"Not as complex" seems to oversimplify the oversimplification.
One player goes AI, a couple others get rushed out, and then what? Giant NAP party that systematically eliminates 1 player at a time. The only overarching strategy involved is largely luck based - do you start close to the right people and ally them in the beginning? At least in a larger game, there are usually at least 2 competing alliances.
I was going to babble on about the situation, but it sounded too pathetic.
Suffice to say, I had hatched a pretty plan to ally with Pan and crush Vanheim from both sides - but with that out of the question, it seems the only variable left in my game, is how long I can manage to last against a much stronger Vanheim.
If I didn't have such a well developed sense of honor, I would go AI and save myself the trouble.