesome" (quote).
The map is quite challenging; it's not uninteresting, but it's frustrating to have to re-plan the route a thousand times if a particular option turns out to be unsuitable...
I honestly stopped at the point where I had to decide whether to attack the barghests first or not... and I couldn't figure out what to do next. But I had a plan; I wonder if Virus followed a similar strategy? :) Of course, just a rough outline.

Please upload replays of battles against Phoenixes and Balrogs that were behind the portal, if any exist.

If players don't have such replays, it will be easy to issue a warning and raise serious doubts about the player's progress. Saving replays is the responsibility of every player; for the particularly lazy, replays can be made for difficult battles. Personally, I save replays of absolutely all battles and recommend everyone to do the same.

While the virus is recovering, I will be its official representative. It told me about its playthrough, and I will describe it:
"In the game, there were 12 towns and the Dark Revelation, so reaching level 40 was quite easy. I developed two heroes: a Sanitarian, focusing on Summoning, Chaos, and Logistics, and an Erbet, focusing on Summoning Darkness and Scholar. The goal of the game was to reach the enemy's base at level 29 and capture 5 of their towns, then return to my base and capture 5 of my own towns. Most of the battles involved either a wall of units or a Phoenix. The most difficult battle was against the Dungeon, although developing Cold and having 800 armored units helped significantly, it was still quite challenging. On Wednesday evening, I will upload demos of the battles."

Yeah, I knew I was rushing when I sent the save file – probably about 10 days ago. In the first week, I reached level 35 and then took it easy. In the first attempt, I also recruited the 862-unit armored infantry (on the 4th week), but I took a different route, through the garrison, Emerald Dragons, and Red Dragons... and had a fun battle with 164 Erlangs and about 400 air units...
But a little later, I decided to replay the ending – I killed the armored infantry unit that wanted to join...
I did everything too late... for some reason, on the 9th day, I decided to kill the Phoenixes near the city... I lost 2-3 days... I got into the boat too late... I only managed to clear the Emerald Dragons, etc., on the 14th day... I messed up by only taking the turban for experience and not the armor (the demons consume all the mana)... I hesitated and, instead of going to the enemy, rushed back (I cleared the garrison, took the tree, and went through the portal to the city)...
In short... I didn't think through the route and the optimal movement strategy well... I wonder if I'll even be able to get a prize?

Congratulations to LordVirus! Well done!

And here's a small question for him – why did he level up Irbet?

And here’s a small suggestion from me – to allow Sinithar to cast the teleportation spell to a town.

By tradition, the top three players must present their walkthrough. Let me be the first...

According to the tournament conditions, only Sinitar could be leveled up.

Main thoughts on the map.
Subjugation and Berserk are forbidden by the conditions, so there is no point in leveling Dark Magic (though Dispersion is available). Chaos is already taken (Deadly Cold is also needed). Next, I also need – Enlightenment (with Mana Attraction), Summoning (for the Phoenix and Fire Elementals), Light (Expert Regeneration lasts 4 rounds + Restoration), and I had to take Sorcery as well – a mage after all, you know….
I wanted to take Logistics, but by the time the main hero reached level 12 (needed to already have Expert Summoning to learn Phoenix and Master of Conjuration), knowledge would only be 4 (with 40 mana you can’t do much – Phoenix costs 35, Regeneration costs 8).

Because of the 4th Week of Foolhardiness (50% less experience gained), you need to try to run far from the city in three weeks and gain as much experience as possible. It is advisable to take all the skill trees at the very end of the game (on days 27-28). Accordingly, it is also advisable to level Dark Revelation as late as possible.
I decided to take Manticores rather than Furies – they have more health, even if less initiative, and the Regeneration spell restores health as a percentage anyway, so the more health points, the better in battle.

I leveled Sinitar like this – Cold Steel, Unstoppable Force, Sorcery, Enlightenment, in the Witch Hut – learning Light, Summoning, Summoning Power, Medium Education, Unstoppable Force Art, Summoning Art, Master of Conjuration, Light Power, Mana Attraction, High Education, Elemental Sense, Light Art, Chaos Power, Fire Warriors, Sorcery Split, Sorcery Art, Mana Modification, Chaos Art, Land Domination, Graduate, Arcane Knowledge, Dark Ritual, Arcane Advantage, Dark Revelation, Storm Lord, Wrath of Justice, Granting Protection, Storm Wind

Main hero stats – level 35, experience – 15,351,582, stats without artifacts – 14+4+32+14=64, (with artifacts – 24+6+34+21=85), 135 mercury.

