I thought I mentioned Yomi and Pangaea were AI, and the reason I felt so humiliated was exactly because I got stomped by a single AI nation (Yomi) and was then finally annihilated by another AI nation; I really thought I am a better player than that
Anyway, re-reading my first post of the thread I see that I didn't mention that Yomi and Pan were AI clearly anywhere, edited in now.
Peter, even with the AI money bonus of mighty AI, it is simply impossible Pangaea would have been able to recruit 200+ minotaurs plus the assorted troops plus the Pans. And notice, those were just the troops against me. So I still believe the AI must have got a few gold events
AreaOfEffect, in my experience the AI always casts shockwave if it is in melee contact and able to shockwave, except if it sees undead or imps and the thug is able to cast Banish. Apparently Banish does more damage to them rather than shockwaving the melee targets.