You can also build seats of powers to invoke gods to help your kingdom. Winning can be achieved in many different ways like killing all but one ally or achieve the highest economic score. The diplomacy can equal civilazation's. You have to be care not to kill civilians or you will lose reputation points to a point where your peasants may rebel. You can build inns to hire units such as spies or military.
Spies can assassinate, steal technology or information and bribe and do much more.
As frythans you don't have reputation but life-points which are used to research technology and build frythan units. When you are fighting and have an overwhelming army some opponents may surrender to you. You can also buy other kingdoms and propose trade, friendly or alliance treaties. There is also a scenario builder that allows tou to create your own scenarios. Reasearch for humans is done in towers of science.