Posts from Haven tactics.

Why use Landlords?
I usually don't upgrade peasants for a long time; I always use them for income, and I keep about 10 peasants in my army for the units that are sacrificed and absorb retaliatory attacks.

By the way, it might be beneficial not to level up the main hero's "Experienced Commander" skill. Experience suggests that it's not difficult to level up a secondary hero to "Master Counter-Striker" + "Experienced Commander," and it's very advantageous not to have the main hero return at the end of each week for retraining.

Don't landlords have income? I know there's a siege, but you can also divide them into smaller groups:smile02:

I really like Dugald. He has a very good starting skillset. If I manage to, I develop him to level 21 (usually the game ends at level 20-21 for me) like this:

Skilled Counterattack - Experienced Tactician Skilled Offense - Archery - Battle Fury - Retribution Skilled Defense Skilled Leadership Skilled Light Magic - Protection - Holy Vengeance Developed Logistics

Regarding creatures. I think it's not advantageous to use them for humans - Retribution is better. Unless the opponent is a Necromancer, that might be an exception. Humans' ballista isn't very strong. After all, its damage calculation takes into account knowledge and attack, and humans develop their knowledge slowly. The ballista is only good for Orcs and the Demoness Deleb.

I really like Dugald. He has a very good starting point.
If I manage to, I develop him to level 21 (usually the game ends at level 20-21 for me) like this:

Expert Counterattack - Experienced Tactician
Expert Offense - Archery - Battle Fury - Retribution
Expert Defense
Expert Leadership
Expert Light - Protection - Righteous Fury
Developed Logistics

Regarding machines. I think it's not profitable for humans to use them - Retribution is better. Unless the opponent is a Necromancer.
Humans' ballista is not very strong. After all, its damage calculation takes into account knowledge and attack, and humans develop knowledge slowly. The ballista is only good for Orcs and the Demoness Deleb.

It's not quite clear against whom such a build is effective. Or is it against everyone?
Leadership, logistics, and defense should still be fully developed...
Machines are only for secondary heroes to clear out minor creatures and mines.

It's not entirely clear who this kind of build is for. Or is it against everyone?

Yes.
But, of course, constant adjustments are made because not all of these skills benefit the hero.

Leadership and logistics with defense should still be maxed out...

Of course, it would be good. But there aren't enough levels.
Here, by the way, it's interesting. Can you suggest your build up to level 21?
Perhaps I'll find something more effective for myself.

This is actually interesting. Can you suggest your leveling build up to level 21? Maybe I'll find something more effective for myself.

And against whom are we leveling up, after all?

So, who are we actually leveling up against?

Well, I usually play against two or three AI opponents (they naturally feud among themselves as well). They can be a random selection.
Let's do it like in the previous game:
Necromancer, Dwarf.

For example, like this (level 21): Against a Dwarf: 3 racial – Overseer 3 defense – Mass Stone Skin, Dodge 3 attack – Mass Haste, Ranged Attack 3 leadership – Inspiration. Against a Necromancer: 3 logistics – Find Path 3 defense – Mass Stone Skin, Reflection 3 attack – Mass Haste, Ranged Attack 3 luck – Magic Resistance, Soldier

KillAndAction
Thank you for your reply.
But I like my character build just as much!

For example, like this (level 21):

Against Necropolis:
3 Logistics - Pathfinding
3 Defense - Mass Stone Skin - Reflection
3 Attack - Mass Haste - Ballistics
3 Luck - Magic Resistance - Soldier's Luck

I wonder, why Reflection against Necropolis? There's only Ravenna with Chaos. And where is Leadership? You can take -11 from the Shout. There's no tactic either.

P.S. Against a Dwarf at level 21, Haven has no chance either.

I wonder, what's the point of reflection against Necropolis? Against Chaos, it's only Ravenna. And where's the leadership? This way, you can take -11 damage from the scream. There's no tactic either.

P.S. Against a Dwarf on level 21, Haven doesn't stand a chance.

Well, suggest your build for level 21:smile42:

P.S. Against a Gnome on level 21, Haven doesn't stand a chance either.

I only play against the AI on Veteran difficulty, so it's hard to judge about "no chance." I'm sure (to say the least) that this is not the case.
So, I played against the AI 1 on 1 on the "Lands of Outcasts" map. Humans against Gnomes (I played as Humans). The Gnomes had no chance)))
On this map, there are simply a lot of resources, and every week I recruited the maximum number of Isabel Knights, dedicating all the monks and part of the swordsmen to this.
Development ended at level 19, with the hero Axel.
I had several times more Isabel Knights than the Gnomes had Yarls. Plus, leadership was maxed out with Inspiration and Empathy taken. You could say that the Isabel Knights were the only ones moving (they moved very often).

So, Humans have a chance against absolutely any faction. It all depends on the map. If there is an opportunity to train at least 10 cavalry units per week, then this is very serious.

And I wouldn't take Reflection against a Necromancer. Seriously. It's not needed against the undead. You need to prioritize maxing out leadership and definitely taking Inspiration.

