Well... there are a lot of monsters.  I accept Janusk's services, rename him Bob, and put him in my capital with the best weapon I can afford and whatever defensive items are available.  Any lone monsters that come with in striking distance I deal with before they can horde with others; the hordes I deal with when they attack.  I also find myself researching Warfare first to get some better defensive options, and building an offensive unit prior to even bothering with a pioneer.

My sovereign goes wandering during all this.

What is the difficulty level you choose for your world when you setup the game?

So... if there are so many creatures that cities get destroyed (even when defended) by wandering mobs.... Where the hell are the thousands of people migrating to me cities from?  I mean if there are thousands of people around, and hungry wolves with WAY better stats than them.  How is humanity surviving long enough to join a channeler?

I am so afraid that they will nerf the monsters I'm almost willing to say it's perfect.  It would be 10 times worse if that the monsters are too weak than a little too strong.  Only affects the first 30 or so turns.  If they are too weak it makes the entire game more sucky.

Okay, I'm only playing on Medium, so that shouldn't really factor into it.  Also, it's not that they're "a little bit stronger".  I can take a mob or two in fights.  My problem is with the sheer numbers.  I eventually just get overwhelmed.

I like the monsters. It adds personality to the game. Also makes the beginning of the game more interesting becasue it's challenging. No limitless expanding without even having to build any troops until 50 turns in. I just usually get equipment right of the start and build lightly armored spear guys. One or two in each city will keep the monsters away. Same deal with Sov. Get him a level or two, a weapon and even one piece of armor and he is basically wolf and spider proof. Troops really aren't that hard to get, you just gotta adjust your play style. Try making a custom Sov that can fight off the start.

I'm coming across some pockets of wandering monsters in early-mid game as well (on Challenging). While I don't mind the monsters themselves I am getting a little bored fighting the constant battles (I don't trust Auto Resolve in the slightest).

• Heya bro, it is kinda nuts... but it sure is fun. 1 sugestion I have for you is that as soon as your 1st settlement hits lvl 2 select Random Unit Spawn. Note; units you recieve are random, so if you want a speficic type you will have to reload from the end of the turn -before- your city levels up; I've seen reloads at the start of the level up turn become static with only 1 unit type after a few tries. Personally I prefer the 5 wolves rewarded out of all the diferent units you can get, but there are other single unit spawns with much better stats. The wolves base movement of 3 allows them to tag along with your heros & gives them alot of attacks in tactical combat with the option to retreat after a few hits to keep them alive. So, with 5 wolves & 1 hero with a spear, or warstaff, & 2 or more points of armor & you'll see your main city safe for a long while.

    FYI, I play on re-donkey-lus... epic is best ^^

I dont know you, OP, or the rest of the players, but the best advice I can give is be patient. This isn't another RTS like Supreme Commander or StarCraft where you have to rush everything. There's even less of a rush than in Sins of a solar Empire, and that's a slow game as well. Just keep close to main base for a good many turns until it's got a big inf ring. At least then monsters will spawn far away from your sttelement rather than adjacent to it. Make sure al lyour guys have god move. And then just troll around your place killing dudes til you get a decent defender.

Yeah, it is pretty lame when the game starts... and ends 2 turns later due to a wolf stopping by for lunch. 

I rename to Chuck Norris and change the backstory to "182,000 wolves and spiders die from Chuck Norris-related accidents every season."

• Same here; but for myself I feel like at least now I'm facing a challenge. I wonder what sort of Sov/faction you keep trying to play with>? Mix up your starting strat a bit. Take the war tech, get yourself some better weapons early. Perhaps concentrate on combat stats more & when your in tactical combat make the enemy come to your units after you get them onto a spot with +10def; helps alot... idk; good luck bro. Hope you find your groove.

P.S.:  I still think it needs to be harder on rediculous though. hehe