What the hell just happened?

Why did it happen?

Why doesn't anything happen?

Why doesn't anything happen when I do this? Or this? or that? Or just about anything?

Why does it take ages for anything to happen?

Did that happen because of that or this or...

*Click.
*Click.
*Click.
*Click. Click. Click.
*Pressed button.
*Strongly pressed button.
*Frantically pressed, clicked and pounded button.
*Palmed keyboard.
-RAAAAAAARGH!


Oh sweet memories of this *COFF* old gem...
At least Powermonger didn't have as many features to confuse me with and I even managed to win without understanding much of it. This on the other hand felt just nuts.

This game definitely wants you to read and absorb the manual and play a small test run before you start in earnest, I'll give you that. For you as a player - once you have set up your people and built their improvements - you're down to persuasion. Either they will listen to what you want or they won't. I have to play this again.

Sounds a bit like Majesty.

When I tried it it was when it wasn't that old so I should have managed at least somewhat because games back then could be kinda "cryptic" and I was used to that. But alas I got nowhere. It would probably have helped if I had had a manual to read as you said. ;)