Posts from Favorites, to battle! - 6 - The Battle of Favorites! - 6

to avoid such awkwardness, usually, they place a hero in their own portal and then jump through it.

26.10.2013 twaryna (red, Swamp, Tazar, Tazar) def ColdRain (blue, Ramp, Ivor, Jabarkas) Mini-Nostalgia 115.

Good respawn with 2 external cow dwellings and a Griffin Conservatory. Crag came. Tazar got Earth. There were army problems early on, but the external dwellings dropped and everything should have been fine. But the opponent concedes. Thanks for the game!

28.10.2013 Juristis (red, Conflux, random, Gelare, Shakti) def =Stinger= (blue, Tower, Solmyr) 2sm4d(3) 136
We spent all our RE and a couple more on blocks. We rolled a surrender with middle roads, I had a decent respawn but only 2 roads, one into the GO and one into the underground. On the plus side, hero +350, a Dragon Fly Hive and an external dwelling of air elementals, which I captured immediately. Into Shakti's folder. But after breaking into the underground, I ran into a block of 20+ Minotaurs guarding a Speed Scroll. Great artifact, but the number of roads I had was effectively reduced to zero. I had to trek through wasteland to the grass area, where I found some money and built birdies in the fort.
On 121, I bought everything up, took a Hive of 8 Wyverns with Brissa, and a mini-bank with Gelare. Then Shakti broke through 30 Minotaurs with Haste, they fell successfully, +2 speed. I didn't bother looking for a town in the underground and ran to the scouted treasure zone, losing a Wyvern to a scout hero with Naga Guards along the way.
By the end of the week, I was clearing the treasure zone on the underground lava, took 5 Hives, 4 external dwellings of Efreeti, a two-stack Griffin Conservatory. Lost all my air elementals and 4 Wyverns to 3 Faerie Dragons guarding a mini-Hive) Another 3 Wyverns fell to Archmagi guarding a Pandora's Box with all level 5 spells, for which I lacked Wisdom. And 1 bird was taken by Fanatics for 15k experience. Total 34 Wyverns, Shakti with Expert Earth, Log, Leadership, Advanced Wisdom.
I still had only 1 town. Shakti split off to go home to refill mana, and Ciele from a prison with Expert Water and Earth took over. She broke into the mud treasure zone, where right at the entrance she ran into Shackles of War + Tome of Air guarded by 20+ Bone Dragons and a Helm +6 to all stats guarded by a horde of Pits. -2 morale on the Bone Dragons did its job: -1 Angel, 7 Efreeti, and 4 Wyverns. Teapot without losses. I passed the army to Shakti and he went to the third treasure zone, where there was a Shield +3 Attack/Defense and then a minimal Dragon Utopia with Captain's Hat and 2 Rings of Health. I tried to catch Solmyr using Dimension Door during this time, but it didn't work out, and thank God (as the replay showed, I would have ended up in a dead end if I had tried). Then Shakti took another mini-Hive and mini-Conservatory, as well as a Sword +6, using Dimension Door to the 4th treasure zone. On 135, blue flags flickered in the fog, I risked going towards that flicker with 25 mana and ran into a blue scout. I kill Lorelei, she drops a Cuirass +10, Stinger surrenders. Thanks for the game!

Group D.
27.10.2013 Grizvald (red, Castle, Cate, Crag Hack) def wariator (blue, Tower, Neela) Jebus Cross, 131

Used all my respawns, but stayed red. Castle had a block of Cerberi from the lot sacrificed for Dispel Sphere and two piles of resources. We play, what can you do, opp didn't take the respawn.

First week: Got Crag Hack, immediately without thinking put him in folders. Ran around the respawn looking for tasty stuff, roads were extremely long (about 5k move points from the main, no closer spot). On day 112, found a Pandora's Box for 50+ Hobgoblins, on day 113 cleared it, got a Halberd ;) then cleared a nearby Pandora on the road for 21 Mummies, got a Pike ;). By the road there was a level 2 Griffin Conservatory with griffins. Ran further towards the secondary and found two Angel external dwellings :smile04: one for 50+ Elves, the second for 5+ Efreet, started with the second. Crag Hack's tactic worked out, so I took both dwellings without major losses, thankfully the treasure chests allowed me to additionally build Angels in the castle.

