Posted January 09, 2013
mg1979: I think in the campaign you have to fight for shards that give you good advancement first, my priority is crystal, then fort and 2nd tier units. I'm at the 3rd shard now and have already thugs and horse archers (I'm playing at expert). Also, I only hire guards for important provinces (horse/iron) that are in risk of rebellion, and I spare the adventurers in the case that I meet an opponent very soon, so that he isn't powerful yet and he will not attack them. I don't know if AI has an independent unit progression, but you do your best to have the best units you can.
Yeah, this was my problem. I wasn't aware I can be attacked by more advanced enemy (or that I can even be attacked), so, even when I had the option to go after shard with advanced units I tried to get older, not so important, things first instead. (like right before I was attacked, I could attack several shards with rank 2 units and I captured one with haunted cemetary, journeyman jeweler and one similar building instead)