[Gandalf Parker]

Well Dom3 was designed to be early game of exploration and expansion, mostly armored units. Then a mid-game more of research and forging. Then a late game where super combatants and major magics made a bigger emphasis.

I think CoE3 has the same. BUT since the game moves much quicker, there isnt such an extreme gap between them. If you let certain nations get powerful then you will see some extreme summons. But usually it happens when the armor specific armies are still capable.

ALSO CoE3 does allow for you to play with all players using just that type of nation. I suppose that if someone wanted to they could also write a scenario which specifically downgrades the magic nations.