Template Balance

Isn't there a template where heroic deeds only involve native troops (without mercenaries and other goodies) and where the treasure is scattered with a minimum of artifacts that will influence the outcome, but not significantly?

There probably aren't any such templates. But in the panic template, there are no utopias, which might be closer to your opinion. It's also very unlikely to find a powerful artifact there. The treasures contain clues. Of course, in the native respawn, you can often find very good items from nagabanks and cons.