really? i currently have over 30 champions (I like to collect them) unfortunately they all have crap for equipment because I cant afford to get them all the good stuff, there are at least ten who are unarmed completely because of cost constraints.
but anyway...have you researched the recruitment, heroes, and legends techs? (kingdom techs, not sure what the empire's are called) those are the ones that release new champions into the wilds for you to recruit.