Bonus missions?

[crayno]

Hello,

I've just started the game and I'm wondering what the bonus missions are about?
Do they have any impact on the campaign?
Do you carry over units/items/exp to the next bonus mission(s)?
Or are they just some extra stand alone missions?

Thanks

[jwallstone]

I'm just starting too, and it seems so far that playing and winning bonus missions gives you rewards, just as gold, artifacts, and possibly troops. Basically, you get to keep the rewards at the end of the mission.