Before we start let's clarify the rules of the ultimate challenge again:
1) impossible difficulty
2) hero class: any. Mage has the harshest start due to low leadership, so I chose mage for extra challenge. Choice is yours.
3) no loss. You can lose summoned crits at your will, but original army has to be at full numbers at the end of the battle.
4) no usage of any 5th level units throughout the game in your army
5) no wanderer scrolls to be used throughout the game. All they're good for is 5000 coins when you sell them.
6) no pet dragon usage at all. He stays at zero experience untill the end of the game
7) no map kitting. You can move the creatures at your will to get treasures, rods from behind them, but never pick new continent scroll without proper fight.
Here is my progress.
Currently 42 fights done. restarted Debir few times to get favorable conditions. Found officer batton,trap scroll,bought stone skin, started working on trap and guardian medals immediatelly. Found Bolo & Scarlet island scrolls. Finished temple of hope quest, got paladins, archmagi. Split archmagi in two groups for long time, it incredibly speeds up going for medals. After my 42 fights I have trapper III medal - average of more than 2,5trap per battle and guardian II - 290. Cleared Debir easily. Cleared Scarlet apart from presumably Verona scroll, and Norbu. Got Rusty anchor scroll, it's getting interesting
. Currently clearing Bolo, mostly done. It is getting tough. My line-up: archmagi, snakes (got the boots), paladins, inquisitors, royal thorns. Considering employing droid combo or even two groups of droid archers for nearly suicidal trips under magic shield and then quicky retreating for repair with other group. Was hoping for Evil beholders somewhere for crowd control, but no luck. Got I point in concentration, transmute for steady mana inflow. Cannot decide whether to go for higher magic or increase distortion & fire, have mana only 39. Bought ring of mind class 2 for 20000 with tears in my eyes
. Got 20000+coins, so so far so good