I have to admit that I don't understand why you are making these changes.  I think it would be a good idea to post the reasoning behind the changes you are planning, as it currently looks like arbitrary changes. 

Things like making trained units have only 2 HPs, just makes units easier to kill (also makes training almost useless, as almost any attack can do 2 damage.)  This wouldn't change anything about fights, since both sides would have the same issue.  If you are saying that training is taking the place of squads, then I can see why you are doing this.  Although it takes away from the strategic options you have while building your army, and in a 4X game that is usually a bad idea.  We don't want this game to be as simple as Civilization.  There is a reason I prefer Gal Civ to Civ, and it has to do with the additional strategic options that Gal Civ gives me over Civilization games.

nooooooooooooooo (i klicked the butom when i hear these)

• Death of a sovereign will cause the rest of the faction to go over to the faction with the best dynasty connections

Shouldn't the son (or daughter..) of the slain sovereign succeed the throne.. or at least have some say in the matter..?

Lol ya..... I am going to have to agree with you there. Especially just one stat without any background

I am beginning to wonder if we aren't looking at units in Elemental slightly improperly?  Currently, each icon on the map, in a squad of 1 to 10 pieces, is regarded and treated as a group of 1 to 10 individuals.  This kind of got me thinking back to strategy board games, and that Elemental is slightly more abstract in it's tactical implementation.  This also got me thinking about, "why even are all 10 people in my squad getting a chance to attack?"  So, based on my above thoughts I was wondering if increasing the number of people in a squad just shouldn't affect the squad stats, and not treat each icon as an individual?  Would a logarithmic increase to stats be more appropriate?  You have your base squad, centered strangely around 1 icon.  As you research more increased squad sizes, slight, but gradually increasing stats for the squad are introduced.  HP's are the only thing that are a little dubious to me here, but STR, DEF I would think would. 

Even further, this stats should be in comparison to an opposing squad.  If two squards squaring off are of equal size, no bonus to Attack and Defense.  At this point it should boil down to equipment and experience, Vets versus Recruits, Plate versus Leather, Swords of War versus daggers.  This could also open up other research areas, namely formations for the squard, though most would probably have to be more ambiguous than, "Wedge Formation."  It would be more like Loose, Tight, Defensive, Offensive.  You could treat them as special abilities, as discussed in one of Frog's journals.  You click on the ability and it lasts based off the unit experience level, and/or combat.  Formations could be treated as, "being used," once contact with the enemy has occured.

On top of this, there could be researched special unit functions, like Sergeants, Grenades (like Steven Erikcon's Malazans use), etc.  You could also treat this as a special ability, thought a sergeant would be more of a constant-passive.  This would also make only Heroes, and Sovereigns  unique, individual units.  Did I make this at all clear what I am trying to get across?

The problem with that is oftentimes we don't understand what the other changes are, as they aren't just in a vacuum.

That said, sometimes the playerbase can see things that are blatantly bad that a developer cannot see.

Base 2 HP means that 1 hit=death.  For a crunchy human that's not so bad.  I'm guessing this will make XP more crucial, as that's more HP, as well as armor and dexterity (dodging is zero damage).

I can kinda see a logic behind it, provided other variables are handled properly, and attacks can only kill one member of a squad at a time (with the exception of certain magics/abilities)

 Am I barking up the right tree, or do I end up in the vacuum cleaner?

I would like to point out that he said base peasant would have 2 hp.

I would take a moment to speculate that there are techs and items that will increase this, plus there might be some other types of base units/chasis types available - such as a golem, or goblin or knight or footsoldier or flying monkey.

I think it would be nice to have short humans and tall humans, and skinny humans and stout humans.

a tunneling type creature would be neat, something that could burrow underground in combat and creep forward to unleash a surprise attack.

Sounds like some very nice stuff is coming down the pipeline.

I agree, but probably it's simpler for them to do it this way, at least for this version of the game... Not perfect but better than  having the enemy cities disappear!

Overall I think these changes will be  quite good in terms of gameplay.

Way to go froggie!

Most of the changes sound good. Especially the things that don't change much but make the game more convenient like:

"World Difficulty will set the default difficulty of the AI players".

I think you should concentrate on convenience and polishing and make the chages to Fallen Enchantress.

Is base 4 with 2 HP going to count as 1 unit with 8 HP, or 4 units with 2 HP?

Worst case we'll just have to wait to see it in action- though I tend to prefer to like to know how a system's supposed to work to see if it's WAD, or if something emergent is happening (which may be good or bad)

"Death of a sovereign will cause the rest of the faction to go over to the faction with the best dynasty connections"

Why not make the player the vassal of the conqueror to keep the player in the game.