Posts from The 3rd stage of the annual John Van Caneghem Tournament (2009). Auto-translated

But I have the coolest stats! :D

But I have the coolest stats :D

You can't argue with that! And you could have had the most mercury (150+), if you had exchanged the 135,000+ gold and resources for mercury at the end. :)

Yes, I really messed up by forgetting to exchange.

Dirty Player (red, Map Editor) def Eldgernon (blue, Off-lain) fix Terrible Rumor 112
1:0
I confirm. That's exactly what happened. I chose all the restarts, all the humanitarian autosaves, but I lost on turn 112. :smile16:
Thanks for the game.

I confirm! :D It's a pity that you didn't play... To be honest, I originally planned the map for 2 days, but I guess I overcomplicated something. Maybe I gave too little starting money, which is a shame... I was planning to surprise with a garrison and phoenixes, plus a behemoth + ballista and a tent of healing. It seemed like it should have worked intuitively, but in practice, it's much more complicated. And also, creatures spawned in the central castle's garrison that didn't want to leave and killed the bear... Too bad... Next time, I'll do everything properly. There will be a new Tournament with my map in the summer, so save your strength ;)
I would also like to congratulate the winner and the second-place winner on a good and even game. And Klyuka, well done, second tournament and a victory! RESPECT!!! Entomb, don't be upset, there will be more tournaments for you, you have all the data to win! Roma and Sage, thank you for not forgetting about the third Heroes game! Zhenya, well done, I didn't expect you to play so well! :D Vitaly, thank you for the organizational work!
P.S.: And where are Fireball and Perpolken? I waited for them until the last moment, because they like to send their entries "at the last second," but something prevented them from playing.... :(

In short, I'm speechless.

First of all, my gratitude to EVERYONE:smile20:.

Now about my Walkthrough.
1. During scouting, I identified 32 spawns of evil (this will be a symbol for Dirty_Player; if he makes another 100 posts and the admin restores races above avatars :)), which join for money and allow you to easily break Dragon Utopia. The rest of the game boils down to accumulating money and an army for this recruitment, as well as leveling up experience and diplomacy. The army they joined consists of a monster, a devil, all wyverns (from the Hive), unicorns, fanatics (from Pandoria), and some minor units. That’s basically the whole idea.

2. By days:
on the first day Moner with a monster takes the Crypt
on the second day Dessa captures Rampart; Kilgor is bought out there and breaks through the garrison (I couldn't break through the garrison with anyone else) and phoenixes; she doesn't reach the Castle - Lorelei does that. Jelu reclaims the Castle.
on the third day the Rampart is retaken, Dessa is hired in the Rampart, kills Jelu, and goes to Dungeon
on the fourth day Dessa takes the Hive and rushes past the Necromancers, Roland recruits unicorns. Brown is killed by Blue - the first opponent is eliminated :D
on the fifth day the second Hive is taken, then Pits join, with them the Dungeon is captured, then Dragon Utopia – and then it’s just a “hurricane run across the entire map”.

I didn't complete the flight quest, thereby improving my initial skills. I didn't take Pandorians for experience. In castles, I built nothing but markets. I didn't use cheats, and I didn't pray before taking Dragon Utopia. That's all. :)

A step-by-step description of the Walkthrough is here:
/attachments/12540/

And save files:
/attachments/12541/

Sincerely, Kluka

Even with 1000 free hours (not just 10 in total), I wouldn't be able to solve the puzzle faster than 4 days – that's 100%. So, aiming for 2 (or 3, which is almost like an armored tank, Eldgernon) is definitely impressive. I give full respect for the description of this.

It's a shame that you got so carried away and heated up that you didn't have enough time to finish it, even for just 3 days.

There was time, in principle (the report was compiled a week ago), but I didn't consider 3 days. I somehow immediately had the mindset: "Either all or nothing."

Maybe 3 days is the minimum?

