Heroes of Might and Magic III: The Shadow of Death/New Beginning

Gem arrives from Enroth fresh from the Succession Wars. She first helps the Clovergreen Militia and then aids a wizard's apprentice against the Necromancers of Deyja. (campaign description, taken from the game itself)

Clearing the Border

 * Win condition: Defeat all enemies (only one in this case).
 * Loss condition: Gem is defeated in combat

Player begins with 2 towns in SW (names may vary): Rainhaven, with our heroine Gem at entrance (zone A), near southern edge of map; Serenity, at NW of Rainhaven, near western edge of map (zone B).

Choice at start of scenario: probably best is to get wood and ore.

First week (of utmost importance)

Hire 1-2 secondary heroes (depends of what troups and abilities he/she has; if resource generator - get him/her!). Give all Rampart troops to Gem. Flag ore pits, sawmills (1 for each town) and others mines not guarded by shooters. Visit Hut of the Magi (just north of Serenity) to reveal locations of interest: town Emerald Moor, Rampart (zone C), central-south, Subterranean Gate immediately at south of it; town Forest Glen, Rampart (zone D), central-west; Ghostwind, Necropolis (zone E), central-east. A secondary hero will go from zone B to zone C (road between) and will pick loose resources. Gem goes eastward along road (from zone A), beats monsters guarding access to zone C, flags Enchanted Spring, recruits 5 Pegasi and returns to Rainhaven so as to be in that town at end of day 7. At end of week player should have: Serenity - Centaur Stables, City Hall; Rainhaven - Centaur Stables, Homestead, Enchanted Spring, Town Hall, Mage Guild Level 1 Note: if choice between gold and experience points, player should choose gold always.

Second week

First day of week build Upgraded Homestead, then recruit all Grand Elves, Pegasi and all Centaurs with Gem; bring another Centaurs to Gem with secondary hero(es) - there are two Centaur Stables in zones A and B. Flag Crystal Cavern (NNE of Rainhaven). Flag Gold Mine form zone B (north of Serenity). Gem goes into zone C, followed closely by a secondary hero. Flag some resource generators from zone C (here are Alchemist Lab, Sulfur Dune, Gold Mine, Ore Pit, Sawmill, Gem Pond). Conquer Emerald Moor; if necessary, stop here with Gem at end of day 7 and build Mage Guild Level 1. Flag (recommended) Homestead NNW of Emerald Moor (also in this zone, as Enchanted Spring east of Emerald Moor). Build City Hall and Citadel; build Treasury in Serenity. Be sure to visit (zone C) School of Magic (choose +1 knowledge) and Learning Stone with Gem. Until now no sign of computer oponent.

Third Week

Flag all remaining resource generators from zone C with Gem; meantime secondary heroes ferry troops from Rainhaven and Serenity for Gem who goes from zone C to zone D and conquer Forest Glen. Flag Sawmill near C-D pass. Flag (eventually) Crystal Cavern north of Forest Glen. If monsters guarding mines want to join for greater glory, accept, especially if they are level 3 or 4. At end of week player should have: Rainhaven - Centaur Stables, Dwarf Cottage, Upgraded Homestead, Enchanted Spring, Dendroid Arches, Unicorn Glade, Castle, Capitol Serenity - Centaur Stables, Dwarf Cottage, Upgraded Homestead, Treasury Emerald Moor - City Hall Forest Glen - Town Hall Gem (about level seven): throng of Centaurs, lots of Wood/Grand Elves, lots of Pegasi, pack/lots of joining-for-greater-glory monsters (mostly another two types, for morale penalty sake) two secondary heroes (level 2 both) - pack/lots level 1-2 creatures No sign of enemy yet in zones A,B,C,D

Fourth week

In the beginning of week enemy should break pass NE of Forest Glen into zone D and from N into zone E (hero with about one week army). Gem should attack enemy hero around Forest Glen (Subterranean Gate NE of it). A secondary hero should raise an army from Rainhaven (pack of Pegasi, lots of Centaurs, pack of Dwarves, several Unicorns, pack of Grand rand Elves). Enemy hero attacked with Gem should be slightly weaker than our heroine; his/her army - few Liches, horde of Walking Dead, throng of Skeletons, horde of Wights, pack of Vampires, probably some joined creatures (undead have no morale penalty for mixing from several types of creatures). Gem (with better tactics) should win and get around level 9, losing 60%-70% of own army. Hero who raised army from Rainhaven should transport it to Gem. After receiving this army, Gem should break northward through now-free pass into zone F and march west until reach Cessacioun (Necropolis), remaining here at end of week; Cessacioun should not have Castle, but City Hall. After conquering Cessacioun, Gem should have: lots of Wood/Grand Elves, pack of Pegasi, horde of Centaurs, several Unicorns. Now Gem should leave in Forest Glen all remaining non-Rampart troops, if any. Not all mines in zone D will belong to player. Enemy hero conquered Ghostwind. Probable state at end of day 7: Serenity - Centaur Stables, Dwarf Cottage, Upgraded Homestead, Enchanted Spring, Dendroid Arches, Unicorn Glade, Treasury, Resource Silo, Castle; Rainhaven - same as Serenity; Emerald Moor - City Hall, Resource Silo; Forest Glen - same as Emerald Moor.

Fifth week

Gem goes eastward until crossroad (where she turned left last time towards Cessacioun), get some more army from secondary hero and beyond into zone G and conquer Terminus (should have Castle and City Hall); now she should reach level 10 (maximum permitted by scenario). Conquer Ghostwind (zone E) with Gem. Build Dragon Cliffs in Serenity and Rainhaven. Upgrade Centaur Stables, Enchanted Spring, Unicorn Glade and homestead if not already. Hire 2 heroes to defend Cessacioun (build Castle here) and Terminus. Another 3 secondary heroes are useful. Flag some mines around Terminus and Cessacioun if possible; beware of enemy (do not let it to recapture a town).

Sixth week and beyond

Gem should visit Red Tent (underground; get there through Subterranean Gate north of Terminus) and stay in zones H or G. Recruit army for secondary hero (with green dragons and matching troops); visit with him/her Green Tent (underground; get there through Subterranean Gate from zone C). Bring this hero to Gem (and let him/her stationed here to guard against possible enemy attacks), then get Gem to SE of map (entrance underground guarded by pack of Green Dragons; get through Subterranean Gate from zone D or Subterranean Gate from zone E) and break Dragon Utopia (only for artifacts); while there, visit Arena and then return to zone H/G where remained secondary hero. Beware of two-way monoliths linking zone F with zone containing last enemy town (NE of map); recruit all troops every first day of week in Cessacioun and Terminus. Build Mage Guilds (only to level 3 at most) if spells wanted (not really necessary). Around end of second month Gem, with an army composed of several Green Dragons, horde of Grand Elves, pack of silver Pegasi and pack of War Unicorns, should attack last enemy town (NE of map) and defeat enemy hero inside with two-weeks army. On defeating this hero, enemy is vanquished and scenario completed.

After the Amulet

 * Win condition: Acquire the Amulet of the Undertaker.
 * Loss condition: Either Gem, or Clancy is defeated in battle.

Retrieving the Cowl

 * Win condition: Bring Vampire's Cowl to the town of Leafhall.
 * Loss condition: Either Gem, or Clancy is defeated in combat; lose Vampire's Cowl.

Driving for the Boots

 * Win condition: Bring Dead Man's Boots to Gem's starting town.
 * Loss condition: Either Gem, or Clancy is defeated in battle; lose Dead Man's Boots.