I am a strange breed here, as I have had this game since release, didn't play it much at the beginning, started playing during the beta leading up to version 1.1, and finally have hit it hard. What is strange about me is that my strategy has developed very slowly over time, through experience of this game, and really, with almost no influence from the boards here, nor from any outside game. Not sure why, but neither Civ, nor HoMM, nor any other game works like this one. I did type up the basics a month or two ago on some post, but it has expanded since then.
Anyway, I am wanting to share this with others, and also read more about how other people have developed their strategies for battle, particularly the development of their heroes and creation of their soldier types, and also how they play out on the battlefield. I would put this in the strategy section of the forums, but there isn't one 
Here is what I have developed thus far:
I start early by gathering some heroes and taking them out fighting to get them some levels. There is a plan, though, even from early on. Depending on the hero's starting stats, I change their name by adding their role (so I can remember who does what role). Here is ther general idea of how I develop them:
<Party Caster> I literally put every point, every level in INT. They run with my party(s). their primary function is to be able to cast the highest level spells i have.
<City Caster> I choose a fair amount of INT, but also slowly raise CHA,, as they stay in the city and defend, but also raise prestige. one in each city, the city caster.
<City Melee> I buy and equip all good armor I can get, and split the points between STR, DEX and CON Now and then I toss in a little CHA. One in each city, the city melee.
<Party Tank> This is my pride and joy. I give this hero a dagger, or something else that raises speed and accuracy. My points go into DEX and CON only. The only task of this tank is to soak up enemy's counter attaacks...because after the tank soaks up the counter attacks...
<Naked Sledgehammer> This poor fool gets nothing but strength. I periodically choose a Sovereign with Assasin's Strike too. He weilds the highest damage two-handed weapon available to me. All he does is lay that fattest damage a melee can do. He isn't really naked, by the way, he wears armor, but with no added DEX or CON...just STR, he hits HARD, but dies easily. You defeinitely have to protect him and use him with tactical prowess.
<Party Hybrid> This is my newest role, and is a strange beast. It is a general melee role, you can slant it tank, or damage, or even a balanced build. What sets it apart from the rest is that it is also a caster. I slowly raise INT to 20ish, which gives a full melee character some basic low level spell casting, including a heal (unless you are playing as empire) and even blink, which is an amazing butt-saver for a melee in jeopardy of being overwhelmed. For example, let's say I am fighting that ridiculous spider in one of the quest dungeons, and it is hitting me for teens damage. I bring in the tank to take the hits from the spider, then bring hybrid up and do the damage I can do, soaking up a few counters, taking damage, then with one more action point remaining, I cast blink to get out of there, leaving just the tank to take the hits.
<Archer Caster> While I appreciate archery and want an archer in game, I have found that taking your offspring and turning them into these seems most efficiant. You can raise just STR to power that ranged damage mightily, but since they are sovereign-offsporing, they can cast all spells. Obviously, their damage spells are's great, but who needs them anyway, with your archery damage. The ability to cast all spells gives them great utiliitatian function.
As far as my customized soldiers go, they actually follow the basic archtypes of melee damage, tank and utility (added vision, regen etc).
My typical midgame party is my Sovereign (the <Naked Cannon> with Assasin's Strike, this game), two <Party Casters>, a <Party Hybrid>, a <Party Tank> and 1-2 <Archer Casters>. Add to that all the typical mix of my soldier types...and I have to say....
I can't wait until the tactical AI is embelished!! All this time spent developing this, and the AI is so DUMB! Still, fun stuff.
What other techniques do you all use?
