The first one was easy to take because it was my own territory — the tier-1 goblins ran to the right to hold the right triple stack. The Griffin stack confused the map a bit, but all the damage was aimed at the left two stacks; I immediately cast Shield on the Rocs (since I realized it was risky). Even with no Earth and two Spell Power, it was still something)))
I’ve been taking level 3 and 4 stacks without Slow for a long time now (wasting days is a shame, since Earth magic isn’t always available).
The main thing was not to leave a survivor from the first attackers — otherwise it’s trouble if some under-damaged Griffin retaliates and a couple of packs land hits. But otherwise it’s simple: they’re afraid to hit the main assault stack. You kill them off slowly; the Wolves and Goblin Horde died instantly, but Greg with Rocs is good if you’re careful. If the level-4 stack hadn’t specifically gone to check and waste my hero…
The second one was harder: the Goblin Horde, also with Griffin stacks and on human terrain; the tier-1 goblins couldn’t split the right ones, but 3 Angels (I picked up +4 Attack along the way) and 9 Rocs hit hard — 1 Roc survived with a couple of HP, and the second Angel was also on its last legs. But taking it was tough, and most importantly, if the level-4 stack hadn’t taken it, there’d be nothing to scout — it was enemy territory and no time). The key was TEMPO, so risk was unavoidable.
Added after 18 minutes
Paladin@heroes.by (blue, Swamp, Tazar, Tazar) def Scorp (red, Stronghold, Gurni, Gurni), 2sm4d(3),126
We started — my Titans immediately against Barbarian. I got lucky with home secondary + a tier-1 with 38 Gremlins freed, and 7 !!! Gremlin growths taken on 114)))) while Scorp had a bad start, so he had to start a new game. That would have been fun — 7 taken on 114))))) though it did happen.
Anyway, I decided I couldn’t play the standard Titan setup, so I immediately switched to Swamp.
Start was average: 1 Lizardman growth + Necromancer secondary on 113, and by the end of the week I upgraded Harpies, built Citadel and Wyvern, also upgraded the Lizardmen (I was preparing for Griffin Conservatory).
121: Griffin stack was ready to break 2-3 Griffin Conservatories, but there was a tier-1 and a nearby tree giving +8 Wyverns.
122: I chain-move everything home, plus another +2 Angels.
123: I invade the enemy’s unclaimed Rampart.
124: I build a mage guild there — got Slow and exactly Expert Earth and Logistics)))
125: A scout hero spotted a Pandora’s Box, and with 3 Angels and 12 Wyverns I beat 50++ Swordsmen to avoid distracting the boss (as it turned out, on 126 there were 40 Green Elves). Troops given to the boss, and the Griffin Conservatory with 4 Angels is taken easily (couldn’t do without Mass Slow and Shield).
126: I fly into the opponent’s respawn (scout hero with 7 Angels and 12 Wyverns takes a Wyvern nest for +12 Wyverns). Resulting army: 7 Angels, 24 Wyverns, 8 Griffins, 33 Lizardmen + Harpies, and by 127 a delivery of 47 Green Elves is ready))). But the surrender came earlier. Actually, I was planning to break a Dragon Utopia on 127)))
Thanks for the game.
Aldegir
