The difficulty of this game needs some adjusting, to be sure.  I've had better luck playing on Beginner (after playing on Normal for the most part before the most recent patch), but there's still quite a bit of balance work that needs to be done.

The learning curve for the game is extremely high, but once you know a few general tips, you should be set.

Rules are:

1. Level your hero up as fast as you can. If you are a mage, Evoker + Fire destroys everything.

2. Fire > Air > Earth > Water

3. Armor is VERY important.

4. Build troops early, don't wait for economic expansion

5. Don't build cheap troops, they are virtually useless.

6. Don't over extend with your towns/outposts. It is better to have 4 defended towns than 6 undefended ones.

Now granted, there is without a doubt a huge balancing issue based on the above rules.

Good strat, but I guess the problem is that is so specific that I have to either play play Mag or a custom.  I would hope that the game wouldn't make it, in its final version, so only those evokers with pillar of fire can win.  Either that, or just get lucky that a hoarder spider, red dragon or umberdroth doesn't sit near you.  Yes, those were my last three games.

Same here... I was playing on Hard, but kept getting whooped.  Now I'm playing on Challenging and had to adjust my strategy to win... maybe I'll be back on Hard soon. 

Noticed this also in DAS game he was started in the middle of the map inbetween the Kraxis and gang.. And his allies and fellow people.

Two game I played so far I have started in the exact same position right inbetween everyone... For basically your the fodder inbetween the two sides.  And lets not even talk about the monster release when Kraxis and his gang... Or the other side come strolling on by and set off the things on a rampage of hell.

Seems the devs have decided to make the game harder lets just plop the player right between everyone.. That way the player has to be the meat bag.