I just deleted my first hero rather than watch her be beat down by a 'neighbor'. I really like this game, but I really don't want to fight other people. Will there be any way to play that doesn't involve war with other people? I don't mind monsters... AI opponents are acceptable. I literally cried over this. I worked so hard to learn and build culture and none of it mattered. I didn't focus on defense so I was a sitting duck. I'm going to start over, but it just feels like such a waste. Sorry, I'm at the end of a long, bad day and I'm probably being inappropriately emotional. Any hope for the hippies?
(edit) I changed my mind about hero deletion, but it will take me a while to go address the devastation. How much would it cost to stay in a constant truce? I would gladly pay to keep white flags over my towns forever. Or, at least until I can figure out how to get in an alliance. Am I just not cut out for this type of game?