Hey there! I'm just getting started on Spellforce: Platinum, and have run into...well, I hesitate to say it's an 'issue', per se, but nonetheless a bit of a difficulty.
In short, I love RPG's, understand the concepts and gameplay behind them, and can play with more than adequate skill.
I love RTS's, rarely understand the concepts, fail at the gameplay, and get steamrolled by the AI at every opportunity.
Now, I finished the first map by a simple strategy: I made absolutely as many troops as possible and just mobbed the enemy. It was bloody, quick (once my troops were summoned) and effective, but not particularly satisfying. I'm also well aware that when the game is not holding your hand, on later maps, I can expect to be mobbed as soon as I take over an altar and start to summon troops.
Can anyone offer some basic, generic gameplay stratagems? I am very much a newbie at RTS's, and any help would be greatly appreciated, any at all. Before anyone posts to this effect, I do know that I could search the web for guides, but they rarely offer generic tips and instead give you one surefire way to waltz through a scenario, and that approach robs a game of much of its fun.
Also, I poked about a bit examining hero types, and tried a fire-using elemental mage. I find him weak, ineffective, and useless in battle. Is this just a casualty of being at the beginning of the game, or am I doing something wrong? Or is there perhaps a better class to use as a beginner player?
I'll post my last question separately, since it is a viable option for one of those questions where you hand out reputation points or wotsit. Not quite sure how that works yet.
Thank you in advance!

Re: Strategems -
A, You''ve probably noticed by now that you have a variety of different units with different specialties. You're going to want to get a mix of units, but keep in mind that while only about 8-10 melee units can surround a single target (at most), much larger numbers of ranged troops can concentrate fire on a single target. Trying to overrun the enemy with melee troops isn't a bad tactic, but a better one is to keep just enough meleers to occupy the enemy while the ranged troops shoot everyone up. Don't worry, there is no friendly fire. Feel free to experiment with the special talents of other, less conventional units as well; clerics, for instance, can do wonders for an army's injured and significantly reduce casualties.
B. A trick with the AI in Spellforce is that the enemy will not start gathering in force to attack you until you've activated an altar and begun summoning units. Therefore, you can use your hero and rune warriors to scout out the area and kill all the targets of opportunity that you like with no penalties at all. Some missions will depend on you doing this.
C. Never turn down a sidequest. Better gear hero as well as valuable spell scrolls and runestones can be had for anyone willing to work for them. Your hero is ALWAYS going to be your army's strongest unit, so it would behoove you to make him as powerful as possible.
D. Guard Towers are your friends. Try building a wall of them in any area where enemies are likely to approach you.
Re: Fire Mage -
Mages suck as leaders. They make for spectacular support units, bolstering you, cursing the enemy, and throwing explosive magic around when you need it, but generally they don't do a great job of fighting anything on their own. The best way to make an elemental mage work is pair it with several fighters to keep it from being attacked directly. Also, specializing in fire (and only fire) will cause some problems for you whenever you have to fight Orcs or any other fire-resistant enemies.
For a beginner, I'd recommend you play a fighter-type instead, focusing on long blades and heavy armor. Curiously, even a player type that shouldn't use any magic at all will still learn healing and boosting powers, so a Fighter also makes for a better leader if you prefer the "charge in and overwhelm the enemy" approach.

I am quite impressed.
Now I wish I had set this up as one of those question posts, so I could vote this the answer.
Thank you very much, this is exactly what I needed. Melee with long blades is something I hadn't tried - I'll look forward to sampling this.
And aye, my RPG experience taught me the value of sidequests. Even on that first map there's one or two sidequests with very nice rewards.
Thanks again!

I must say I disagree with the "Mages suck as leaders" statement. While I agree that magic isn't the strongest side of the game, after a while you can get quite powerful unit, that can only be killed either by much strongest enemy or a small army of lesser opponents.
Quite possibly melee avatar is stronger in comparison (I haven't played one, so that's only my guess), but if someone likes magic, a mage is still a good choice.