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: No sign of enemy yet in zones A,B,C,D
 * 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

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.

At start, player should choose 15 wood between options offered. We begin with Gem (level 10 Sorceress) and Clancy (level 7 Ranger) at entrance of Clifftree (Rampart town) in south-west of map (zone A).

First week
Gem takes all troops from Clancy, from Centaur Stables just south of Clifftree, from town itself and battles monsters guarding mines from this zone (if they are not shooters or too tough); flag Sawmill SE of Clifftree and Ore Pit SW of Clifftree if possible. There is a Subterranean Gate south of Clifftree guarded by pack of Wraiths; do not attack them yet. Next, Gem should free Water Wheel and Marletto Tower (+1 defense) and then march northward on road, pass into zone B (no battle here because there are no guarding monsters), reach town of Emerald Moor, beat the pack of Vampires at entrance and occupy it. Also, this week Gem should try (if possible) to claim Water Wheel and Dwarf Cottage from zone B. At end of week player should have: The two Marketplaces are needed for City Halls later. There is a Treasure chest guarded by pack of level 4 creatures in zone B into a pocket; get it and choose gold. Gem should reach now level 11.
 * Clifftree - Mage Guild level 1, Town Hall, Citadel, Centaur Stables, Dwarf Cottage, Homestead, Enchanted Spring, Marketplace (if possible) with Clancy in garrison
 * Emerald Moor - Town Hall, Marketplace (if possible)

Second week
This week player should flag all remaining mines and buildings, except maybe Dwarven Treasury (zone B) with Gem. Zone B has 1 Sulfur Dune, 1 Sawmill, 1 Alchemist Lab. Visit Witch Hut if gives something useful. Recruit another secondary hero and gives him/her troops to Gem.

At end of week player should have: Gem should reach level 12 and have several Pegasi, pack of Grand Elves and horde of Centaurs.
 * Emerald Moor - Town Hall
 * Clifftree - City Hall, Centaur Stables, Dwarf Cottage, Upgraded Homestead, Enchanted Spring

Third week
From zone A Gem goes eastward on road (after recruiting some more army from Clifftree), destroy the pack of Vampires Lords and enter zone C (central-south part of map), conquering Kanan (of Castle alignment). Zone C has: Ore Pit north-east of Kanan, Gem Pond south-west of Kanan, Crystal Cavern east of Kanan; flag two of them (better Gem Pond and something else). If some wandering monsters desire to join for greater glory, accept if they are level 3-4. Until now, no sign of enemy (red banner only). Player should have:
 * Clifftree - Capitol, Castle, level 1-5 creature generators
 * Emerald Moor - City Hall
 * Kanan - Town Hall

Fourth week
After getting reinforcements from Clifftree, with Gem, from zone C, attack northward that pack of Liches and enter zone D. Steer from pass a little NW and get to Cornerstone (Castle type). Conquer it (probably the enemy had it before ...) easily (almost sure no Citadel). By it there is a one-way exit monolith; beware. North of Cornerstone is a Garrison with a-week-worth of undead troops (few Bone Dragons and the like). Do not attack it yet. Recruit secondary hero(es) to visit Water Wheels every week (1 in zone A, 1 in Zone B). Explore zone D; it communicates toward east with a dirt zone (there is a Garrison better guarded than the northern-of-zone-D one). Also in zone D there are: Abandoned Mine (guarded by a throng of Troglodytes, not including here lots of level 5 monsters in front of it), Sawmill. Recruit another hero for Cornerstone. Another points of interest: north of Cornerstone - Subterranean Gate (guarded by level 6 monsters); north-east of Cornerstone - one-way entrance monolith blocked by Light blue Border Guard. Flag Sawmill and Ore Pit from zone D id possible; at least crush the guarding monsters. At end of week player should have: Gem should be at level 13 now and have an army composed of pack/lots of Grand Elves, throng of Centaurs, pack of Pegasi, other joined for greater-glory pack(s).
 * Clifftree - Capitol, Castle, level 1-6 creature generators (upgraded where possible), Mage Guild level 2, Resource Silo, Treasury, * Dendroid Saplings, Miners Guild
 * Emerald Moor - City Hall, Resource Silo
 * Kanan - Resource Silo, City Hall
 * Cornerstone - City Hall and some creature generators

