[MrSparkle]

Actually 200 tax patrolling your home province even if you are losing is a good idea as you can simultaneously defend your production center and make a profit. As long as one doesn't pillage and destroy the castle on top of that, I don't think that can be considered scorched earth.

I have never played early age Caelum but those eagle kings look like they have the potential to destroy entire armies depending on how far up the research tree you are, so I doubt all is lost.