Does anyone here play mostly on ridiculous and above?

Not me, I struggle on Normal.  It looks like it is going to be the setting for me.  I notch higher and I just get creamed, and one lower I usually win.  On normal, its about 50/50.

I am now coming back to play, unfortunately, all my old tricks are not working anymore ..

I need some time also to learn mechanics, spells, etc. but i have to wait for stable version first (with loading working - when i play seriously, no loading, but for testing I prefer it).

My impression is that a lot depends on the initial conditions: how many cities you can manage in the shortest time, drops (weapons, armors), first hero employed etc.  Bad luck means quick game over.

Challenging for me....is challenging. That's my level.

Insane world difficulty, expert faction AI. I love the mobs to be dangerous, and the faction AI to get a slight edge. Last build I was in an epic fight for my life that came down to 2 pivotal battles to stay alive. Two cities only, playing as Pariden, hemmed in by 3 empires with the other kingdoms on the other side of map. All empires at war with me sending constant armies to attack me... it was epic. Magnar was stacking tireless march which almost cost me dearly... on the other hand, freeze's 1 movement point impact saved my butt against the juggernaut hordes but as I understand it freeze doesn't do that anymore so it will be interesting. I legitimately was about to lose - hanging on by a thread. Haven't had a chance to get too deep in the latest build but looking forward to this weekend.

I went up from challenging to hard two beta's ago. Doing 50/50 on hard so this is my level for Now. Since 0.99 came out in a very tense game that's lasting for 8 hours already. Still 5 factions alive. I'm in third. Ythril is a real powerhouse having twice of everyone else's power but at war with all of us too. Currently aiming for an alliance victory.

Insane world difficulty means it's a lot harder for the computer players. The toughest game would be easy world difficulty, insane player difficulty. 

Old way to win without land-grab on ridiculous and above - not having land at all - playing with one hero. Tarth is good here.

When was the last time you pulled this one off?  I haven't tried it in .991 yet.

I didn't finish my game at 0.991. I play Lady Irane on expert. But I feel it can work on ridiculous if you create custom sovereign with OP traits. Maybe Krax with master scouts is even better.

I play with expert AI and only survive early/mid game by abusing land raise. usually have 5 cities and first metal armor set when I bust out and start winning.

All up to ridiculous is not challenging for me so for two days trying beat AI on ridiculous now, but still without any luck. World ridiculous, AI ridiculous, monsters dence, resources plenty, magic moderate. Thats my setup. Have no idea how to beat it yet. Already tried 6 times, but always the same: at turn 60 or close they all coming for me, their ratings 1000, mine 50 at best try Nothing helps agaist those 180 hp archers and my hero cant get high enough lvl until this wave comes (on best try 11 lvl). Wailing call doesnt help, now trying assasin and it seems it has a chance, but some luck simply is a must: you must get needed skills early, and who is around your starting location also may turn crucial. On one of tries got amazing sport but two escaped jugernauts with 300 made it not so amazing. Still trying to find my way to cut trough it

Same here.

Because AIs are bad at dealing with monsters in general, increasing world difficulty actually makes the game easier.

Probably the most difficult setting would be world difficulty as 'novice' and the AI difficulty 'insane', but then again, at that point, the game becomes more of chore than enjoyment.

I started my first challenging game the other night. Challenging/Challenging that is. I am not far enough in to tell where I am at, but it seems like it is going to be a long game. 

I spend a ridiculous amount of time playing with myself, does that count?

see xia, this is why stardocks gave you a pony to play with in the game....

ONtopic: I'm currently playing on hard/hard mediem size, extra random, wildlands. struggling with this one. I find i'm at a disadvantage when i don't get crystal near my first city - but that's a matter of playstyle and i'm using my troops better without it.

Well as only i managed to beat ridiculous AI new patch came So no more 5x hp bonuss for AI >

Must say ridiculous was more boring than chalenging. Ytrill have spamed me by his 200 hp jugernouts and black dragons sometimes mixed in. Killed hundreds of jugs.

By the way, why exp for defeating epic AI army stuffed with tons of jugernouts is lesser than lets say defeating shrills army of 5 shrills ??? Cant get logic here.