Ooooh, ok, I see why people are critical of the difficulty...

I mean look, I get the draw of difficult games, I get it. But... This is excessive. I liberated Haerndean with 8 people yesterday, and have defeated 3 reclamation parties. Challenging, but not too terribly difficult. Now I have 12 people, all decked out in the best T1 gear, some archers, some sword and shield, a few 2 handers.

So I go take Padstow, defeating the Brigands in the town was about what I'd expect. Challenging, a little harder than the Haerndean reclamation parties, but not undoable. We did fight to the last man, but I expected a reclamation party just above that in difficulty...

NOPE

8 Brigands show up, 3 are archers that kill me in 2 shots, even after eating a good, full meal. They go through my army like they're not even there, lost count of how many attempts I've made but it's at least 40+.

Not sure what else I can really do... It doesn't seem like a skill issue, and with how easily they're tearing my people apart, I don't think even having 30 would save me. It seems like you just aren't given the tools for the job. I need T2 gear for this fight, don't see any other way, but I need this town, and somehow the NEXT (which has got to be damn near impossible) to even unlock it...

Not sure how you all got through this without cheesing, which I'm not above, because the alternative is quitting until they patch this, if ever. I'm open to tips though, if anyone has any...