Yea okay whoever said use real life tactics obviously is doing something wierd. On all demo battles I went to various historical links, if you did exactly what any of those leaders did, in your demo battle you just flat out lost. At least in gold demo.

You have to create tactics, and yes knowing tactics helps you create them, however maybe with the exception of obvious basics like high ground and flanking it's better to just learn as you go.

As for strategy guides, there only useful in my view, in collecting games. RPGS, certain puzzle adventure games, the like. Where people playing seem to miss one or two things, and where basic story is not bound to change by release.

Why anyone would buy any strat guide for any strat game is beyond me. There are tourney winners on most boards, most people here have mastered the campaign map since days of shogun. All the advice you need is right here :)

Give it a week and all the princess, guild, questions will be answered.