Posts from 1st annual offline tournament "Best Of The Best"

Here's an idea. What should we do about Monster Weeks? Allow them or not? I think it makes sense to allow them: the map is large, and it won't significantly interfere with the events on it.

Damn, what is this? I've already played for several weeks, and I won't replay. And my game version turned out to be buggy, even though I did everything correctly :( So, what are these Monster Weeks? I'm for allowing them because there are always problems with checks on such a map anyway.
For now, I only know one thing - double casting is not allowed.

Indeed, we're not talking about a butterfly carrying the entire Dungeon faction here. And the main thing is not to overdo it with the fan, otherwise it will be worse. :D

This Tournament is making my head spin... I'm not used to playing for speed... some people have already completed the map, and I'm still stuck... constantly loading, replaying, trying to reduce the time as much as possible, but I keep getting myself into an even more difficult situation and again and again I load and replay... Tell me, is it like this for everyone, or am I going crazy???

You're lucky - I already went crazy :D

Added after 18 minutes

For example?

For example, Phoenixes at the portal :) 5x2=10 pieces

But the cart is needed so that there are an infinite number of arrows...
Who would go to war with the Legion without it? Without a cart - it's impossible! :)

I've already forgotten a lot in the third game, especially things I didn't even know :)
I thought the cart increases the number of arrows, but not to infinity, and I haven't had the chance to check it yet - I haven't gotten around to it :)

Let's not provoke each other to comment on our own Walkthrough.

In General, it was written that it is possible. You also hinted at the two main battles ;) I don't think there is any violation in this. I'm just wondering if we could agree to allow each participant to officially ask AlexPank ONE question in a private message. For example, I am interested in whether there is an artifact on the map that is not among the quest items. I searched in the editor - there is none on the surface, but maybe it is hidden somewhere. I'm tired of looking everywhere - I haven't found it yet, or maybe it doesn't exist :)

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And spending several hours clicking on the "end turn" button - you can accumulate such an army that the battle will take place automatically... Have you considered this option as a solution to the problem? :)

Never :D But the days in the game also pass :)

Good day to everyone!

I'm back!;)

Speed runs are usually done in a couple of weeks, sometimes even days:):):)

More than a month – that's already a PLEASURE:D:D:D

P.S. I haven't tried playing yet, so I'm speaking figuratively!

Sincerely,
Prorock.

I've been thinking, maybe we could agree to let each participant officially ask AlexPank ONE question via private message. For example, I'm interested in the presence or absence of one artifact on the map that isn't part of the quests. I poked around in the editor — it's not on the surface, but maybe it's cleverly hidden somewhere. I've worn myself out searching everywhere — haven't found it yet, though maybe it's just not here :)

I will answer you — it is not here! :(
I was also sure that they would definitely bury such an artifact... But alas... :)

And the hint about the two main battles is not a discussion. That is obvious from a cursory glance at the map. Now, if I tell you how to take down 5x2=10 phoenixes without any losses — that would be a discussion...

I'll answer you - it's not here! :(
I was also sure that such an artifact would definitely be included... But alas... :)

So, theoretically, is that question possible? I know you're an expert; I just found your document on the third game – I had to read it a bit. And what about the appearance of that artifact in the shops in the Dragon castles – can this be achieved through load/save, and is it allowed? I think it is. By the way, another question – the map editor clearly prohibits the presence of certain spells and, in my opinion, artifacts. So, what about the appearance of these artifacts in the same shops, or, for example, the appearance of books containing all the spells?
If this is possible, is it allowed to use them?

And the hint about the two main battles is not a discussion. It's obvious when you look at the map. But if I tell you how to defeat 5x2=10 Phoenixes without losses, that would be a discussion...

I take discussions more lightly. I understand the logic behind prohibiting discussions, so as not to share current results and messages about what was achieved on a certain day/week. But discussing theoretical questions about the third game, who will stop me now from writing a question in some thread, asking how to beat something with something? I'm not sure that doing this on another resource will benefit this portal. Then, such discussions can be held in private messages, but again, will others benefit from this? And no one can know who is discussing what with whom. Of course, everyone is interested in playing the map themselves, but sometimes questions may arise during the game, let's say, if it's forbidden to ask them in this thread, can I ask them in another thread? Or on another Heroes website? Well, I defeated the Phoenixes without losses. The question of who and when is irrelevant here.
Let's say I say that they can be defeated by a hundred Dark Knights without losses :D I don't mean using cheats – they are prohibited. Is this a discussion? Or, let's say, you tell me how to defeat them with one Fairy, indicating how much mana is needed for such a battle :) if it is even possible?
In general, I highly doubt battles with legions with one Fairy. Theoretically, they are possible, but what about in practice? Let's say 1000 upgraded Dwarves. Health: 1000*20=20000
Well, I don't know, let's say the Fairy takes away 2 points per hit. And this hit is made in 1 second.
Although it will take 5 times longer for this hit (human factor + computer turn)
To defeat everyone, it takes: 20000/2=10000 seconds; But in reality, it takes 5 times longer
10000*5 sec=50000 sec; 50000/60 = approximately 833 minutes; 833/60 = approximately 14 hours. CONTINUOUSLY. If we consider that there are 24 hours in a day and you can spend 4-5 hours on the game (which is a good time), then this battle will take about three days.
Maybe I messed up the calculations, check it. How many such battles can be held in a tournament that lasts a month? I'm not talking about this tournament. The question is purely rhetorical.

Please add me to the list of participants.

I'll answer you - it's not here! :(
I was also sure that such art would definitely be included... But alas... :)

Could it be that we were looking for the same artifact??? :D I'll be honest... I loaded and replayed... there's nothing on the map, and it doesn't appear in the merchants' artifacts either :( at least, I haven't found it yet...

