Partly this is the game settings: no need for site searching, little need for research and no globals to aim for certainly encourage early fighting (this is deliberate). The first version of this game actually encouraged early fights even more since there was no expansion phase or fort building (all preset).
The other thing is that Caelum and I are actually exceeding our combined allotment of provinces, making the northern and southern edges of the map even tighter.
Expansion was certainly diffferent than a normal game. While Blade Wind once again underwhelmed, Magma Eruption didn't disappoint. Always nice to soften up charging elephants with a couple of castings before they reach your skinshifters.
