[The Panther]

You hit the nail on the head, magnate.

I recall one of my very first SP games where I tried three times to take the Abysian AI capitol against a powerful pretender and got whipped each time.

I then changed strategy and took all AI provinces before sitting on his capitol with my army. I didn't even have to build any temples. Just 4 priests preaching in various provinces and it was over at once. His dominion simply went poof!

That was one lesson I doubt I will ever forget.