Hey all,

I'm starting to get curious if this is even possible. Over the years every time I re download HoMM2 and play through the campaigns and my favorite scenarios I usually give it a try or two. I've done all the HoMM3 campaigns, and gotten archangel rating on many of them. Also have done many of the harder HoMM2 scenarios as well, along with the Price of Loyalty campaigns. Even adventures of Jared Haret I've done before. But this just doesn't seem like it can be done.

Has anyone ever managed to beat the final mission of Roland's campaign having taken the Crown instead of the extra troops?

PetrusOctavianus has (and if I'm not mistaken, he did it without Dwarven Alliance). He should be able to give you some pointers. If not, I'll try to find the thread where he described it.

That would be awesome, thanks! I'm not too familiar with the GoG forum search feature. Tried finding his profile but I don't think from his profile I can see his posts. Part of me is still in disbelief though haha. I mean I've done it with Archibald before, It was rough but doable. I have no reason not to trust you but I'm still just in utter disbelief that this can be done.

https://www.gog.com/forum/heroes_of_might_and_magic_series/final_justice_heroes_2_campaign/post2

Check also the other posts in that thread. NorthernDruid and turnushq offer advice too.

These thread reminds me why the HoMM2 campaigns were so much more fun than the more anemic HoMM3 ones, despite HoMM3's superior game mechanics.

OTOH HoMM3 has much better user-made maps, some of them downright masterpieces.

Hands down. Despite the simplistic story, HoMM2 campaigns were way better.

I also like how in HoMM2 campaign you build each level a hero from scratch. In HoMM3 you end up with an overpowered machine (or conversely underpowered if you don't bother with any powerups or end up getting wrong secondary skills). It's difficult to balance the final level of a campaign, if the main hero's stats can be 7/7/7/7 or 25/25/25/25 (assume just a single library of englightment in every level, by level 8 that's 16 skills points that may or may not have been taken).
Starting from scratch each level help you try out different skills and strategies without worrying that whatever you take you'll be stuck with til kingdom come.

Back when this game was new, I took the Roland path with the Ancient Artifact. I do remember this map being really hard.
The main key I remember to this map is getting Dimension Door. If you have Dimension Door and some titans, then you can wreck the enemy pretty hard. Try upgrading the magic guild in the Wizard town ASAP and see if you get Dimension Door. Even without it, Roland + Ancient Artifact is going to be some powerful magic especially when you first start the stage.