Fifth week
Gem should attack garrison from east side of zone D, goes eastward and conquer Dark Eternal (of Necropolis alignment); this zone (E) is eastern of map. At end of week: Gem should be at level 14.
 * Clifftree - Dragon Cliffs, upgraded buildings for level 1-6 creatures
 * Cornerstone - Castle, level 1-5 creatures' buildings (for defense against a possible attack through north-of-zone-D garrison)
 * Dark Eternal - City Hall, Resource Silo, some creature generators

Sixth week and beyond
In Cornerstone player should build all permitted creature generators (level 1-6), Castle and Griffin Bastion to maximize creature production. Gem returns to get some more and better troops from Clifftree (Green Dragons, War Unicorns, Grand Elves, Silver Pegasi, Centaur Captains). While Gem is away, Cornerstone should be the target of an attack from enemy with packs of level 1-5 and several level 6 undead; hero garrisoned inside should be able to defeat attacker staying inside and letting as much as possible the turrets to do the job of killing enemy forces. Build City Hall also in Cornerstone. Also, Dark Eternal could be retaken by enemy simultaneously with the attack on Cornerstone. After getting a good army (without Dendroid Soldiers or Battle Dwarves) and after Cornerstone successful defense against attacker, Gem goes into zone E (passing by Cornerstone she should get all available Royal Griffins), conquer again if necessary Dark Eternal, goes northward into zone F, reach a town (Dark Cloud, Necropolis) and conquer it. Also, a week after Gem, Clancy should recruit army including accumulated Dendroid Soldiers and Battle Dwarves, goes to zone D, break through garrison north of Cornerstone, enter zone G (center-north of map), find town of Middleheim (Castle type) and conquer it. So, in two months player should control most of map (7 towns = 2 Ramparts, 3 Castle, 2 Necropolises). Gem, after conquering Dark Cloud, enter Subterranean Gate north of that town and underground flag a Gold Mine (now she should be at level 15, maximum permitted by scenario). Clancy, after conquering Middleheim, goes to zone A, beats Wraiths guarding Subterranean Gate and enter underground; here he flags Homestead and Crystal Cavern; also he visits Red Keymaster Tent (he should be level 10-11 by now). If desired, build creature generators in Emerald Moor (not really necessary). Build Upgraded Portal of Glory in Middleheim and City Hall in every town (if not already present). Build Upgraded Dragon Cliffs in Clifftree. Now Gem goes to zone D, enter underground through Subterranean Gate, flags Gold Mine and observe from a distance the exit to surface guarded by a pack of Red Dragons (but do not attacks them yet). Flag all remaining mines with secondary heroes. Bring Clancy to zone D and E to prevent enemy surprise attacks through one-way monoliths (Clancy could have Castle army and Gem Rampart army). After Gem gets a serious army, (Gold Dragons, ...), beats Red Dragons (now lots and there are Blacks among them ...), arrives at surface into zone H (town Coldreign, Necropolis), conquer it and chase any enemy heroes left around (beware, one-way exit monolith from zone E has its entry here, so some enemy hero(es) could try to escape using it; watch with Clancy). NW of Coldreign is a School of Magic (visit it with Gem and Clancy; choose +1 Knowledge). So, in first half of third month enemy should be vanquished. Finishing: Gem goes past one-way monolith, reach Red Guard Tower, open it and visit Light Blue Keymaster Tent so Clancy can get her (zone G, north-west of map) through monolith from zone D. Eastward of Light Blue Keymaster Tent is a School of War; visit it with both Gem and Clancy. Just south of this School of War is an ambush of 40 Bone Dragons and 20 Ghost Dragons; beat them with Gem (she lose much army here). Bring now Clancy, give him the best army and artifacts and march south-east of ambush place where are a horde of Ghost Dragons. Behind them is the Amulet of Undertaker, our goal. Attack with Clancy to get him at level 15 too. After dragons are destroyed, pick the Amulet to complete scenario around third week of third month.

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.