GCI/Playtesting/Delfadors Memours/Hardest

Preamble

This is a test of "Delfador's Memoirs" on Great Mage (Hardest) difficulty. Due to the fact that I have already playtested this campaign before on Normal Difficulty, this test is being done under a slightly different set of criteria which has been quoted below:

1. What difficulty levels and what version of Wesnoth have you played the scenario on?
2. How difficult did you find the scenario? (1-10)
3. How does the scenario compare to Normal difficulty level?
4. What, if any, are changes you would have made to the scenario to make it more difficult?
5. Were there any particulary good/bad strategic decisions made by the AI?
6. Was there any event that caused you to lose the game and forced you to reload or restart the scenario?

Scenario 1: Overture

1. Windows Build Version 1.9.3. Great Mage (Hardest) difficulty.
2. N/A
3. N/A
4. N/A
5. N/A
6. N/A

Scenario 2: The Valley Belongs to Me

1. Windows Build Version 1.9.3. Great Mage (Hardest) difficulty.
2. Difficulty: 6.
3. This scenario appears more or less the same as the equivilent on Normal.
4. I would suggest making the Normal version easier, as it is currently already a tricky scenario.
5. I noticed that aside from a couple of scouts, the bulk of the AI's units reached me and attacked during dawn which put it at a disadvantage.
6. None.

Scenario 3: The Road to Weldyn

1. Windows Build Version 1.9.3. Great Mage (Hardest) difficulty.
2. Difficulty: 4.
3. Scenario is not significantly harder than Normal.
4. The AI should be given some level two units, perhaps Goblin knights would be appropriate.
5. AI did not attempt to withdraw during day, and sufferent devastating losses.
6. None.

Scenario 4: Leollyn

1. Windows Build Version 1.9.3. Great Mage (Hardest) difficulty.
2. Difficulty: 7.
3. This was moderately harder than on Normal difficulty.
4. No changes are needed as difficulty is appropriate.
5. The AI decided to attack from the water after I set up a defensive position at the edge of the forest. This gave me a considerable advantage which more than made up for the AI's ToD and unit advantage. A human player would likely play less agressively and attempt to attack my flanks which would force me to decide between speading my forces thinly or allowing the enemy to gain ground.
6. None.

Scenario 5: Council in Weldyn

1. Windows Build Version 1.9.3. Great Mage (Hardest) difficulty.
2. N/A
3. N/A
4. N/A
5. N/A
6. N/A

Scenario 6: Swamps of Illuven

1. Windows Build Version 1.9.3. Great Mage (Hardest) difficulty.
2. Difficulty: 7.
3. This level was significantly more difficult compared to on Normal.
4. No changes to difficulty needed.
5. The AI does little to take into account terrain, attacking from swamp or water with low defense units such as thugs, and is reluctant to retreat during the day when they are at a significant disadvantage.
6. Delfador died several times, this was due to me failing an overly ambitious counterattack.

Scenario 7: Night in the Swamp

1. Windows Build Version 1.9.3. Great Mage (Hardest) difficulty.
2. Difficulty: 6.
3. Slightly harder difficulty than Normal.
4. No changes needed.
5. I thought that the AI's targeting algorithm was good at taking advantage of weaknesses, especially my mages.
6. Nothing significant.

Scenario 8: Ur-ThoroDor

1. Windows Build Version 1.9.3. Great Mage (Hardest) difficulty.
2. Difficulty: 5.
3. About the same as the on Normal.
4. I think, rather than giving the woses so much gold at the beginning, they should have a gold boost around turn 4 approximately when you first reach the island. That way, the fight would be concentrated in the forest where the woses would be strongest.
5. The AI should be a bit more cautious and take advantage of the high defense in the forest.
6. None.

Scenario 9: Houses of the Dead

1. Windows Build Version 1.9.3. Great Mage (Hardest) difficulty.
2. Difficulty: 7.
3. Significantly harder than Normal.
4. No changes needed.
5. The AI played well.
6. I had trouble killing the deathknight without Delfador dying on the next turn.

Scenario 10: The Gate Between Worlds

1. Windows Build Version 1.9.3. Great Mage (Hardest) difficulty.
2. Difficulty: 4.
3. Not much harder than Normal.
4. Perhaps give Illiah-Malah a couple of level 2 units.
5. AI played acceptably.
6. None.

Scenario 11: Wasteland

1. Windows Build Version 1.9.3. Great Mage (Hardest) difficulty.
2. Difficulty: 5.
3. Moderately harder than Normal.
4. No changes needed to difficulty.
5. AI played acceptably.
6. None.

Scenario 12: Terror at the Ford of Parthyn

1. Windows Build Version 1.9.3. Great Mage (Hardest) difficulty.

Scenario 13: The Return of Trouble

1. Windows Build Version 1.9.3. Great Mage (Hardest) difficulty.

Scenario 14: Shadows

1. Windows Build Version 1.9.3. Great Mage (Hardest) difficulty.

Scenario 15: Save the King

1. Windows Build Version 1.9.3. Great Mage (Hardest) difficulty.

Scenario 16: Dark Sky Over Weldyn

1. Windows Build Version 1.9.3. Great Mage (Hardest) difficulty.

Scenario 17: A New Ally

1. Windows Build Version 1.9.3. Great Mage (Hardest) difficulty.

Scenario 18: The Portal of Doom

1. Windows Build Version 1.9.3. Great Mage (Hardest) difficulty.

Scenario 19: Showdown in the Northern Swamp

1. Windows Build Version 1.9.3. Great Mage (Hardest) difficulty.

Scenario 20: Prince of Wesnoth

1. Windows Build Version 1.9.3. Great Mage (Hardest) difficulty.

Scenario 21: Clash at the Manor

1. Windows Build Version 1.9.3. Great Mage (Hardest) difficulty.

Scenario 22: Face of the Enemy

1. Windows Build Version 1.9.3. Great Mage (Hardest) difficulty.