[Loren]

One point:

I doubt the game keeps track of what spells are researched. That's needless data, it can be recreated in an eyeblink from the list of what research levels have been reached.

I do agree the AI goes nuts with buffing. SP, I was trying to take down the last few LA Ryleh provinces. Sending armies against them just resulted in them being routed for no gain at all. I had gems to burn, I empowered/wished my pretender to all 10's and over 500 hp and sent him in. Routed, zero kills?!?! I view the battle--he spends ages buffing himself and then starts summoning garbage, none of which makes it through the enemy spells. At no point does either side ever cast a spell or take a swing at the other (except the summons)!

Every attempt to script him to do something useful failed until I finally simply told him to attack without casting any buffs first. He still routed after 50 turns but managed to accomplish something first. I never did kill any of the powerful units but I did manage to kill a few prophets and then my dominion could push through and kill him that way.