Second week: Bought out from the dwellings, took the level 2 Griffin Conservatory, and on day 122 stopped at the split before a Dragon Utopia. On day 123, a level 3 Dragon Utopia fell with the loss of all home fodder, but the Angels weren't harmed. The Utopia gave junk (except for the Captain's Hat :)), but the main thing was the gold. Comfortably upgraded 11 Angels and passed them to Crag Hack, who was running towards the Griffin Conservatory. On day 124, cleared a Pandora for Trolls, asked the generator for fodder in it, it kindly provided me with 20 elite Griffin Guardsmen ;) On day 125, cleared a double Griffin Conservatory of 50+ Elite Cyclopes and 50+ regular Dragon Flies. Auto-combat on the Cyclopes (a few griffins), but had to use oil on the Dragon Flies, clearing without losses. In the center, reached a fork. One path, towards the opponent, was blocked by 100+ Elite Cyclopes for a Red Orb and a Ring +1 HP. Ran to push the castle, killed Bears for 12 Sultans along the way. Took the central Inferno, moved Cuthbert there, since there was no one else with Pathfinding, took the Dragon Fly Hive with him. Crag Hack further down the road found a Dragon Utopia and a Well guarded by Bears with Griffins. Killed the Bears, took the Utopia - got good stat boosts. Then ran around a bit more, realized the center isn't great, recalled to the Inferno, and ran towards the opponent. Along the way, took a Chupa, Necklace +3 All, Club +5, on day 131 burst into the opponent's area, cleared his Griffin Conservatory of 100+ Wizards, but after running a bit deeper into the respawn didn't kill anyone. Then started the process of delivering Angels from the dwellings home, and the opponent, seeing me, surrendered. Had 11 Archangels, Sultans on singles, stats, and the Red Orb, another 6 brave lads were expected to be delivered.
Thank you for the game!

That's right! The little tower just can't get ramped up in time! It really needs its build order fixed! Thanks for the game!

It's just Jebus Cross on the 1st lane, and on it this is the weakest Castle by a large margin :(

