[quote=@Lord Zee]
<Snipped quote by Pepperm1nts>

Nah, you're fine man. Like I said, I do like the criticism and what you've said I won't take for granted. I get the whole, smaller army thing, but would they not be better fighters then most do to the close proximity of the Northern Tribes? Would the entire border nations be more suited for dealing with the North tribes, regardless of the Garrisons? I am curious on that.

Now, you are also right with the coin issue. My nation would not be very wealthy as I originally assumed and that's alright, there are other ways to gain wealth but crafting weapons and armor will still be my main export.
[/quote]

To add on this martial skill would reasonably be an important skill given their warlike neighbors. In fact, the proximity of warlike pagans would even attract the faithful of other lands (See Knights/Kuman) so you're not wrong on the better fighters thing. (Hell chapter houses for Knight orders springing up would not be out of place, similar to the tectonic knights origins)   

Anyway, the Border states would be most experienced in dealing with the northern tribes yes. 

I'm alright with weapons and armor be exports, though given you proximity to the tribes one might think you'd still want those as imports. (Unless you plan on mostly trading those to your neighbours on either side.)  

If no other player get's around to it, I'll be making an NPC Merchant guild that would be happy to set up shop in your nation to secure the ore trade there. Anyway, I'm getting ahead of myself.