Heroes of Might and Magic III: The Shadow of Death/Birth of a Barbarian

Yog has been at the Bracada magic academy learning to be a Wizard, but his Barbarian heritage beckons him to follow the path of a warrior. Yog accepts Duke Winston Boragus' offer to join him in Krewlod. Unfortunately, the Wizards of Bracada will use all their powers to prevent him from leaving.

On the Run

 * Win condition: capture the town of Groa.
 * Loss condition: Yog is defeated in combat OR failing to capture Groa in five months.
 * Level cap: 9
 * Medium sized map.
 * Enemy: Red.
 * Difficulty: Normal
 * Starting bonus: Spirit of Oppression OR Pendant of Negativity OR 3 Nagas (choose Nagas)
 * Campaign hero: Yog (Attack = Defense = 2, Power = Knowledge = 1, Basic Tactics, Basic Offense, Equestrian Gloves) having a starting army composed of 25 Master Gremlins, 12 Gargoyles and 4 Iron Golems
 * Other starting hero: Terek (southwest corner of map) Attack = 2, Defense = Power = Knowledge = 1 (has Boots of Speed)

No starting town. Pay attention to in-game messages.

First week
Terek visits the nearby Green Keymaster's Tent and picks up the Tresure Chest (choose gold), then remains stationary until the lots of Magi blocking his path are killed later by Yog. Yog goes southwest along the road, visiting the three Learning Stones encountered (to get to level 4), passing through Green Border Gate; on the fifth day he arrives at Padon (Tower; guarded by pack of Gremlins; the town has creature generators of level 1 and 2 ; no Tavern; no Fort) and conquers it. Going southwest we see three Light blue Border Gates (one near Padon) blocking acces to northern part of map. Be sure to visit the two scholars near first two Light blue Border Gates (they give Basic Logistics and Basic Pathfinding).

At week's end:
 * Padon - Tavern

Second week
Hire a secondary hero (Tower alignment; his/her troops must remain in Padon) to visit Windmills and flag what he/she can. Yog frees Terek beating those lots of Magi blocking him, then flags: Visit Hut of the magi; it shows us where is the town of Groa: northeastern corner of map, north of Calarnen (but separated from it by a range of snowy mountains), probable access from west (rough terrain). See image.
 * Altar of Wishes south of Padon;
 * Ore Pit south of Padon;
 * Mage Tower (just east of Green Border Gate);
 * Gold Mine (near Mage Tower)

Next Yog goes eastward and flags an Alchemist Lab, then more to the east through a path between snowy mountains (Bracada!) until he reaches a Learning Stone; from this Learning Stone he sees to south a Mercenary Camp (guarded by pack of Archmagi) a Gem Pond (guarded by lots of Genies), second Green Keymaster's Tent (guarded by several Titans). south of Hut of the Magi is Light blue Keymaster's Tent (guarded by pack of Naga Queens; see image).

The path to this Tent is narrow, between southern edge of map and a mountain range and its opening just in southeast corner of map.

At week's end:


 * Yog should be around Hut of the Magi (level 6; 3 Nagas, 4 Magi, 3 Genies, few Gargoyles, maybe few Golems)
 * Padon - level 1-5 creature generators, Town Hall

Third week
Recruit all Gargoyles, Master Gremlins (upgrade building if not already), Magi and Genies from Padon, the flagged Magi Tower and Altar of Wishes; put them on Yog, who in turn goes to attack Calarnen; if lucky, Aine will be surprised outside town and defeated more easily; otherwise she will defend the town (has only Citadel) with her Titan and lose the battle nevertheless. After conquering Calarnen, Yog goes through the path between eastern edge of map and a mountain range, toward south, flagging mines and creatures generators as he passes.

At week's end:
 * Padon - Town Hall, Blacksmith, Mage Guild level 1, Marketplace, Citadel, Upgraded Workshop, Upgraded Golem Factory
 * Calarnen - City Hall, level 1-5 creature generators, Upgraded Workshop, Upgraded Golem Factory, Resource Silo, Sculptor's Wings
 * Yog - level 8; 10-12 Genies; 18-20 Magi; 10-12 Iron Golems

We have secured our starting zone; Red enemy has at least another town beyond that Light blue Border Gates (we have seen movements).

Note: because Yog cannot learn magic (upon an attempt to enter any Mage Guild, a message pops up "Yog has given up magic in all of its forms. His knowledge of battle and tactics will have to be enough to get him through the rest of his life"), choose useful secondary skills.

Fourth week
Flag all; beat all excluding that several Titans; we do not go to south east corner yet.


 * Calarnen: Capitol, level 1-7
 * Padon: City Hall, level 1-7, Sculptor's Wings
 * Yog: level 9, 30-35 Magi, 10-12 Gargoyles, about 15 Iron Golems, 5-6 Genies

Fifth week
Upgrade level 1-3,5-6 creature generators. Build Castle in Padon.

Sixth week
Visit Light blue Keymaster's Tent (those pack of Naga Queens grew to lots).

At week's end:
 * Yog - 70-80 Magi; 10 Naga Queens, about 60 Iron Golems; 10-12 Master Genies

Seventh week
Yog passes by a Light blue Border Gate (anyone) and conquers Corona (Tower; north of Light blue Gate near Padon).

At week's end:


 * all is flagged
 * Corona - level 1-6
 * upgrade Cloud Temple in Calarnen and Padon
 * Yog - level 9, 80-85 Archmagi, pack of Master Genies, 10 Naga Queens, several Obsidian Gargoyles (garrisoned in Padon)

Note: there is a lake separating us from the last Red zone and shipyard west of Corona

Eighth week
Recruit some troops, then move Yog to Corona, purchase boat, board it and navigate eastward until we can land (probably there is a boat indicating where Red enemy previously also landed). Here begins a road; follow it north ward until Machina (Tower; last city of Red enemy). Around Machina we can find: a Gem Pond, a Crystal Cavern, a Gold Mine, an Alchemist Lab; flag them.

The pass to rough terrain is blocked by a heavily guarded Garrison.

Beware of some enemy hero who tries to cross the lake to retake some mines/town.

Weeks 9 - 11
Gather army on Yog (Titans, Naga Queens, Master Genies and Archmagi) and attack that Garrison (has 10 Titans, 15 Naga Queens, 10 Master Genies, 25 Archmagi, 35 Iron Golems, 40 Obsidian Gargoyles and 100 Master Gremlins).

Going roughly east, Yog finds and visits: Then he enters a V-shaped path between mountains (there is a Marletto Tower here also), arrives at a Quest Guard who lets only Yog pass. Behind there are lots of Acient Behemoths; after a message (" 'We have lived peacefully and undisturbed in this valleyfor many years. Now you come with an army seeking to defeat us. We will not tolerate such aggresion!' Before you are able to convince the Ancient Behemoths of your peaceful intentions toward them, they attack."), follows a battle; Yog emerges victorious and arrives at Groa (guarded by level 1-6 Stronghold monsters), conquering it in the eleventh week and so finishing the scenario.
 * a Mercenary Camp;
 * a Marletto Tower;
 * a School of War;
 * an Arena.