[krpeters]

Yes, I recognize that my offense was extremely suboptimal. I was expecting to lose the battle. I just also expected to do some damage along the way, or learn something useful in the process.

For example, earlier in the game, I was sending my troops to their doom against Marignon's fire mages. Initially I had them staged up front to attack immediately, and so his mages easily incinerated them. I could tell from this that positioning was the issue, and that I should stage them at the back of the field instead to keep them out of range for the first few turns.

In this battle, I cannot conceive of *anything* my troops could have done differently... except simply not be there altogether.

I don't mind losing. I do mind being steamrolled. And apparantly there are greater differences in skill amongst beginners than amongst experts.