[alexti]

Originally posted by apoger:
>and I don't have enough money (to make enough armies, pump-up defenses or build fortifications).

No offense intended...
You just aren't expanding your economy fast or efficiently enough. If you had better resources, then everything else falls into line. With more game experience you will develop that extra efficiency/economy needed, and will find things easier.

Let me ask... how many provinces are you holding on turns 15-20? What nations do you play, and how do you set them up? More info is needed if we are to give you more direct advice.

I'm playing Jotunheim on inland map, indy 6, otherwise standard, around 12 impossible AI (pretty much everybody except water nations and Ermor). I haven't played any other nations on wrap-around maps though.

Typically, I would get around 20 provinces by turn 15-17 (usual schedule is about 1 province per turn from turn 3 to turn 9 or 10 and 2 provinces per turn afterward). After that I'm getting stalled though, because I'm reaching enemies on all sides and that's when my borders start to fall apart.
Actually, in a recent game I seem to do better if I expand slower and keep low income indy provinces intact. Anyway, they're of little use until I can start searching actively, but while being independent they provide some sort of protection from AI. One of the problem with the income is that Jotuns suffer very few casualties, so there's a lot of troops to maintain and I have something like 700-800 income and 300-400 upkeep costs. That's why I was thinking about trying to use more cheaper troops. Another alternative I thought about is to use maintenance-free summons, but I can't find anything attractive at that stage given my limited gem quantities. So far the best I could come with is Horde from hell, because no gems are required, bloodhunting eats into my income though, but I'm trying to counter it by hunting in good border provinces which I have to defend anyway, and it also gives a job to wounded units.