[quote=Alphakoka]
Basically, this is Fantasy X-COM. No matter what you do, you'll lose some of your troops and people you can't help will still suffer.
[/quote]

Don't speak to me of X-Com. I know the risks. :P

[quote=LimeyPanda]
To be fair, the design of the challenges is supposed to bring about hard decisions: that is the crux of the dilemma. Take Tuleria, for example. It is highly likely that the region's mage representative is going to die as a result of our non-action. That means all future missions will be significantly more difficult, due to a lack of mage presence in the region, as well as the death of an important mage on par with other magical powerhouses.
[/quote]

Absolutely agree with you here. Loss is going to happen, but the scale of that loss can be drastically lessened. In this case losing the support of the Amazons works to our favor. We're comparing some wounded troops and lost territory (to some creature instead of a hostile army) to the complete loss of an important NPC character.

Those of us around the past incarnation are at least mildly aware of the Imperium and Amazonian Empire forming up. The Amazonians losing ground and taking casualty will strengthen their need of Imperium protection. Which would lead to the aforementioned Empire forming, and creating one stronger nation of two that are average.

A coalition between the two nations would also mean that we have one less nation that we will have to cater too, meaning less chance of loss in the future. With another faction forming up along the dead sea, an elimination of one source of problem would be great.

That's how I see it. I don't trust Florence in the slightest, and I think the Empress is keeping him in check.

EDIT: 

[Quote=Maxim]
Hmm...eh I suppose you are right. Switching my vote back to Imperium. I suppose I have to hope the RNG is kind and doesn't drop Rhinefield or Renalta on us. Because those two dropping would also be bad imo.
[/quote]

Yes Maxim either of those dropping would be less than ideal, but rest easy knowing if it's Renalta that's dropped Hanus, Dean and a dozen soldiers are most likely plenty capable of dealing with James.