Who knows?:)
Until the map is completed by vbn and DmitriyAS, we can't rule out the possibility of a 2-day result.:smile14:

Confirmed! :D

Thank you for the comments.
You've calmed me down a bit; I was afraid I had overlooked something obvious. That happens to me sometimes.:)

Greetings!

And here is my walkthrough, albeit a bit late

I couldn't find a way to take Utopia sooner than on the fifth day, plus I didn't even expect that there would be enough money to kill everyone on the last day. I immediately ruled out Diplomacy as a victory option and paid for it... but who knew...

Therefore, everything was done solely "by my own strength."

Day 1.

1) Kilgor collects gold on the way to the archers and kills them
2) Gundaula is purchased (followed by Rissa – a very good hero for such a walkthrough: a) provides mercury (exactly 2 for an Archdevil), b) has logistics, c) a shooter)
3) Gundula (1 wolf) collects wood, stones, chests
4) We buy Rissa (followed by Ciel – the second fiddle of the team; her first task is to destroy the green one on day 3, the second is to neutralize the Drowned One).
5) Upgrade goblins
6) Rissa (1 hobgoblin) swaps with Kilgor and takes the crypt with a bear + 5000r!
7) We buy Ciel (followed by Corbak – the hero has advanced pathfinding and can manage to return the Bear via the sand after taking the Cliff. He will also kill the orange one).
8) Ciel (1 fairy, 6 goblins) takes the helmet and all resources except for 1 gold at the very end (important!), otherwise the green one will have time to attack her.
9) We buy Corbak (followed by Dessa – just in case)
10) Corbak, with the entire army, heads to the Cliff (you can take stones or wood on the way)
11) Kilgor goes down the road.
12) Gundulla goes to the red gates.

Possible mistakes of the first day: Like a girl, I thought that machines ruin the hero's speed during an overnight stay (HORROR!!!!))))))). One could have tried to buy the entire army (meaning the initial 2 heroes in the tavern) and take the Cliff with Pyre with a powerful living stack after the battle. Then there is a possibility to still lead an army of 6 units into the castle of the orange one. And this allows for completion in 4 days, as we get a mobile Bear who can go around to the brown one. Accordingly, taking the central Inferno on the 2nd day would give a great economic advantage. Everything else, of course, would have played out differently.

Day 1 horses

Day 2

1) Corbak takes the Bear from Rissa and breaks the Cliff (6 stacks of ones + bear. After the first hit on the Bear, you need to seduce the Dragon and then you can get married...) a simple battle... (losses - everyone except the Bear. But he is white!)
2) Kilgor takes crystals + we buy a dragon.
3) Corbak returns the Bear to Rissa.
4) Rissa takes a chest from the road and passes the Bear to Kilgor.
5) Kilgor kills vampires and opens Pandora. (Attack 3 Logistics 3 Fire Magic 3 Wisdom 1 Ballistics 1)
6) Rissa clears gold from the road and moves one step to the left herself.
7) Kilgor opens the passage.
8) Rissa goes as far down as possible.
9) Kilgor follows her (1 step)
10) Ciel, boldly bypassing 10 Nazguls, drinks mana in the well and enters the Necropolis.
11) Gundulla takes the remaining gold on the sand + sawmill and gemstone mine.
12) In the Necropolis, we build a citadel + give Ciel 7 stacks of ones.
End of day

Possible mistakes of the 2nd day: Most likely, Rissa should have been leveled up, as she had logistics and a shooter from the start anyway.
Night:

2 battles
1: Simple. "Skeletons and zombies." Tactics: 2 arrows into skeletons, 1 into zombie, after which the fairy flies back and forth, taunting the zombie. Shooters are used due to lack of rounds - catapult destroys the tower. (losses 0)
2: "Nazguls arrive." Tactics: Since the enemy has 2 skeletons, the tower shoots them first, leaving 10 knights. Each round we fire an arrow and pin them in the moat. Here, of course, everything depends on the catapult... (losses 6 stacks)
It is important to level up Ciel's Wisdom!!!

