[jeffr]

I'd prefer to have all game information available in-game via icons, right clicking, turn by turn battle summaries with detailed results [i.e. attack 15 (base 13 + 2 for exp) vs def 13: chance to hit = 70%: HIT for 5 damage (spear 3 + strength 15 - 13 protection)].

The battle summary might be a bit much considering the number of units that participate in a battle. But having the etheral unit icon say somtheing like "75% of non-magic strikes ignored" or having a spell say the type of damage it does (and hence you could figure out what resistances reduce that damage) would be good.

The detailed information could be made available only by explicitly clicking on an icon, battle report, etc. Only people who were interested in the detail would have to look at it.

Or you could have a Preferences option that gives greater detail for help text.