Human campaign - Skeleton King mission is TOUGH

[FroBodine]

I was able to get an epic victory, finally. But, for the life of me, I can't figure out how to get an epic victory, AND ALSO take both cemeteries. The one in the lower right, below all the brambles is impossible. There is no way to get through those brambles without getting eaten alive by the undead and their major defense bonus in there.

This is a tough one.

[ComradeP]

I didn't kill the skeleton king, as doing so is very difficult in about 1 turn with Undead defense bonuses, so I ignored him after a few attacks and moved on to capture the objectives.

[FroBodine]

Yeah, but isn't that one of the secondary objectives, to kill the Skeleton King? I still don't see how I can get down through those brambles, and past the enemy defenses, fast enough to take both cemeteries and the main objective in time for a epic victory. If I push straight through the brambles and attack straight south to the right side cemetary, my units get decimated due to their negative defense modifier, and the enemy's defense bonuses. If I try to skirt around southwest, I run out of time getting over to that cemetery. Those brambles negate any movement bonus skills, so extra speed doesn't really help.

Hmm, I've tried it about 10 times. I guess I'll keep trying.

[ComradeP]

Unless I missed it, I don't think killing the skeleton king is an objective, actually. It might've been, it's been a few days since I played it, but I thought the secondary objectives were the two graveyards.

[Dragoon.]

That mission is tough if you want to kill the King and get an epic victory. Took me some planing and a campaign restart to pull this off with success and only 1 loss. Critical hits are evil.

My plan was to use 2 archers(all upgrade points put into attack) with 2 light inf.(all def.) on the left to secure the northwestern cemetery with support of 1 human inf. that I bough only for this mission.
On the right I use Marcus (all att. and that is important with Riding Mastery II) together with one archer and one human Cav (bought before this mission too) to secure the southern cemetery.

After taking the cemetery in the north and killing all enemies I position my troops at the tree line. Goal is to draw the King to the northwest, away from the southern cemetery. The cleric will possibly have to heal spell damage from the King. If possible use the time to entrench.

Meanwhile Marcus use his riding mastery, with the extra movement he can land on the dead forest hex just north of the southern cemetery on turn 2. The extra attack and defense buff with a duration of 3 turns from riding mastery II will help Marcus to survive and badly damage the undead that spawn on turn 3.
Make sure to place the archer three behind him for support.

End of turn two.


After securing the cemetery you get one turn for Marcus to kill nearby enemies but don't venture to far west or you will draw the king attention to you.


You can now use Marcus devastating charge (+50 attack and +4 movement) to strike from behind at the king with impunity. This will depending how much damage the king already took and your luck either kill him outright or leave him almost dead. Then follow up with attacks from your ranged troops and melees to end him for good.

Notice how the dialog box for the Skeleton King says Skeleton Warrior instead. Ugh!


The the human cav. with archer should be able to secure the monastery on the last turn required for an epic victory.