cpl_rk - hmmm, i think one time i got the ring from a treasure? In my current game i thought i got it with the mission involving a key, not sure? Nevertheless, it would require allot of work to have every hero in your kingdom with essence, so i would say you would have earn't it!
It would be a task, but leveling up a guy to level 1 and 2 is very easy (it's just 10 exp points) & could go very quickly if you pre-positioned a bunch of level 1 heroes in the same area near 4 or 5 wandering monsters, which isn't too hard to find. Then you could level up 4 to 6 guys easily in one or two turns by trading the ring around. Hell, it would even be worthwhile teleporting some upper-level guys that are close to levelling-up to the same area to gain essense in this way, it's just a matter of preplanning & positioning pieces. As a strategy player, that's what I do best 
Of course, I think it's hokey & gamey and I think the idea of having a ring that can do this is not in the best interest of the game. I don't mind having an "essense ring" but it should have a restriction on it such that it can only be worn by heroes who already have at least one point of essence, this would prevent that type of hokey "gaminess."
