[Wauthan]

Errh... I can't answer your first question since you don't mention how many gemsites you found or what site frequence your game is running.

I'm sad to say that a skilled opponent will suspect your archer strategy very early. The full strength of T'ien Ch'i is not achived if you would not be using those composite bows. But the staff of storms is not likely unless you face a faction with easy access to air magic. It's still possible but in the early game you will propably meet a determined onslaught of enemy archers or flying units instead.

Fast mobile armies are great as long as you keep them on the move. In this game it's never to late to change tactics as long as you keep this change in the plans. Select a favorite tough as nails summoned monster and keep a force of researchers and heaps of appropriate gems ready for massrituals. This will allow you to create a shield for your lighter units in battles.

If your opponent goes out of its way to ruin your archer strategy then remove those archers from your main armies and use them to harrass other foes.

Using 'Might' commanders instead of 'Magic' ones is usually a matter of resources. Mages are expensive and a lot less durable than a warrior. Remember that a cheap tough commander with a spell item can be a lot faster to produce and defend then a mage. Higher leadership is also a worth a lot. Imagine loosing three of your four mages, each with leadership 25, in a succesful battle. In the worst case it would mean that 75 of your units are stranded in that province without a leader to keep them from routing.

Tossing in a might commander or two in each army is always a good idea, especially if you give it a spell item or missile weapon so it can keep out of harms way.