The problem with balance, is the use of the word balance.  It seems to mean different things to different people.  Danger: Hyperbole ahead!!!

In WoM, I would ask, "Why do my soldiers who sword and board do 1 point of damage while the ones that use 2 handed weapons do 100K points of damage?  Why would I ever use a one handed weapon and shield?"  To me, that is a balance issue.  Bad balance takes away choices, good balance makes multiple choices viable.

I just hope path-making will be addressed ....

With a time, and toughest modes showing up, it gets more and more frustrated with troops going wrong way on a very wrong moment ...

Where do we sign up to beta test up and coming releases and patches?

I've never beta-ed before but I would like to participate formally.

Based on my first three games, I would have completely agreed. However, in my last game, I have found growth structures to be helpful. This is because game 4 has lasted longer, and I developed better food supplies. I am not making this point to prove the poster wrong but rather to point out how some things might at first seem worthless until you realize later in certain circumstances they make sense.

Of course, I may end up playing an even longer game, and find myself once again agreeing with Alstein's original point! Trying to discover what is worth it (or when) is one of the fun features of this game.

As far as balance, I still think the worst "balance" issue in the game is how powerful Champions are.  Compared to the Sovereigns, they are the same and I don't think they should be.  Now you can erase their injuires with a very cheap potion which makes them every bit as powerful as the sovereigns.  In some case more they are more powerful.  To me this completely breaks the lore of the game. 

Frogboy:

In gathering user feedback regarding balance, it may be helpful for you, or another developer, to open targeted discussion threads on particular topics (such as city levelling choices). Threads started by staff always get more attention ^^

The problem with the balance of the Pariden and Resoln races, is this:  If I am going to create a custom faction, what are my options?  Men, Trogs, Ironeers, and Quendar have useful bonuses and a special troop.  Why, for any reason pick Amarians or Wraith as the race to form your faction?  There is really no good reason, so in this, the lack of balance limits my choices.  I'm not saying make them all completely equal, I am simply saying make them valid choices.  I have played many games with a custom faction of Mancers.  Mancers are shit compared with Men or Trogs, but they are not so heavily penalized as to negate their use entirely.  Options should be made balanced enough to make them a viable choice.  

Please add instantly hot seat!

Also, I would like to know how many copies were awarded due to WOM?

Agree - similar with city level ups.  When one is so overwhelmingly better, I have to be playing to nerf myself to choose them.  Which is fun occasionally, but would rather have "relatively" equivalent choices or at least offsetting benefits.

For example, does Pariden have Enchanters by default?  If not, then give it to them.  If it does, add an additional benefit to it in keeping with the magical nature - either 2x essence or essence + -unrest or something.   Thematic, not game breaking, adds choices (many choices actually).

Oh no! I knew there was a catch!

At least it was worth it.

Regarding balance I agree entirely. In a perfect world all choices would be picked at least occasionally by good players who know the game well and are trying to win. That doesn't mean they have to all be equal or be equally picked.

Right now if I'm trying to win then there are quite a few choices in the game which I would never take.

Stardock are never going to achieve perfection here but there is currently a lot of room to get closer to it

Amarian can be quite good as a blood trait.  They get bonuses based on shards.  Obviously later game, larger map and denser shards play to their strengths.  For example with a few Earth shards freshly produced Amarian troops often have equal or better HP then their equivalents and they will have higher initiative if you have a few Air shards.  I wouldn't say that they are the strongest race but they are not the weakest, and generally I will prefer them to Mancers. It does depend on the situation.  Wraiths, well, I would only pick if I want to look at pretty blue-skinned people. 

Any chance we'll see even a rudimentary Hall of Fame in the near future?  If the game tracks my score at the end of game why not record it as well?

I think in fallen enchanteress, the balance issues has been resolved like this:

All buildings abilities, unit abilities and spell abilities are weak enough to have little impact on the game so that no abuse could be made out of them if somebody finds a flaw.

It's a cheap way to balance a game, but it works.