Day 1. We buy Irbet in the city, recruit Beasts and transfer all troops to Sinitar.
Sinitar takes the chest for experience, and goes right – to beat Goblins (at the mine). Irbet captures the Blood Arena (recruiting Beasts) and transfers them to Sinitar. Sinitar takes out the Gremlin Saboteurs. Irbet captures the Sawmill, and runs towards the mine. We build a Town Hall in the city.
Day 2. Sinitar runs down, and takes out two squads of Trappers, visits the Dolmen of Knowledge. Irbet captures the mine and the War School. We build a Blood Memorial in the city.
Day 3. Sinitar visits the Witch Hut and learns Basics of Light. Before the fight with Swordsmen, Irbet takes the Beasts from Sinitar, runs to the city and upgrades them to Manticores, and transfers them back to the main hero. Sinitar takes out the Swordsmen, then – towards the Mill. We build a Mage Guild in the city.
Day 4. Sinitar takes out the Rune Lords (and others), captures the Dwarf Preserve, then beats the Elder Demons, visits the Planetarium (+1 Sorcery). Irbet captures the War School. We build a Market in the city.
Day 5. Sinitar – to the Dolmen of Knowledge, then takes out the Wind Dancers, captures and recruits Beasts from the arena. We build a Magistrate in the city.
Day 6. Sinitar – to the Crystal of Revelation and to the city, where we build Mage Guild level 2.
Day 7. We build Mage Guild level 3 in the city. Sinitar – takes out the Unicorns and studies Regeneration in the Temple, then Seraphim (takes out both squads with Fire Traps) and runs towards the Erl Kings. Irbet visits the Mill and heads to the city.
Day 8. Sinitar takes out the Erl Kings (Regeneration on Manticores), chest, Cuirass and to the city. Irbet, through the portal, captures the Blood Arena. Recruitment of Scouts – from external dwellings. We build Mage Guild level 4 in the city.
Day 9. We build Mage Guild level 5 in the city. Sinitar learns Summon Phoenix, and goes through the portal to beat the Nether Phoenixes. First difficult battle. Main hero level 12, in the army 7 squads of 1 Imp each against 30 Phoenixes (with Rebirth from Ashes – 60). In battle we summon a Phoenix, plus Regeneration. After the battle, the main hero becomes level 16.
Day 10. We purposefully do not go to the tree (we will visit it on day 27) and the main hero runs to the Well and towards the city. We build a Trading Post in the city and buy another hero – Erin. We recruit Furies from three external dwellings.
Day 11. Sinitar – takes out the 1st Garrison (38 Furies and 2 Imps), and boards the boat. Main hero level 17 (113 out of 135 mana). We build Chambers of Intrigue in the city.
Day 12. We build a War Academy in the city. Irbet buys an artifact in the shop – Belt of Elementals (+4 to Summoning magic), upgrades troops to Manticores and Stalkers and transfers everything to the main hero. Sinitar at sea picks up a chest, and without landing on the shore, beats the Bow Masters.
Day 13. The main hero sails up and lands on the shore near the garrison. Erin summons the freed boat and boards it.
Day 14. Sinitar (46 Manticores and 3 Stalkers) takes out the 2nd Garrison without problems. Main hero becomes level 18 (131 out of 150 mana). Next is the second difficult battle with 60 Emerald Dragons. The main hero has 4 Stalkers – summon Phoenix and Regeneration (the problem is that the dragons don’t hit through the Phoenix and kill 1 Stalker). The main hero becomes level 20 (80 mana), picks up an artifact – Turban of Experience, plus two Dolmens. We build a Citadel in the city.
