@ lamotti: On the ring of flames thing, any time you have massed arch spell casters, you can crush cities. Amurites on OO with Hemah, Govanon, 3 lich 3 archmage (ive done it before) absolute 100% undiluted pwnage. The AI doesn't know to leave the city and rush the spell casters, it's the same for any large group o' high level units. I
think that snake pillar needs hell and that there is something higher than blooded wolf.
While I'm posting, Kael and the team have done an awesome job inproving the combat system with new strategy etc

. I woulod really like to see a defender/ non defender upgrade like the skeleton crew etc for the ships. The upgrade would have no strength effect, but would allow you top select certain units to be priority defenders and non defenders, regardless of strength. Strength would still decide priority within the set of defenders, unmarked, nondefenders. The reasonful, as it could target the group that they dont want killed and 2, If I have 8 strength 6 fighters defending my archmages, My archmages with promotions will have higher strength, but Obviously I dont want them to fight

, thats what the fighters are for. I dont know how much programming this would take, but I think it would add excellent new depth to the combat.