Green killed.

Day 3.

1) Ciel collects 2 chests and is dismissed.
2) Rissa collects resources and passes troops to Kilgor, but not all!
3) Kilgor takes the city:
3 battles a) "Garrison" Setup: 5 orcs - 1 hGob - 1 hGob - Bear – 1 Wolf - 1 Wolf - 1 hGob. I don't remember, but it was also simple - enemies often cry... losses everyone except the Bear (even if not all, they will die to the birds)
b) Birds and city = autobattle
4) We buy Dessa in Inferno (followed by Moner) and an Archdevil
5) Build Order of Fire
6) Dessa with the Arch kills the evil-eyes.
7) Rissa passes 3 goblins to Dessa.
8) Dessa visits the brown one (1 gob – Arch – 2 gob)
9) Rissa takes a chest
10) Kilgor stands with the book, luring the Blue (1 bear). Does not spend all MP!
11) Corbak takes wood and kills everyone (gargoyles, dragonflies, griffins = autobattles), then returns to the surface. Otherwise, if rushing toward the orange one, medusas will be bought in the city and 1 dragon won't be enough!
12) Gundula returns to the gates.

It is important to place Gundulla right by the gates, and Kilgor so that he can reach her.

End of day

Possible mistakes of the 3rd day
1). Distribution of troops during the garrison battle: orcs should have been saved to kill the Blue on the 4th day without the bear (this would save 2500r!)
2). Buy a Devil or an Archdevil? (saving 1800r and 1 mercury!) but it's very doubtful whether he can stand against snipers???

Night:

Again 2 battles

Blue. We make sorcerers, wait, beat the gremlins, wait etc., main thing is that the Dragon doesn't run away (this is possible)!

In 25% of autosaves, Jellu decides to retake the castle: We make centaurs, hit snipers, approach with one goblin, provoking the snipers. In the end, if everything is done correctly, the Arch survives. Hurrah!

Day 4

1) Corbak kills the orange hero (2) on the way to the castle and enters the castle.
2) We buy Yog (followed by Dragon – also an important role: upgrade monks + has shooting (3)).
3) Dessa kills Golems, Elves, and the first Vasya's
4) We buy a Dragon (followed by Ciel)
5) Dragon goes into the cave for a chest and stands close to Dessa
6) we buy Moner (followed by a hero with + 350r)
7) Moner takes Monks, kills the second brown hero (4 dwarves), takes the key and stands closer to the dragon. Brown is dead!
8) Rissa swaps with Kilgor and kills the blue one in the castle.
9) We buy a hero(1) with 350r (followed by a hero with + 350r).
10) Hero (1) takes the Bear back to Kilgor.
11) Kilgor swaps with Gundula.
12) Gundulla takes resources except for 1 chest (experience for Kilgor), kills dogs, + artifact and as far home as possible (but doesn't reach)
13) Bought Hero(2) (followed by Gelu).
14) We buy Ciel.
15) Hero 2 passes the artifact and Bear to Ciel and runs to the Wolves (to later transfer the Bear to Moner).
16) Ciel learns flight, kills unicorns, frees Müllich (left 1 MP for meeting Müllich after he takes the shield.
17) Müllich took the shield, mercury, approached Ciel (then she was dismissed).
18) Took money, wood, and to the elementals (+ dismiss infantry!).
19) Yog captures the same wood mine (with 1 goblin)
20) Corbak forms an army of 7 stacks, + we build a citadel!
21) Build a market in the Tower. (to build merchants on the fifth day)

Whew, I think that's all... Heroes are naturally dismissed or stay in castles as they reach level 8.

I didn't see mistakes, but there were some before – the market wasn't built!

