Thanks for the replies. I have found that playing on less difficult modes actually increases the difficulty, however the AI is still incompetent to the point and the game-play predictable to the point that it matters little. I either summon or build mace armies, but most the time the AI is so incapable of even putting on their armor without somehow killing themselves that I just walk through their cities with my Sovereign and 2 heroes and completely wipe out all of their forces. It is even funnier when they simply declare war on me and I auto-calculate victory once they cross my border. The ultimate problem is that when a game becomes a simple mechanical exercise it loses all its replay value. I feel as if this game has far too much potential to be in this state. I know that this is being worked on, however I cannot help but give my opinions and hope that they are considered. So, other issues I have which make it far too easy/repetitive:
1) I get the same quests/notable locations every time. The midnight stones, the potion, the witch, the escort, the spider lair with the armor, et. al... My question is; WHY? Even games of the 90's, like Lords of Magic, had a much more dynamic dungeon crawl system than this game. I literally do the same thing every game. You may say that is my choice to continue to do these things, however I would say that the point of a strategy game is to exploit your environment and other specific/general circumstances to the fullest as your opponents *should* do the same: to not do this completely takes away the thrill of strategy. You should always make the best choices possible to win and to 'pretend' to do otherwise simply makes the game lose its luster.
2) Building is far too mechanical. I literally build the same thing in every city, with the only real choices I have being based on the already determined resource allocation of the city itself. Even if you may say that their is the potential to better micromanage my cities, I would once again respond with a simple question: that is wonderful, however why am I able to continue to dominate the entire game without doing so? If I did this in Civ. I would not make it past the Prince difficulty.
3) Sovereigns lack depth. Units lack depth. Unit creation and equipment is wonderful, I enjoy it immensely. The problem is that, after game 5 or so, it was pretty much standardized; i.e., I in no situation am forced to consider what type of units I should build in a relative sense, only in an absolute. There is no situational or circumstantial influence on what units I build. Sovereign and 2 heroes (1 melee and 1 caster) until Big Mace Guys with horses/wargs = game over. Game is usually over before the Big Mace Guys to begin with.
I will add more and perhaps some constructive suggestions as well soon. I really wish that this game turns into what it should be. I will not lie, I have huge nostalgia for Lords of Magic. This is perhaps partly why I am devastated to see this game which has the potential to far surpass LoM in every way not do so. LoM itself may have been easy after a small learning curve - scratch the may, it was - however in no instance was it possible to win the game before turn 100 and in no instance did it have a generic world feel to it; as in getting the SAME dungeons;SAME quests:SAME ITEMS;SAME ENCOUNTERS....EVERY GAME. I could not parade around with my Sovereign without an army with him and expect to live, let alone take over the entire damn world.
