Book 1 "Revolution" Gaaah!

[Savarius]

The last time I played through Book 1 was back in the vanilla WC3 days, and some of these levels were not included. Kudos on fleshing out this part of the campaign!

Regarding Chapter 5 - I can sort of see what I'm meant to do in this level (build ramps, commando raids through portals) but I'm not at all sure HOW to do it. Any specific strategies and build orders would be appreciated. I do NOT want to cheat through these campaigns.

[Inuyasha7]

When i played it  i built all 3 of the seige ramps using the enginners your build from the altar. I trashed the base using soul revenant things. This weakens there attack and then when Miranda and Hikaru storm out just target them and you win.

[Savarius]

Actually, I ended up beating it totally opposite - killing Miranda and Hikaru and nailing the others when the big attack happened. THAT was a close fight. They went down just my base was about to be demolished. Had to do it by focusing my ziggurats, and later my black citadel on the two main heroes. Crazy!

[Inuyasha7]

My problem with that level is i like dont like your starting base so i attempted to relocate too the far left goldmine on the heights and i just waited there thinking they'd come through the gate but it said i lost cause my base was destroyed 

[Hatori-san]

Exactly, this mission is a bit tricky without cheating (if you want to get everything on the map like creeps). If you're lucky one of the Sorcerians (Miranda in my case) freezes at the large attack. But if you don't want to count on that...

1. Create as fast as possible a medium assault-army. Kanna and Mizuki should rush towards the ramp-locations with a ramp builder.
2. For defense, create a line of towers.
3a. Pick the base you want to take out first. Send preferably a summoned Kraken from Mizuki up the ramp and open the gate from the inside. This way you won't lose a unit.
3b. Go to the map-position with the blocking windmills. Treant the trees below them, complete Ayame's quest. It would be wise to place some units here to eliminate the runner afterwards.
4. Charge through the gate. Always place a healing ward and an obsidian (both, heal and mana).
5. Your army should be strong enough to take the first base out before the timer expires. Depending on the base and your units after the 1st rush-attack, you can charge into the next one nearby.
6. If you're really fast, you can take out all bases before the resistance counters. In case your timer expires... try to keep a Sorcerian busy with a tank-unit, strong building etc. without killing him. Do not charge into a base without enough units. Or else you will lose more than gain.

Between those steps you should creep.

[TheNewHorde]

Actually, I played this level like over half a dozen of times, each trying different methods.  There's two major things I noted in this level.

1. The bottom right seige ramp closest to your base is near impossible to assault if you power up your Nekurow in previous chapters a lot and he carries multiple potion of greater healing.  The ramp only allow 1 or 2 melee units at most to stand in front and tank while the range units you own will be stuck behind it and at most 4~5 can attack due to distance of the cliff.  The enemy, however, has towers and tons of range units that pretty much surrounds you.  The moment Nekurow sees you coming down, he'd go up the ramp to block you and you're going to be slaughtered no matter how much army you have.  A high upkeep army was slaughtered down to nothing by just Nakurow and few guard towers and archers.

2. The most interesting way I figured is to hole up inside my base and just mass LOTS of units fully upgraded with like 7~8 towers.  I split my armor in two, one with just 8 ghouls and other spare units infront of the towers near the way gate.  Other half of the army is up North, intercepting the Sorcerian army.  The ghouls and towers can hold up for a few precious seconds just long enough for you to kill Miranda's units and run back down to fight Johan/Hikaru/Nekurow.  It seems you are 100% doomed to lose if Miranda's party meets with Hikaru's in ur base.  The battle finished with me killing the sorcerians and my base pretty much gone with catapults almost finishing me off.  Of course, i had to restart the level again cause I want to get all the items from that level, but it was a fun battle.

[Drew]

Actually, I played this level like over half a dozen of times, each trying different methods.  There's two major things I noted in this level.

1. The bottom right seige ramp closest to your base is near impossible to assault if you power up your Nekurow in previous chapters a lot and he carries multiple potion of greater healing.  The ramp only allow 1 or 2 melee units at most to stand in front and tank while the range units you own will be stuck behind it and at most 4~5 can attack due to distance of the cliff.  The enemy, however, has towers and tons of range units that pretty much surrounds you.  The moment Nekurow sees you coming down, he'd go up the ramp to block you and you're going to be slaughtered no matter how much army you have.  A high upkeep army was slaughtered down to nothing by just Nakurow and few guard towers and archers.

  I definitely have to agree with the title of the thread, Book 1 "Revolution" gaaah!  It's funny to see all the posts about this level, as I didn't really care for it either.  The biggest bummer is having to fight the four heroes that I created with just Kanna and Mizuki, who are pitifully weak.
  I wanted to add, however, that you don't have to march your army up and down that skinny little ramp.  Instead, have your entire army wait near the enemy gate right next to your base.  March 2-3 ghouls (with ghoul frenzy) up the ramp, and have them run through the enemy base (ignoring enemy attacks) to open the big gate next to your base from the inside.  The enemy will try to attack them, and Nekurow will probaly kill one of them with his holy light, but they won't be able to kill 'em all before one of them makes it to the gate.  And when the gate flies open, you can march your entire army right through the front entrance and easily overwhelm them.  This is usually what I do to take out that pesky middle section of the enemy base.

[chris]

oh god, this mission.

After trying it 4 times I decided to show them who their daddy was, if you know what I mean

[TheNewHorde]

   I wanted to add, however, that you don't have to march your army up and down that skinny little ramp.  Instead, have your entire army wait near the enemy gate right next to your base.  March 2-3 ghouls (with ghoul frenzy) up the ramp, and have them run through the enemy base (ignoring enemy attacks) to open the big gate next to your base from the inside.  The enemy will try to attack them, and Nekurow will probaly kill one of them with his holy light, but they won't be able to kill 'em all before one of them makes it to the gate.  And when the gate flies open, you can march your entire army right through the front entrance and easily overwhelm them.  This is usually what I do to take out that pesky middle section of the enemy base.

This is what you call a "pro tip".  Should be published in a magazine.