25.10.13. Pit for LM (red, Conflux, random Ignissa, Moner) def R55Max (blue, Rampart, Kyri, Kyri), Jebus, 133.
A very tough game.
The opponent took 111 twice on their red generations; on my first red, I bluffed with a Moon and also followed the rest.
After that, we played from the first time. At 111, I see a conservatory, a hive, the book of air, an external dwelling of psychs with Pandora behind a horde of flies, a refugee camp, ring of speed, golden bow. Lots of air units, there will be 15 (not built) + a thick stack of troglodytes + a cannon. Ignissa immediately grabbed tactics, Moner arrived. Resting is not allowed.
112 - the camp together with all sorts of junk was guarded by nearly 50 nomads, but they entered easily. Took back the gold mine. Saw the edges of two more Panodroks. Seems like a decent respawn...
113 - the camp gives crusaders; I hit a block on the road from the pits with Ignissa, another clue candle, earth sphere, library. Ignissa gets earth, slow is available in the home guild. Everything seems fine, but not so fast...
114 - took back shield +3, but the flies guarding it were nearly 50 with GS, a few were battered. Almost reached the secondary; there's another conservatory. Scouted my ГО - doubled green dragons and monsters on the road, gr. cyclops off-road.
115 - Rampart village, the consa turned out to be minimal, but I have nothing to take it with yet. Took back an external dwelling of psychs from diamond golems. Lost some air units somewhere... Moner has nothing to do, runs around upgrades. Besides what was found in the first three days, there is essentially nothing else. Although I scouted a lot - the respawn is completely pointless. And there's no second road.
116 - put Moner to replenish mana, and Ignissa followed his tracks through the upgrades.
117 - built and bought birds, took Pandora from a horde of flies - 10k gold. Took the external dwelling of psychs. Moved the army to the far hive; Jeditt ate a Pandora for 5k exp on the way and got fire and earth, but I didn't use this hero later. And the hive turned out to be minimal. Total: we have 1-7 in the fort + 2 external dwellings of psychs + an external dwelling of fairies.
121 - sending birds to take the conservatory near the village, get an angel; on the way Ignissa takes a medusa warehouse for 6 and prepares to take the second griffonry. Moner meanwhile breaks two large hordes of vampires with other troops for Pandoras. They give 10+10k exp - wisdom, tactics, defense, pathfinding. Pulled a mana sphere from a grave.
122 - the conservatory turns out to be minimal! And I urgently need expert earth to break through the ГО... Hit a hundred griffons for two majors - just under 2k left, where they will definitely give it. Only the leveling is somehow not great... Took back the book of air meanwhile, and put Moner at the ГО.
123 - the clue guards (griffons) and the flies themselves are barely enough for mass-slow, while having to give up log... +8 wyverns. And with such a not-so-outstanding army - 12 wyv, 14 psychs, 2 angels, 4 birds, ones and a cannon - I attack the monsters (decided to fly over the dragons, both with Ignissa and Moner). Turns out there are countless monsters - nearly 40 - but most importantly - 8 of them are grey. Mass-slow, of course, is available, but strength is only 2, and mana is 20. A couple of unlucky morale checks and I would have been sad... Anyway, they beat us up anyway - killed all wyverns, the cannon, and a bird. An angel and the second bird survived on last HP. The army was transferred to Moner, and he ran along the road. At the clue, behind a horde of gr. pegasi, all remaining food from fish and fairies was killed; the third clue behind elves was easier. Result - 12 wyv restored, well and air units, 25 pieces, still have them for now.
124 - I made a big mistake here. Attacked with Moner again on the monsters guarding 2 clues, Pandora, and diplomat's medal. Naturally, there are many of them, about 30, and most importantly, another gr. stack. The Castle was already practically visible, and just a couple of steps away - the next day Ignissa would have crashed there with full mana and cleared it without losses. Moner lost 3 wyverns, two birds, and almost all air units. They gave not much again - 12 wyv, total - 19. Sitting here, replenishing mana. There are many Pandoras in the center, but they are all somehow tasteless...
125 - the castle turned out to be in the very center, but at a dead end. Therefore, I had to fly onto the road. Did this immediately with both Moner and Ignissa. Moner broke through scorpicor for Pandora with exp, medusas for refugee camp with 2 scorpicors, and a bunch of diamond golems for prison with a rather crooked mage. Ignissa took back the book of fire from gr. barbo-birds and the prison from monsters. Moner finally leveled air, revealed that the blues are quite close. Therefore, I give the book of fire and the last bird to the freed mage (armag at 580), other few troops are with Moner. Kyri for some reason decided not to attack (probably low mana) and left me alone for a week.
126 - running Jäger on a bird to the opponent. Continuing exploration of the center; with the book of air and heroes with mana from prisons, this goes quite fast. There are many Dragon Utopia, but I have absolutely nothing to take them with yet. Took +6 all. On the way, blues attack the bird with one stack of unicorns. I'm really being stupid. Cast blindness, slow, berserk, just want to fly around and shoot with arrow, but the unicorns are upgraded, run fast, and even have morale. They kill immediately... Pity, could have cast armag at 5 and paid off immediately or summoned fire-guys for reliability, and then kill even 10 of them... But instead - both hero and book are lost. Later deeply regretted the hero - had literacy, and had spells that needed to be transferred...
127 - took back the second central city with Ignissa - Dungeon. Nearby is norm, two hives and a tasty Pandora. Moner with troops took back prison with ideal Damakon (attack, pathfinding, log, wisdom, earth, tactics, cannon), then - Pandora behind gr. cyclops for full earth and another prison with weak pathfinder Korbak. Scouted sentinel shield, couple more hives and Pandora. Portaled to recently taken off-road village to replenish mana. Getting a bit more cheerful...
131 - bringing growth is problematic for now, all heroes are standing in stretched desert chains. Returning to center via ДД, take back sentinel shield, crash into hive. Then take it with Korbak, then - Pandora for 20 fanatics with Damakon and another hive, after which the army goes to dungeon. On the way, two more clues and a Pandora for 15k gold are taken. Total - 43 wyverns (all clues are some kind of small). Now can go into Dragon Utopia.
132 - Ignissa takes first utopia (books of water and fire), second (levitation boots) and gets upset. Moner is luckier - +6 all and +3 all. Transferred everything to Damakon, he grabbed Pandora for nagas, but there's little exp. But built a chain for growth underwater. Since I entered utopias without food-eater, lost 7 wyverns.
133 - brought growth, took Pandora for 60 spearmen, transferred everything to Moner, he entered two more utopias - practically empty there, only got titan cuirass. Ended turn in central Castle, built artifact traders, bought cloak +2+2 for magic and boots. Feeling quite confident already, especially since Kyri's revealed parameters are not high.
133 - see the blues. Kyri just took a utopia, got archangels from Pandora, but parameters didn't grow. In a circle through the whole center I pick up 4 more Pandoras; of useful things they give 30 monks and 20 crusaders. Enter library, dress up (thought and thought, then forgot to take golden bow) and cover.
I have 18 fanatics, 30 monks, 36 wyv, 2 angels, 4 birds, 20 crusaders and 24 psychs, parameters 23-32. There - red ball, 20+ gr. unicorns, 50+ gr. elves, 3 archs, 3 angels, few pegasi, 30 bowmen and some kents, +2 speed, but parameters only 19-18 and no armor. But morale and luck are +3.
Closed on tactics, after shootout and sacrifice of birds the elves ran out, which is where the battle ended. Fortunately, I didn't forget to put on handcuffs, so ГГ.
Thank you for the game!

