The randomness and achievements based on time actually end up dumbing down the game in some ways. For example, many times the guards will move in a pattern that makes it literally impossible to finish the game in time for an achievement. It would still be possible to finish, but that would require waiting and null the badge. So, I find myself charging straight at the VIP over and over until everything works out with the guards and the exit spawn point without really thinking or planning more than 1 move ahead. You might want to consider something more like a survival mode where you have a limited number of chances to get through a number of levels in order to add challenge to the game instead.
It would be really nice if, once you had researched how to craft all of the components of something, you could automatically convert all of the smaller pieces into what you need when clicking to upgrade rather than having to go back and craft each one individually.
The first 25 levels can be won by just building flat land quickly and letting your guys naturally win. The last 5 can be won by building flat land a tier higher than your opponent and then flooding everything a few times. This made the game pretty easy.
I don't understand the difference between easy or hard, early or late battles. I just hit fight and my guys wins and I lose some stamina, and all I've leveled is stamina. Granted I'm only a few days in, but it seems like I would have hit a point where strategy came into play by now if it existed.