ToE - "Hate Breeds Hate" map

[sylvanfan]

Hi,

Has anyone played this map before in the ToE expansion pack? The main objective of this map is to defeat the dwarves using the main warlock (Agbeth) but I'm a bit lost and it seems a bit daunting at the moment. I have several questions:

1. One of the objectives is to make a trade with the demon, who demands to have the "spell book of destructive magic." I've found the book, which contains all the destructive spells and allows hero of any level to cast them, then I made the trade with the demon. I find the book really useful and didn't want to trade, but did it anyway and, in return, the demon offers to convert dwarven prisoners to demons in the ritual pit. I tried to take some random dwarven monsters to the pit but it says it's not enough? How exactly does it work? How exactly does this trade help me?

Also, is it better to just not to make the trade with the demon because the spell book might be more useful?

2. The dwarven garrison, before even reaching the castle, appears to be quite daunting, even with my numerous black dragons, is there a good way to defeat it?

3. Did someone post a walkthrough somewhere? I couldn't find it in the forum and the main site.

Thanks in advance!

[sylvanfan]

Hi, so does anyone have any idea about this?

Anyway, at the end I ended up using brute force and crushed the dwarves. The dwarven faction basically would not attack first so I had plenty of time to build up my army of black dragons and other dungeon creatures. (Shadow matriarchs, despite their skimpy outfits, turned out to be a lot tougher than I thought... ). Battles are fun in this map, but I still don't get what I'm supposed to do after making the trade with that demon. Surely there must be a reason why I had to spend so much effort to find the artifact and complete the secondary objective?? Please tell me I didn't do it for a useless cut scene.

[Bonzer]

I have played this map, and completed it. I seem to remember something like your description, but have forgotten whether I did the trade or not.

However I do know on some other maps where similar "changes" occur you have to be careful about where on the map you stand. It may need to be precise.

Also it is worth checking in the "scenario description" where your objectives are listed as the game progresses. If you click on an objective you will often get a more detailed description of the requirement than is given in the map.

Hope this helps
Bonzer

[sylvanfan]

Thanks Bonzer. I've checked and it didn't really tell me anything except that the dwarven warren is important to finance and the military post is important for recruting their troops. I've flagged them all, thus satisfying all the secondary objectives, but nothing really happened.

I read somewhere else that once you made the trade with the demon and flag the two warrens and the military post, there will be dwarven troops escaping, daily, from the garrison and one of the castles. Once the threat status decrases to "moderate" one could start attacking because it's so much easier. So far nothing like that has happened, and I'm also not sure what this has to do with the demon sacrifice pit. I believe I have the latest patch for ToE also though.

[Bonzer]

I've been thinking about this and I believe that when I found out what the trade was, I thought it so measly I reloaded the autosave and didn't do the trade.

I usually play SP on normal difficulty so was able to break through, possibly with the help of either Frenzy or Puppet Master. When fighting Dwarven armies my biggest concern is always the Thanes and Rune Priests or their upgrades (even worse).

It also depends on your build strategy and timing. I have noted that I completed this in less than 5 months. Perhaps you are trying to do too much too soon?

Don't forget that a garrison usually doesn't come with a hero in place. So all the defending army only have their base stats. If you attack with your army then your hero's Stats (Att / Def) are added to your creatures stats. A few hundred low level creatures with ATT/DEF in the high 20's can dish out some serious stick. If you come with a big enough army, it won't be a problem.

As for your question, "how does the trade help me", well it appears that the garrison will be weakened steadily. Personally I think I just ploughed straight through when I was strong enough.

Bonzer

[sylvanfan]

Yeah, that's what I did in the end, just went ahead with a big enough army and defeat them all. It takes a longer time but that seems like the only way.

I really wish the objective is less vague though.
I'll try later on when i have time and replay this one to see if I could sacrifice some dwarves in the military post and see what happens.

[Banedon]

This map brings some painful memories ...

I played on Heroic, and it was extremely tough. There was no problem clearing all the neutral stacks all the way to the gate, but the fights after that are really hard. I had the good fortune to not use the hero I start with and instead hire Sinitar, or the game would've been lost. My Mage Guild didn't cooperate and the Tome of Destructive Magic was utterly crucial to my survival, so I didn't do the trade. After that it came down to facing monstrously huge Fortress armies who outnumber me 3-castles-to-1, one by one, with 7 Stalkers -> Retreat. Once it came down to whether I could wear down an enemy army and defeat it in open combat before it found where Agbeth was hiding. Tough game. I remember hoping that trading in the artifact could've given more substantial rewards enough to turn the game, but looking at the reward I simply didn't bother.

There's nothing you can do about that garrison, or so I found; I did enough hit-and-runs with 7 Stalkers until I eventually broke through. I never had the chance to build up a sizable Black Dragon stack; with the huge Fortress armies coming all the time it'd be a wonder if any survived.

Don't forget that a garrison usually doesn't come with a hero in place. So all the defending army only have their base stats. If you attack with your army then your hero's Stats (Att / Def) are added to your creatures stats. A few hundred low level creatures with ATT/DEF in the high 20's can dish out some serious stick. If you come with a big enough army, it won't be a problem.

When there're several hundred Flame Thanes and Magma Dragons and no Dark Magic to use against them, it's a bit hard to outgrow them you know

[parcaleste]

I started to read this topic and it get my interest. Got lucky to have Sinitar in day 1 + Tome of Dark Magic in the Artifact Merchant. Here is my equipment and skills. Day 7 Week 2 Month 4:





Observe: http://rapidshare.com/files/189759494/_ ... e.sav.html


After the battle I got and Dark Magic so... I think pretty much that's it.