24.10. 2013 ProtosArchon (Stronghold, Craig Hack, Craig Hack) def SVAROG (Necro, Galthran, Galthran) Jebus 2.1.1

Opponent took all 3 restarts while i have used none. On day 1 Craig took 5k exp and got log and earth. Did not found much next two days, but decided to not take rest cos Hack was doing nice and still alot area left to explore. But, it turns out that my area was really bad. Only 1 goblin dwell, 2 cons with 5 angels and one hive with 4 wyverns. The only hope was desert, cos i saw hydra dwell there and i started to build up my 2nd fortress town.
I broke 123 in desert, but did not found much there. 3 hydra dwells, some hives and lions shield. Atleast opponent went into different path of desert, so i got time to explore inferno area. There i found 5 utopias, many hives and 6 more angels. After that i upgrade and buy all army and go to find opponent. I found him in his main town and attacked him there. He had 2.3k skelleton warriors, but no chance vs Craig Hack with 51 attack and 100+ upg wyverns. Thx for game.

In the first week, the road to my computer was blocked by the guards of the Dungeon faction (a pack of Behemoths), but the respawn point was like in Jebus – a Conservatory on the way, 4 Hives, a Utopia, and 2 more Conservatories, but far away.
Gunnar reached level 111 and, on level 112, got boots and learned Earth Magic.
Due to the blockade, I returned to clear the respawn point and built a Naga Temple.
I decided to start with the distant Conservatories, and unexpectedly, the Dungeon player burst into my respawn point with dragons, angels, and other powerful units.
Having gathered 4 angels in the distance, I saw the Dungeon player running along the path towards my castle and taking the third Conservatory. After taking my turn, I had to be distracted by work, and when I returned, there was less than a minute left, and dragging the angels through the snow with a chain of 5 heroes seemed impossible. In frustration, I wrote that I surrendered, but the opponent suggested loading the game and playing properly, for which I am very grateful. As a result, we decided to play to 2 wins.
Gunnar runs to collect clues and destroy the Utopia.
The Dungeon player retreats. The next day, I build a level 4 building and get Resurrection, with which I destroy the Utopia, where I get a hat +10 and a red orb.
I replenish my mana and run towards the direction from which the Dungeon player came.
On his turn, the Dungeon player runs towards me, I attack and win due to the mana advantage and Resurrection.

28.10.2013 =Stinger=(blue, Tower, Solmyr) def Ominous1(red, Dungeon, Shakti) 8MM6a 117

Most of the respawn point and both Dungeon outposts are blocked, but money and resources were found. Luna arrived, and Solmyr learned Earth Magic.
I discovered a passage to the green computer, but on level 116, the green player attacks with a large army and archers and drives me away.
Nevertheless, Naga Temples have been built, and there are 2 Conservatories and 2 Hives.
And the brown player turned out to be even more aggressive and took his city with a Stronghold from his opponent and settled in it. Ominous decided not to continue.
Thank you for the games!