[Xietor]

you consider guardians elite? I consider vans and elephants elite, and they are recruited all over. And on a large map, you may never see your guardians(map move 1) or other elite capital troops because it is too hard and not worth the effort to get them to the front lines. So you may well not get to use your favorite troops at all mid and late game.

I agree in principle with your statement, but the thread is about balance. vanaheim do not get dwarves all over, but they can research fine from their capital, and they can search sites remotely. But troops whose value is exclusively in combat cannot be put into play from their capitals.

So, it may be worth exploring in the concept of balancing the nations.