There is no cheating in this game, unlike in HE1 where AI deliberately attacked player (it was because Flash has miserable computing power). Now AI chooses target based exclusively on strategic value, so if you have lots of strategic resources it's natural your enemies will want to havethem. Often it's easier to start with a mediocre position that opponents will ignore. Also if you will stand the initial phase of the game your opponents may focus on somebody else. Do as AI does, split your first army into small parts and try o reach most strategic areas, always leave some forces in your capital. Most maps, if not all, are beatable.

To prove my point I just have won a war being underdog whole game and finally facing a giant empire, without conquering any capital myself. I just smashed the empire's morale by taking over poorly defended resources. So yep, it's completely beatable just by employing an effective strategy. My advice: attack is the best defense and never give up!

Thanks. Yeah, I didn't think any of the genres were quite right for it. I thought it was a bit too full on and structured for ambient, but I agree that industrial isn't the best description either. I stuck a pin in the list ;)

Thanks! \m/