i hate the way there is no mini map, i find zooming around the map to be reall clumsy, am i missing something ? Also is there a chance they may introduce the option to carry on playing after a victory or defeat? i one a game on warlord but wanted to keep going as there was still a lot to see and do.

Yes, peculiar decision huh? I've won two games, but in neither game did I ever get a decent idea what the world looked like. It also seems a shame that one has to keep the zoom out button held down, or the camera zooms back in close. I would have prefered a zoom in / zoom out toggle personally.