Lucky Start

[MaxWilson]

That's an issue I've been grappling with, too, since I'm still learning the game. Check out the SC vs. richer nation thread, for example.

Summons do help, but I'm finding that the real answer has to do with how you play the strategic game. The fact that Dominions is WEGO instead of IGO-YOUGO has implications when you're trying to guard borders against an enemy; you have to think hard about the geography of whatever map you're trying to play on and decide where you want to hold your border (although that shouldn't stop you from raiding out beyond that border as a distraction, as long as you don't get psychologically committed to holding that no-man's-land). I have also found that low-level undead summons aren't worth much, except for taking down castles (although Call the Wind is even better. +100 siege bonus for 20 gems better than Crumble or that Horn of Whatever thing).

-Max