Added 2 minutes later

Or, for example, you could tell me how to defeat them with just one fairy, indicating how much real money needs to be spent on such a battle :) if it's even possible? :)

If someone tells me how to do it, I'll personally build a monument :D :D :D

Could it be that we were both trying to find the same artifact??? :D To be honest... I've loaded the game and replayed it... the artifact isn't on the map and doesn't appear in the merchants' inventories :( at least, I haven't found it yet...

But what if someone else finds it? Is it even theoretically possible?

1. Artifacts. Initially, before VDV introduced the restriction, I planned to have one of the MOD's artifacts (a ring) found in a chest – it's still there, but it's too tedious to go get it because it's useless... And I also planned to buy a couple more components in a certain place. This would have significantly reduced the game time. Now there's an official ban – it's clearer and simpler. But no one has banned digging for other artifacts; if you can, dig them up :) Just remember that you won't be offered more than three sets of artifacts per month, no matter how much you save/load... Although I don't understand what the problem is... I haven't been searching for artifacts for a while – I used to have amazing luck. Here, it's all about luck. No one has banned buying a magic book... The book certainly optimizes logistics, but it won't help you avoid the main battles... So its help is conditional. But I'm sure it's unlikely to appear for sale – to be honest, I don't remember them ever selling books THERE...

By the way, another question – the map editor clearly prohibits the presence of certain spells and, in my opinion, artifacts. So, what about these artifacts appearing in the same stores, or, for example, books containing all the spells?

Artifacts prohibited on the map will not appear anywhere unless the author buries them themselves. This also applies to spells, secondary skills, and heroes. What the author prohibits will not be freely available. If there is a ban on a certain spell, I think a magic book containing it automatically becomes prohibited, even if this is not explicitly stated by the author. Although this is debatable...

2. Fairy vs. Legion of Dwarves. The calculation is approximately correct. It's clear that no one will spend 14 hours on a battle. BUT, it all depends on the motivation and the subsequent situation. If you're playing for yourself, there's no enjoyment in it. If you're playing a speed tournament, the situation is completely different. Here's an example from my experience:

At the start, there's a very unfortunate respawn point, and the only way out of it is guarded by a crowd of dwarves. Scouting showed that Angel Wings are located in a Pandora's Box on the other side. Here's your motivation... On the first day, we buy Adele (it will cost a maximum of 5000 gold) and recruit two dozen upgraded fairies standing nearby... Then – it's time to work.

As a result, we clear out the neutrals on the first game day, gain access to the Angel Wings, and at the same time gain more than 10 levels for our hero. And at this stage, with a competent approach, you can have an expert in earth or air, expert diplomacy, wisdom, etc. This depends on how the hero's skill tree develops. And all this, please note, is on the first day. Are the prospects clear? :) And who will judge you for wasting time?... Yes, there was more than one fairy at the start, but that's not the main point – the principle is important...

3. Discussion. I agree – a general theory that doesn't reveal the nuances of the game strategy on THIS map is not a tournament discussion. And it's better to have all conversations, for those who are interested, within this forum, without going beyond its borders and especially not in private... :) For the common good, so to speak...

Please add me to the list of participants.

Don't worry. Download the save and play to your heart's content. Your nickname will appear on the list as soon as VDV returns...

I played the map a second time (spent two evenings on it) and improved my result :). I was also looking for a specific useful artifact (was everyone looking for the same thing?), but it's not on the map. I perceive the ban on discussion as an attempt to make each player think for themselves about the map, rather than constantly asking others when and what to build, what to do here, and what to do in that place, and when and where to go. However, discussing "theoretical" questions probably shouldn't be punished. For example, the case of 5x2=10 Phoenixes: their number already contains some information about your playthrough (some will notice it, and some won't), but this is not a discussion; however, telling how you killed them would be a discussion. In addition, the absence of other players' results until the end of the tournament leaves some (perhaps small, but for some, large) hope that your result will be one of the best => you are less likely to give up playing halfway through. After the tournament, I would like to know how other players played (I hope they will tell), but now I am interested in finding solutions that help me complete the map in a shorter time than the first time. In general, I didn't check one location on the map for the artifact I was looking for because it's easier to finish the map than to go there.

What if someone finds it? Is that even theoretically possible?

Theoretically, yes!
This artwork isn't prohibited by the map author, so it might appear somewhere... Keep searching :) If you find it, you're lucky, and you can safely use it...

Furthermore, the lack of results from other players until the end of the tournament leaves some (albeit small, and for some, large) hope that your result will be one of the best => you are less likely to stop playing halfway through.

Therefore, it is quite fair that the rules state that anyone who announces information about their playthrough and results before the end of the tournament will be disqualified... In order not to diminish interest in the tournament.

In general, I didn't check one location on the map for the artifact I was looking for, because it's easier to finish the map than to go there.

It's not there either; I checked there first, even though I got beaten up... :D Although, judging by the guards, it would have been more logical to generate a save file so that it would be there. But, apparently, that's too complicated...

I think there's a trick on this map, because it's quite difficult to complete... "you just need to find the buried dog" ;)

Yes, I think there's an easy way... :rolleyes: There are definitely a few tricks. By the way, they are very, very valuable...

Good day!

Why are you all making such a big deal out of nothing?:):):)

You, our DEAR PARTICIPANTS in the tournament, are getting ahead of the organizers.
There are no hidden tricks on the map, and don't even try to find any limitations.
Initially, no restrictions were set on anything, so you should USE EVERYTHING you find on this map!

Only one condition was set: Complete all quests to the end.;)

Sincerely,
Prorock.