Game, Strategy and Communiity

[silvercue]

Hi all, I am new to the board - just been reading a cpl days.
I started playing the demo after reading a book called Emporer: The Gates of Rome by Conn iggulden - it's fantastic - anyone read it?
Anyway, now I have full game & I have searched the web for decent Preatorian Sites or strategy guides, basic community things and can't find anything in English. I noticed a thread about putting something togethor, is there no decent sites or a strategy guide anywhere?
The game seems great fun to me, but the strategy in battle seems a little simplistic at the moment (I play Warcraft 3 and the new Beta for the expansion which is far more complex) maybe thats because I am still at the beginning of the game. The only thing I don't like is the horrible bunching of units in battle, or worse the way units scale ladders - looks ridiculous.
Also, don't like the fact that you cannot run away - not even save ANY troops in melee - I know heavy armour may struggle to get away but this seems excessive.
Otherwise, I love the look and feel of the game and hope this board prospers A good community will be essential - especially if those map making tools come out one day.