- The effect of defeat on a stack is too harsh.

Having a routed army disintegrate is one thing. Having almost unscathed units in a defeated army disappear is perhaps justifiable, but they should have a chance if they have an escape route. Having an almost unscathed army evaporate because it still can't get over the walls it has been looking at for three years is stretching credulity. Having an unscathed army destroyed because the five o'clock hooter went while they were still chasing down the last few fugitives in a city is just ridiculous.

I wondered what happened to my army, 900 of them, 700 of me, I killed 450 of them, lost 60, ran out of time during siege. Then without looking closely or thinking too much, I ended turn. Then it said, both generals were killed, then I thought, hmm, then looked at map, and "poof" no army. This was vh/vh. I thinking I dont like vh/vh too much. It seems to make their militia cav equal to my Head Hunting Maidens, which I dont even have yet. Just thinking.

Their Milita Cav are 6/6 2 charge 6 missle but with the bonus to vh they prob more like 11/11 7 charge 11 missle with 340/110 for AI, and they already have boost to income.

I cant match that as Scythia till Head Hunting Maiden 10/11 6 charge but at 600/141 and 2 turns.

It like boxing match with 1-arm behind your back,with a eye patch plus Sycthia income is bad. I think I go back to normal, and just win in vanilla and keep eye on modders. Go Go modders.

In normal or medium diff all the units are mathematically, across factions acting in battle as math would have it. You learn the numbers, but then play harder levels of difficulty and then you have to "learn" that their peasants equal your militia hoplites, their militia hoplites equal your Phalanx pikemen, their Phalanx Pikemen equal your Royal, plus you got hard time making money.
I dont use tributes or bribes.

However its kind of hard to except all factions are stronger than you, better breast milk I guess.

Other than that, timers are the nut, units in cities is frustrating, I however still love this game. Go Go RTW.