Modding independent difficulty?

[Burnsaber]

If you play with no indy maps, you could make a custom mod that improves the stats and paths of indy troops and mages.

Make Wolf Tribe shamans cast "howl" at the start of battle. Give Barbarian Chiefs +10 hp or make them cast some "berseking" spell at the start of combat to prevent the barbarians from running away too easily. Possibilities are nearly endless.