Here is the horrible truth: Economics win wars, not heroics on the battlefield. This is even true in BattleMaster. No realm ever surrendered because the enemy was simply too awesome during that last battle. They surrendered because they could not field another army afterward.
Unsolicited advice: the sooner realms start giving duchies to players that enjoy the economic game, the sooner they can free up the battle-types to spend all of that surplus gold on ass whippings. Reward players appropriately. Don't make the girl or guy who is always running around with a 1K CS unit a duchess or duke, because to be an effective one usually requires that they stay in their duchy. Same goes for Bankers, Judges and any other position. Give them out to the people who actually want to assume the responsibilities. Often, they're doled out as rewards with no regard for what's expected of the roles.
