Round table

Well, you didn't get the consulate, but you'll conquer it with a siege in a week, it's not a big deal.

There are different situations, but often the first consulate (and then the planned 2nd and possibly 3rd) is a necessary stage of development. Taking your words literally, without a consulate, a 131 scout with +3 horses will not be able to take a consulate as effectively as the main hero on level 12. And wisdom is a useless skill because it is guaranteed to be obtained every 6 levels at a minimum. If there isn't a huge amount of meat on levels 3-4 along the way to the consulates, then taking wisdom/offense/armorer, or even logistics/air, too early is a waste of several days (=4000+ mana). Although, maybe I just don't know how to "turn a problem into an opportunity."