Night
Orange gets beaten...(tactics same as with green, i.e., moat + tower)

Day 5

1) Müllich passes the Bear to Hero(2)
2) Hero(2) - accordingly to Moner through 2 battles (wolves, archers), collecting possible resources along the way.
3) Moner participates in transferring the army (20 monks + bear) to Dragon.
4) Dessa takes the Bear for herself, hits Vasya's and enters the teleport to the purple one.
5) Dragon makes Wizards for himself, kills Gogs and riders. Tactics (arrange Wizards into six stacks, then they will cast slowness). (losses 1 Wizard)
6) Dragon with last MP takes Dungeon(2).
7) Corbak crashes on a dragon against cyclops and is bought back in Dungeon(2). (followed by Ciel).
8) Ciel is bought in Inferno, learns summon elementals, crashes into boars while flying.
9) Ciel is bought back in Dungeon(2) (followed by Gelu – simply a lot of MP)
10) Corbak passes Ciel the art + 1 to CS
11) Ciel goes into the drowned one, chases her up to 1 green dragon and escapes
12) Corbak takes a chest at the bottom
13) We buy Gelu – he takes the drowned one + 30000r
14) Ciel in Dungeon (2)
15) Then any 2 heroes (followed by a hero with 30+ mana, for me it was Solmir); one passes the army to Dessa, the other takes all arts and crashes into skeletons, is bought back in the capital, thereby supplying Kilgor with arts.
16) Kilgor takes experience (lvl 12), +2 to attack, goes to the capital
17) Build Temple of Vagala
18) Dessa (with hat and army) empties Naga-bank, captures Purple castle.
19) We buy Solmir. = We are ready for the finale...
20) Final touches, namely building Merchants, buying a +2 ring and crashing Rissa into the capital.

The finale is also played simply: WE BLOW UP and hit 2 Archs with Bear and Satan.

Result of 5 days, 64 parameters, 31 mercury. Fundamentally different walkthrough compared to KLUKA. The most important thing is that in mine it matters how the enemies move, while in KLUKA it doesn't.

And finally a mistake of the fifth day – I tried to optimize mercury and bought 2 heroes for collecting mercury (more profitable than exchanging at the market) plus exchanged everything...
But! I didn't catch the theme with the helmet guarded by liches near Necropolis (this is +1 (-2+3=+1) to parameters), behind them are imps – for escaping. The idea was to escape from the purple one with an army. Buy back in Necropolis and, visiting the imp cache (+ 1500r +3 mercury), carry out operation "Valkyrie"!

I think this happened because I was already very tired of thinking and overloading at some point of the game. But even if it were 64+1=65, the struggle would be for mercury; and again, not a fact that I would have prevailed.

Thanks everyone, congratulations to Kluka once again, keep it up! But don't forget: we will clash again at the next tournament)))

P.S. To those who are new to off-line. Guys, don't despair, I specifically wrote the mistakes of the days, and it is clear that the first one changes the whole game, and therefore it is more important than all others. But the absence of the last one could also have snatched victory. Think, replay, test! Always ask yourself: maybe it can be done better or faster?
I played and achieved this result only on the 3rd try: 1st 6/24/x, 2nd 5/61/y, 3rd 5/64/31.

Entomb, thank you very much for the description. There are many things in it that I could learn from. Please upload the save files if you still have them. Because of building the pits, I didn't have much money left, and there weren't many opportunities to optimize the parameters without restructuring the strategy. Although I could have built a temple in the stronghold, I just forgot to do it. Although I didn't think about it, I assumed that someone would complete it in 3 or 4 days. Regarding the insignificance of the enemy's moves for my playthrough, that's incorrect. I tried for a long time to get Jelu to let me pass through her respawn point into Inferno. Thank you all very much, and I hope to see you at the next tournament!

Hmm... after such actions, events, and descriptions, you can't help but ask yourself – "would I even make it into the top 5...?" :)

Thank you to all participants for playing.
See you next time!