Day 15. The main hero fights in the Mage Treasury, then takes out the High Druids, picks up an artifact – Helm of Chaos, and heads towards the Red Dragons. Now, always at the end of the day he puts it on, and for battles – the Turban of Experience. (Main hero 56 out of 195 mana). Erin lands on the shore, following the main hero. We recruit units from external dwellings.
Day 16. The main hero (46 Manticores and 3 Stalkers) – takes out the Red Dragons (61 pcs.) – a battle similar to the Emerald one, only added Manticores. After the battle, the main hero visits the tree and becomes level 23 (a forced measure, as the main hero won’t return here again). Next, takes out the Assassins (near the mercury mine). Irbet (25 Manticores and 25 Stalkers) runs from the city to the shore, summons a boat and boards it.
Day 17. Sinitar takes out the Bear Masters, then the Adepts, heads to the Well, and over 1000 Nymphs.
Day 18. The main hero studies Wall of Blades in the Temple, then takes out the Rune Mages and the Dwarf Treasury. We build a Capitol in the city. We buy a new secondary hero – Kifra.
Irbet lands on the shore near the 2nd Garrison.
Day 19. The main hero takes out the 3rd Garrison, then – Phoenixes (main hero 58 out of 225 mana). Irbet transfers troops to Erin. We build an Altar of Elements in the city.
Day 20. The main hero takes out the 4th Garrison (with Undead), then – one of the towers with Elementals.
We upgrade the Altar of Elements in the city.
Day 21. The main hero visits the Well, then takes out the 5th Garrison (reaches level 27), Erin transfers troops (25 Manticores and Stalkers each) to Sinitar. The main hero then takes out the Mummies.
Day 22. Week of Foolhardiness. The main hero takes out several hundred Air Elementals and 164 Erl Kings (a difficult battle), then a Mana Well.
Day 23. Sinitar fights Elementals in the tower, visits the Stable, takes out 862 Squires (which could have been recruited, but I chose not to… for the sake of extra experience… although in difficult battles they might have been useful). Next – Bone Warriors, Mummies, Inquisitors, Ghosts, Night Mistresses.
Day 24. Erin visits the Tomb and takes an artifact – Ogre’s Club, passes it to the main hero. Sinitar takes out the Death Knights, then goes left and fights in another garrison (6th) – the biggest problem seemed to be the 999 Assassins, due to their poison (20 Black Dragons caused no trouble).
Day 25. The main hero takes out the 7th Garrison (similar to the 6th in troops). Erin picks up a Ring of Speed and Crown of the Dwarf King, buys another couple of artifacts in the shops – Armor and Eye of the Dragon, and passes all artifacts to Sinitar.
Day 26. The main hero returns back, visits the Mana Well, takes out the 8th Garrison (a difficult battle… this is where the Squires would have come in handy!) – 50 Seraphim, about a hundred Paladins, Battle Unicorns, Inquisitors, Rune Lords, and 300 Wood Elves. The main thing – take out the archers and mages first… revive the Manticores at the end of the battle…
Then, Sinitar visits the tree (reaches level 31) and goes through the one-way portal – towards the city.
Day 27. Kifra transfers troops (new recruits from the city and external dwellings – Manticores and Stalkers) to Sinitar. The main hero, without entering the city, runs through the portal, visits the Well, takes out 16 Barlogs (5 squads of 1 Stalker each), and visits the tree.
Day 28. Sinitar – takes out the 8th Garrison (20 Barlogs and several thousand Goblins) – fielded 107 Manticores and 5 Stalkers for the battle. Then, the main hero visits the Planetarium, three trees, takes out the Dungeon Outpost, Centaurs. Irbet picks up 4 tomes, takes all artifacts from Sinitar, passes them to Kifra, who sells all artifacts in the city. Then, we exchange all resources at the Trading Post for mercury.