Now I've reconsidered my build for Humans)
I really liked this one:

Axel, level 21 (against a Gnome):

Developed Counter Strike - Watchful - Experienced War Leader
Expert Leadership - Rallying - Inspiration - Empathy
Expert Attack - Tactics - Battle Fury - Retribution
Developed Logistics
Expert Defense
Basic Light Magic - Righteous Fury

Or, if there is a Divine Wrath or Resurrection spell in the guild of magic, then we don't take Battle Fury and Retribution, but max out Light Magic. Or, we don't max out Light Magic at all, but max out Logistics and Counter Strike.
And there are also some minor adjustments. The main thing is to max out leadership, attack, and definitely take Tactics.
However, there is one caveat... The Gnome can develop into Chaos and get Armageddon. Then you will have to take Reflection.

Against a Necromancer
Axel (level 21)

Developed Counter Strike - Watchful
Expert Leadership - Rallying - Inspiration
Expert Light Magic - Blessing - Righteous Fury
Expert Attack - Tactics - Archery
Expert Defense
Developed Logistics

Again, there are options. Don't take Righteous Fury, but take Expert Counter Strike or, say, Prayer (battle spirit will be at least +5).

Added after 3 hours 58 minutes
By the way, regarding tactics for Humans.
I probably won't say anything new, but I tried it myself and was very pleased with this development method for this castle.
In addition to the main hero, you should quickly level up a secondary hero and take all the skills necessary for retraining, i.e., Counter Strike to Expert level and Experienced War Leader.
Then everything is simple. The main hero (preferably Axel) travels the map, captures mines, and levels up. And the secondary hero, level 6-7, sits in the castle and converts swordsmen and monks into cavalry.
The most economical solution is to convert all 7 monks into cavalry. But then, we lose a valuable ranged unit.
A more expensive option is to convert 20 shieldbearers into 10 cavalry. This is more expensive, but then the Inquisitors/Adept remain with us.
You can, of course, convert 7 monks into cavalry + 6 cavalry from shieldbearers, and next week 7 + 7.
It all depends on your preferences and the amount of resources.
Ideally, make Elaine the secondary hero and have her gather all the peasants, and also take the skill from the Leadership branch - Estates.

Well, suggest your build for level 21:smile42:

Standard:
Advanced Counterattack, Expert Darkness, Retribution, Empathy, Tactics, Soldier, Advanced Defense. Nothing else is needed.

Added 7 minutes later

Against a Necromancer
Axel (level 21)

Advanced Counterattack - Watchful
Expert Leadership - Rally Troops - Inspire
Expert Light - Blessing - Righteous Fury
Expert Attack - Tactics - Ranged Attack
Expert Defense
Advanced Logistics

I'll let you in on a secret: with that build, you're unlikely to defeat a decent Necromancer. Although there are some sensible choices, like taking Tactics, the rest is a waste of levels. And if you're losing to Dwarves, it's either because you're playing Haven exceptionally well (which I doubt, not because you're an inexperienced player:) , or because the Dwarf you're playing against doesn't know what he's doing. And on Outlands, at level twenty, a Dwarf can crush you so badly that no cavalry will help, even if there are three times as many of them.

Lordesat

Besides the criticism, I would like to know your plan for how you develop your strategy against the Necromancer. ;)
I like my version. All dark spells are perfectly dispelled, and antimagic will protect the paladins from being controlled. Plus, with a quick attack, the paladins will destroy the Necromancer's strongest stack, and with encouragement, you can push the paladins up the initiative scale, and the Necromancer will get tired of resurrecting his troops.

I can't say anything about the Dwarf. It is one of my three favorite races. And of course, the computer doesn't play very well, even on veteran difficulty, especially on the "Lands of Outcasts" map, where development is very fast and there are plenty of resources. I agree that I won so easily against the Dwarves because the computer couldn't manage them properly.
But nevertheless, I trained 10 Knights of Isabel every week, and I am just sure that a more experienced player playing as Haven can defeat the Dwarf. Especially with the "Divine Vengeance" spell.

If we consider the scenario of Necromancers versus Haven on the Outlands map, judging by your comments, you seem to underestimate the Necromancer. Although this map has an undeniable advantage for the Knight – 2 gold mines – nevertheless, based on my experience playing on this map in the late game against fairly strong opponents, I can say that the chances of Haven winning are about 40%, no more. This is assuming that Haven is at the top and the Necromancer is at the bottom. But if the Necromancer is at the top, then Haven's chances are practically zero. Of course, a lot depends on the availability of spells. It seems you like to develop in the Light. That's good if you have Anti-Magic, but what if you don't? Secondly, a stack of 1000 zombies under Orson can easily withstand a charge from 300 Axel's Knights led by Isabelle. This is to say that you think you can wipe out the strongest enemy stack with a single breath. Thirdly, while you're busy rushing Paladins, the Necromancer is subduing and berserking everyone else, and the Paladins will most likely be defeated after their first attack. I won't go into detail about the Necromancer's tactics against the Knight; I think it's unnecessary, although you can stick to your opinion. Yes, a lot can be done with Anti-Magic and with a different setup. Moreover, judging by your development, you don't seem to be planning on getting an education, and that means a lot. P.S. I described the Knight's tactics against the Necromancer (practically the only one that can be used to win) above.