[Saint_Dude]

Well perhaps PD could simply be enhanced (more so for the non-rush nations)? More units and better units would help.

As it is PD works very well in SP, but is nearly useless in MP IMO. It is too expensive and too weak to fend off any of the rush nations in the early game. And it is simply too weak to fend off anything but scouts and black hawks in the later game (an exaggeration I know, but late or mid-game armies totally disregard PD).

A PD of 25 combined with a starting army for a non-rush nation is about equivalent to an indie 7 prov. I.e. a push over for a handful of elephants or rush-worthy sacreds. Even after several recruiting periods, most capitals are no tougher than indie 9 provs. From both a thematic perspective and from a gaming perspective, it would make more sense if nation capitals were much tougher nuts to crack in the early going. Perhaps capitals could start with a PD of 50?