p.s. - it's a pity there was a squad of Squires that could have been recruited.... without them it was harder to take out the neutrals, who knows, maybe the winners wouldn't have run so far.....

p.s - Vampire, it seems that LordVirus's stats in the final table were recorded with artifacts equipped

I was taking artifacts from everyone. He's 4 levels higher than the second-place player and has 8 more stats, if I remember correctly. Is that really so unbelievable?

First, I'd like to address BarbarianHawk... Just read the rules, is it that hard? You need to develop SINITAR, but you developed Irbet, so the save is invalid.

And on what basis, may I ask? Because, as I understand it, in BarbarianHawk's save, Sinitar has a certain amount of experience (i.e., it's more than zero), and the host didn't set a minimum limit in this tournament... so there's no reason not to count it.

Romanuil, for someone playing for the first time, you're doing very well, good job.

Romanuil :D of course, good job, but I doubt this is his first time :rolleyes:

We're waiting for the rating from the highly respected suicide bomber.

But what kind of suicide bomber is he? He's just Divine Wind ;)
As soon as we resolve the issue with the first point, the rating will be available.

Sincerely, Kamikaze!

As far as I remember, Sinithar wasn't in the Barbarian's save. I didn't check in the castle. Maybe he's there. Let's wait for the Barbarian himself. If he says the hero isn't there, we won't count it. If he is, our esteemed "psycho" will check the save (hopefully, he has enough money for one save) and I'll add him to the table.

And now I want to separately congratulate Los (aka **BigAke**), let the winner forgive me. Misha, you're awesome... you almost beat everyone :) Congratulations on your excellent result, friend!!!
**Lord Virus**, you're cool! What can I say, you're an authority ;)
Congratulations on your beautiful victory; not everyone can repeat such a clever trick.
And for dessert... congratulations to **Fireball** on his well-deserved victory in the ten-level tournament named after John van Kanegem! And congratulations to Romanuil (c) on second place! That's also impressive, very impressive.

Dear players, based on a rather superficial analysis – the data is readily available – I have concluded that in experience-based tournaments specifically for Heroes of Might and Magic V, the primary criterion for ranking will be the hero's level, with the amount of experience being a secondary factor. This is because the experience curve relative to the level in the fifth installment is so steep that players who gain even one level less than the winner are already dozens of times behind the leader. And since trees are the main source of experience, the only way out of this difficult situation, in my opinion, is to switch to a more lenient scoring system. Thank you for your attention, Kamikaze!

Please review the ranking for the past tournament.

John van Caneghem Tournament. Round Ten.

And also with the Clans rating for it.

And now I want to especially congratulate Los (aka BigAke), may the winner forgive me. Misha, you're awesome... you almost beat everyone :) Congratulations on your excellent result, friend!!!

Glad to help, comrade general :D

And here's a brief summary of my Walkthrough:
Day 7 - Seraphs
Day 9 - garrison near the boat
Day 10 - we kill 4 Barlogs and run to the Castle (a small explanation: in one of the attempts, I managed to defeat the Barlogs with rings of cold in one go, but I couldn't do it again - at least one scoundrel remained and killed me, so in the final attempt, I killed the Barlogs and the first garrison with Barlogs in 2 attempts)
Day 11 - killed Barlogs
Day 12 - cleared half of the garrison
Day 14 - finished off the garrison (collects trees immediately)
Day 15 - Irbet defeats the elves and takes the sextant and the lighthouse. Sinistar defeats the phoenixes and takes the tree
Day 19 - we defeat the titans
Day 21 - we add the legionnaires (862 units :D)
Day 22 - garrison with tents and artifacts and garrison near the tree (Seraphs and other creatures)
Day 23 - capture the enemy Castle. We go to collect trees on its territory (first we defeat the phoenixes)
Day 26 - we get into the boat
Day 27 - we land on the territory with the tree and lava dragons.
Day 28 - accordingly, we defeat the lava dragons, take the tree, and use the remaining moves to gain a little experience by killing a couple of nearby monsters.

The tournament was a success... It was fun, and I enjoyed playing, although there were some challenging moments.
I would like to see at least 3 recordings of the most difficult battles from the top three players.

There were 12 dwellings and a Dark Revelation in the game, so reaching level 40 was quite easy.

Heh, familiar words... In reality, yes, but with the build I chose, it was impossible to achieve, because it's unrealistic to break through with 150 Chaos creatures, you need summons, as I realized later. Hence my modest result.

What a pleasant surprise! - I thought I would take last place.;)

Virus is very clever!!!! Congratulations!
Vampires rule!!!:smile13: :smile13: :smile13:

A huge thank you to Psych for a successful tournament.:smile20:

Special thanks to Lord Vampire for the kind words and moral support.