do the game balance change with the new patch?

[Gandalf Parker]

Setting the AI at a higher difficulty gives it more points to create a nation with. It does a pretty good job but not a great job. Humans do it better.

There are two ways to get that. Play MP against humans, or help the AI create better by designing a better AI.

There are 3 ways to design a better AI. (1)manually by starting the nation as human then turning it ai or (2) map commands by designing the AI's pretender and scales or (3) mod commands by designing the entire nation so that the AI can play it smarter.

Of course AI is only AH so MP always beats SP for challenge.
(Artificially Intelligent is only Artifically Human so MultiPlaying always beats SoloPlaying for challenge)

[jutetrea]

Agree with the thought of the post, and I do the same. I research construction at a lower priority, don't build many SC's...usually 2 or 3 that i want to be my "heroes", set the AI to mighty or impossible, and stale a couple of turns.

Unfortunately I still end up bailing on a game when it gets to the point of castle grinding (AI throws up a LOT of forts on impossible)...but its fun up till then

Recently started multiplayer, and its very very fun and much more difficult in that it seems every little decision is going to bite you in the rear at some point. Plus, diplomacy is both fun and scary!

[B0rsuk]

Maybe try a different nation ? Not all nations have access to Death spells.