Why care so much about realism when the game isn't a medieval simulator? Do you think it is realistic that our foods arrive in our regions instantly? or our units marching faster than any normal human being can possibly march?
I hear that equipment damage was to balance the game but that also made people less inclined to attack realms far away from their realms, which made long distance wars happen less. This game is Battlemaster. GMs should try to implement things to help the game have more battles not less.
