Brizey

I have the exact same issue. Crashes at exactly the same point. I may just try to play the game without going through the tutorial.

I think it is important that the tree have some "big" techs. That is what made civ so great. Most fun strategy comes down to gambits. Risk low defense to try to score big time offensive firepower? Risk being weak militarily but build a strong economic base? To make this type of thing fun, there has to be a few good game changing techs that are expensive but worth it. My favorite card game is partnership canasta.

I really like the David Eddings stuff. Also like: Glen Cook (Garrett; The Tower of Fear; not so much on the Black Company) Steven Brust Thomas Covenant Fafhrd and the Grey Mouser All of these have common theme: kick ass characters that you just plain LIKE to read about. Vlad, the Dead Man, Silk, ... That being said, as I get older I tend to gravitate towards scifi. My current favorite: Alastair R

I used to do the "all ability" thing as well. I would go for dwarves. Get a adamantite hammerhand pump going. You can pretty much smash everthing except draconians because you get hammerhands so early. In terms of atmosphere--I remember having chills go down my spine the first time I cast a mass death spell and the world faded to darkness.