[BigDaddy]

I quickly learned to defeat computer AI's with Pythium. Fortified City, Order 3, Prod. 3, Dominion 8, Wyrm with no magic. Build Emerald Guards. You'll learn to judge, but with provinces at 6, 15 or so can take most stuff, and 25-35 can take almost any heavy stuff like knights. I've used a similar setup to defeat the computer on 16 Impossible AIs (fearun).Don't worry about deploying the awesome mages until you get orb lightning/enslave mind. Don't worry, I thought the game was impossible when I first started.

When you get a better hold on the game I recommend practicing super-combatants (SC) with Jotunheim-Niefelhiem, where you can buy them for gold. A typical Niefel Jarl might be given, skullface, skull staff, boots of messenger, medalion of resilience, weapons and armor of your choice like lucky coin or faithful sword and robe of shadows. If you have Enchant 3 researched, he'll know what he's for (quickness/skeleton spamming). Another setup might be water braclet, amulet of resilience, boots of messenger, and other equipment (stone armor, wraith helm, hellsword(2hands)/bloodthorn, faithful/lucky coin)! As long as you have Evocation 5 he'll know what he's for(quickness/falling frost).

Yes, they'll also do fine in combat. You need construction 6 and lots for gems to make a good SC, so a typical pretender might be Great Sage with at least 2 picks in all non blood paths (a rainbow sage).