Part 21
Update 21Day 74
Dimitri starts the new day by flagging more buildings for Morglins greater glory. What better way to start an update?
Meanwhile Arturius finds a new friend.
Astra the sorceress, interestingly her design was also used in the King’s Bounty start screen. However she wasn’t playable. Looking at her stats I think that she has something good for us. Unsurprisingly the phoenixes die to the cavalry.
The elves do their best goggle imitation this turn. The swordsmen will kill the sprites.
I had wanted to dispel the paralysis on my paladins, but it won’t be necessary. Better save the spell for a rainy day.
Victory and attack +1 for Arturius. No artifacts, so it was all natural strength. I am disappointed and once again intrigued. What kind of stacks did they have to fight here?
Another castle!
Day 75
Dimitri flags the gem mine and heads up to scout that shadowy bit. The lack of enemy movement there makes me suspect that it’s a dead end, but I’d rather be certain. Isn’t it strange how in Might and Magic gems are used for more powerful spells, but in Heroes of Might and Magic they are just used for some buildings and some units? I don’t think I would be opposed adding in another resource that takes the place of gems s a building resource and then use gems as a casting resource for high levels spells again. It would make the gem mines a very interesting target.
Arturius meanwhile finds two enemies near the castle, amongst them is Natasha, aka the one that got away.
Stupid rock!
Speedy Gonzales goes to help block the archers. The paladins have been paralyzed again, but the swordsmen can take out the sprites.
The pikemen killed the elves and the swordsmen will now proceed to play the age old game of “pin the sword on the sprites”.
Two can play the paralysis game. I paralyzed the druids allowing me to go before them and give them a proper burial.
And we just get a stupid medal of courage for it.
That’s kinda sad and probably a sign that this map is coming to an end.
It doesn't feel like a victory unless I can build a house out of corpses!
This too will be a short battle thanks to that hole. I bless the cavalry and off they go.
That’s the end of them.
I still have 5 elves left after this, they don’t get to do anything though. The swordsmen will set them free.
Like this.
I have the cavalry block the druids and attack the dwarves.
The druids immediately suicide on the cavalry, but I did lose a few.
More lucky second hits, but they would’ve killed the unicorns anyway. The elves mildly inconvenience the dwarves and the cavalry show that lance beats arrow.
Victory and probably the last castle before the main enemy castle. Defense +1 for Arturius.
That’s quite a spell selection. This is a completely upgraded mage guild and two new spells
Resurrect: heals 50x spell power to a single creature in a single troop.
You can resurrect units in a still existing stack, but units that have been defeated disappear in a cloud of bloody smoke and thus can’t be resurrected.
Armageddon: does 50x spell power damage to all troops.
Replace the acid rain from storm with fire rain! This spell is best combined with dragons since they don’t care about magic and will wreak havoc on all who oppose your will. I wonder how well they combine with paladins. I suppose technically I could use it, paladins are fast and thus would get the first turn. I can then cast anti magic on them and cast armageddon on the second turn. Arturius has some spell power. It just doesn't sound very efficient.
I get some fresh
Day 76
It is indeed a dead end. That’s good to know. The shrine contained summon boat. At least now I know it was a good idea to keep my boats guarded and staffed. With this branch fully scouted Dimitri can start the journey to where Arturius currently is.
Come on guys, that’s just sad.
Like taking candy from a barbarian.
A little further to the west we find another castle, this one is lightly defended. I think the end is drawing closer.
The catapult realizes it can't screw me over against such a weak force and immediately knocks a wall down to get this over with.
The elves actually do something that isn’t related to them dying and they kill the other elves.
Another castle for the collection. I guess I should prepare for the final battle. This castle isn’t fully built like the others.
Day 77
I want to know how to get to those obelisks. Summon boat is probably needed.
You can’t run! This does show a good advantage of not leaving units in a castle. The AI always tries to beeline towards unguarded castles ignoring all potential Arturius shaped dangers.
Stupid tree stump! How many times has the land been against me this map?
The elves will probably not survive anyway, so I just cast lightning bolt on the phoenix.
One elf survives. I guess he’ll commit suicide. If the elf attacks the phoenix it will waste the Phoenixes' single retaliation on him.
The swordsmen start us off with a respectable seven dead and the pikemen add a rather sad three.
The cavalry finish the job, but not before the paladins take a hit. One axe of dominion and one level up +1 spell power for Arturius. I’m not sure if he knows what a knight is supposed to be good at.
And with that I’ve found castle Lamanda, situated in the middle of a pristine lake. Like with the barbarian town, there are a lot of units guarding this place, but only a pack of Phoenixes? Is that all? Where are the rest of phoenixes? I was promised fiery death.
Day 78
Run Dimitri. I think he should drop the slow units. He should just give his cyclopses to Arturius.
Found them! Lots of phoenixes? They will be added to the pack in the garrison when we attack.
I want more units!
I also want my own “lots of phoenixes”.
Day 79
Start small.
Day 80
I forgot to flag the laboratory above the second to last castle I took.
Day 81
The first trade. I gave Troyan the boots, she can run to Dimitri and get his stuff.
Day 82
So close
Day 83
Run like the wind Troyan.
Day 84
She just crossed the map in a single bound. Having no slow units and two pairs of boots does that to a woman.
Day 85
Now let’s do this.
WHAT!? I’m very happy I brought my extra units.
Also, a few goons answered my question about the number of Phoenixes guarding the castle. PC Snob had the closest guess with 66 phoenixes. Only six off, well done.
Right, so let’s paralyze them first.
So my Phoenix was too big to land in the courtyard and the enemy dispelled my paralysis with protection. It was a great first turn.
My defense at least is working, it only killed 3 paladins on the retaliation.
It’s going to be a long battle.
But knocking down the walls made things easier.
We half their druid stack and they paralyze my Phoenixes.
They are immediately unparalyzed as the druids attack them twice in a row.
Time to finish some fowl. This killed 22 phoenixes.
The rest die by Cyclops retaliation.
The paladins are blinded on the retaliation, but flailing aimlessly around for their second hit still gets them the kill.
I dispel the blindness on the paladins with protection and the phoenixes kill some elves (70).
I actually knew the AI would paralyze the paladins again but still did it since I didn’t want to have one blinded unit and one paralyzed unit. My cavalry can’t reach anything again.
I don’t care anymore. With the walls almost completely down and the majority of the army dead we can finish this mighty quick and I want the knight units to get the final hit because I’m stupid like that.
I still get great mileage out of my cavalry.
That was only half of them.
The other half finds itself roasted on the retaliation. Stupid killstealing beautifully designed kentuky fried chicken rejects!
Victory! And only 1 level up, defense +1 for Arturius.
Indeed I have.
Wait a minute! I wanted to live there with queen Lamanda!
So I need to go to the southeast through volcanic smokes and ashes, that sounds cozy. Wait a minute, Queen Lamanda was in the north west, the barbarians were in the north east, I think I see a pattern.
You know, I don’t think it counts as overconfidence when your opponent has peasants.
And Kilburn will be the hero du jour next time. We have a good track record together thus far, so I look forward to running away from lots of dragons.
Join me next time as I once again build up a town and try to talk lord Alamar out of killing us where we stand.