Very cool -- thanx guys ('n gals)
the high PD and multiple castles were (unsuccessful) attempts at warding off the inevitable multi-stack attack.
You hit it right on the head with the indy rating being too low. I suspected it was a basic element like this that was skewing the balance. between raising the indie strength and playing a smaller map I think I can make some progress towards actually beginning to learn how to play.
>Choke point take 6 smiths build a lab and have them research there that is usually enough to hold off a foe . . .
please explain this a little -- how can 6 smiths hold off an army?
Blade wind and magma eruption are great spells. Use your smiths to cast these evocation spells. Not to mention use ironskin/invulnerabilty and summon earth power.
just played my first dozen or so turns on a smallish map with indies set at 6. the game played much more as I expected it would, and I took my first enemy fortress. Could someone please post this detail in a FAQ / walkthrough for other boneheads like me?