This game has horrendous balance issues. As the game progresses past the initial stages each season (ie building your city and gaining some land, which was somewhat fun), it will always end up being just a handful of factions dominating all the others. Unless you happen to be in one of the few most power, larger factions, there's nothing you can really do as all of your resources are plundered and all of the best spots are taken. It's really not much of a 'game' at all.