If the AI is kicking your tail then set the dependents higher in the game. Thats one of the most common first errors because it seems to illogical that making the independents harder will make the game easier for you. But the AI does far worse against the indepts than you do because the AI will try to attack them all refusing to switch and attack another. Larger maps help also (another thing tht doesnt make sense at first) because you can make better use of a meandering approach, and a large buildup, and strategic fortressing, than the AI can
And as has already been mentioned, the game supports many styles. You will feel that one certain nation totally kicks everyone else. But if you continue trying them all you will figure out that they each have pros and cons which make them totally kick everyone else. Or actually, they tend to kick certain nations easily and others not so easy. But the overall picture is that they all have something going for them. The only all-killer trick in this game is... find the nation which best compliments your playing style whether its stealth, barbaric horde, defense, magic research, diplomacy, dominion, or whatever. Lastly, dont get cocky about it. When you start playing multiplayer games you will be playing against people who have found the bnation which best fits their playing styles and it wont all be the same one.
Gandalf Parker
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In Dominions, if it looks like a killer strategy
then look at it again carefully.
In Dominions, if it looks like a total waste
then look at it again carefully.