[diamondspider]

1. Yes, Pretenders get experience.

2. Battle definately gets it, but there are many other ways. I'm not sure, but it seems that almost everything gives a bit of it since I've seen commanders go up from doing very little. Perhaps someone else has a full list of what can increase exp.

3. Again, I don't have an exhaustive list, but I know that is affects: Morale, Attack Skill, Leadership for sure. One cool thing is that you sometimes get special abilities from experience that are linked with being on the Hall of Fame list known as Heroic Abilities.

4. No, you don't get to choose.