[Graeme Dice]

Originally posted by Tuskerlove:
#1 How do I find, recruit or summon more elite leaders.

You summon them or purchase them depending on your nation.

It looks like you get one automatically after a few turns

The only way you'll get new leaders automatically is if you are playing one of the two non-default themes of Ermor, or get one of your national heroes. All other commanders must be recruited or summoned.

but I've run into problems fighting with my pretender god (battle afflictions that can't be healed)

They can be healed. The methods to do so are listed in the FAQ that can be found here.

[quote] so I've been trying to use other leaders as generals and use my pretender god as a source of finding magic sites form province ot province. Is this a good or bad tactic?[/QUOTE}

Whether this is a good or bad tactic really depends on what kind of pretender you've chosen.

#2 How do I create these artifactss and uber gear everyone is talking about.

You research construction, and tell your mages to forge items.

#3 If I have over 600 of each of the gems in the game does that mean I'm doing something wrong? I really haven't empowered anyone but my pretender god and I'm not certain if that is a good or bad idea.

It really means that you've just not been casting very many spells. Empowering tends to be extremely expensive, but since you appear to be swimming in gems you might want to do it.

#4 Why can't I build fortresses and raise province defense in the water?

You can't build fortresses there because you aren't either Atlantis or R'Lyeh. You can't raise province defense because your troops would drown underwater.

#5 Re: Fortresses should I build them in every province or only in strategic areas? I have the Castle as a choice but I'm not certain how multiple fortresses benefit or hurt you when placed close together.

Castles take their admin percentage of resources from friendly neighbouring provinces. If two neighbouring provinces have castles, then they do not get resources from each others' province.

#6 Most annoying problem: How can I lose a battle with 100 troops against a neutral territory holding 4 units. One territory holds a mage and some other elite troops and I can't defeat them with my fully equipped pretnder god with over 100 troops (how can this be possible?)

This question is absolutely impossible to answer without more information. I have no idea what nation you are playing, what your pretender is, what troops you actually had, what equipment you were using, where you placed your troops and what orders you gave them, and what kind of troops the independent province had.