In search of the Rune Sphere.

I replayed the initial version with Edward as the hero and completed it in 166 days (I received a Thunderer). Perhaps I was wrong about him earlier: at first, he is weak, but closer to the end, he is quite effective. I developed Light up to Twilight, Darkness up to Fallen, Luck, Logistics with Wit and Navigation, and Defense up to BDP (later I replaced Defense with Sorcery). I should note that this time, Vito had much more difficulty completing his task (he didn't get tents for a long time, hence the losses, plus there seemed to be more blockades). Therefore, the increased strength of the neutral creatures on Vito's side in the second version seems excessive to me. Now, I would leave everything as it is, as the absence of a portal in the city, as well as the mentor and library on the left side, adds extra intrigue (in particular, I had to return and save my home base, which was fortunate because I had Navigation and a Sextant). I would also like to note the very aggressive actions of the enemy and the difficult battles. In general, it's a great map; it's been a while since I've played one like this. Best regards to everyone.

Fortunately, Andreas, the Engineer, appeared on the second try.

I also completed the initial version. I finished the war in 160 days (sign of the Summons Witch).
I first tried with a hero, but Vittorio didn't get a tent, and his army was badly damaged. Those insignificant acquisitions did not compensate for the losses. Therefore, I replayed it with a warrior. There were no particular difficulties.
I didn't like the long exploration of the Dungeon. Maybe you could add a Cartographer or a Lookout. I even wanted to quit.

But overall, I liked the map. Many interesting ideas. Good luck!