To Doug-Thompson:

I probably was well on my way towards meeting victory conditions, but didn't even check (also not sure on the exact amount of turns played). Also, I was attacked (somewhat) by hordes, but nothing that would bring me in real trouble. I don't really care about winning the campaign, I care about having difficulties just surviving, in other words, a good challenge.

But I must say Tincow's reply gives me some new hope: although I was never attacked like that (4 stacks at once, now we're talking!), apparently it is possible. Hopefully I was just 'lucky' in the one campaign as WRE I played. Perhaps other factions suffered the full power of the hordes before they got to me, or something like that. I think I'll try again.

Still, I continue a bit worried. Three campaigns (my first three!) should not have been so easy.

On the positive side, I also experienced some of the improvements in battle AI reported elsewhere on the forum. Had one great battle where I let the AI control my reinforcements. The enemy was a single army but somewhat larger than my total forces (me barbarian, them romans). Through some heavy manouvering by my AI general the enemy eventually split its forces. It split its army into two, more or less similar and both quite balanced, mini-armies. Not a bad move. It left one half parked on a small hill with flanks covered by forest, and went hunting for my AI archers with the other half. The two forces soon engaged in full battle and I only saved the day by running my own general and two units of nightraiders over just in time, my AI's first spear unit had already routed. After that, it was easy enough to kill the other half on the hill. Btw, no suicidal generals on either side in this battle!

Aahh, have to back playing now. thanks guys, just talking about it makes me feel good about the game again!