prepping for beginning expansion

[MythicalMino]

the game i am playing at the moment, it is turn 19, i have control of 5 or 6 provinces. Indeps at 5.

I had a very bloody battle and lost 37 troops about 4 turns ago taking a high income province (no knoghts, but heavy cav). I won that battle only because of my Wind Riders taking out their 2 commanders, forcing the indy army to route (thank God for that, my army was getting slaughtered).

I have secured the provinces surrounding my capital, but have now come in contact with C'tis on the south-eastern border (they are still 2-3 provinces away from me, but my dominion has spread enough so i can see them). Also, R'lyeh is on my north-western border, right next to a key province of mine (connects one land mass to another). R'Lyeh only has 50 troops right now (Lobo Guards, Slave Troopers, Crab Hybrids & an Illithid Lord).

I guess, I have trouble with all of it. I personally think my early expansion hasn't been so bad until that large battle, losing 37 guys. What I have a lot of trouble in though is formations (for one thing).

Also, building a good army with such low resources. With the resources my capital can use (71 resources), I can only build 2 elite troops per turn, and that doesn't include commanders.

I am currently nearly right in the middle of the map, with water directly north (bordering me), and open land to the south, and especially to the east (C'tis).

Here is the game info:

- using Golden Age Arco, Arch Mage (4 Fire/4 Air/4 Water/4 Earth/1 Death).

- the Forgotten Realms map (huge map, over 400 provinces)

- Indeps set to 5

- magic sites set to 50 (I think)


I think that is pretty much it....the thing i really have a difficult time is the formations, and building units (what kind exactly, and getting the most out of my resources).