When you play with players who have already figured out how to play and conquer a game (whether HC or ATT) its quite common that winner is determine by the first few rounds (depending on map). Most leave, only those stay who want to be 2nd or 3rd just to get more XP. It draws game value, excitement and fun. Moreover it draws game strategic aspect, as we have it in deficit anyways. Some tricks to learn and hope for your luck.
I am not suggesting that the game should develop chess like hard-core mind blowing game. But, Lopdo, have you thought about improving, developing, not in this case new but modifying the old game modes.
Because we have so many instances where one player gets the advantage, to be honest in half times, so the latter game is already set. Yeah the Dice kinda lowers or even increases the advantage player luck but does not equalize. I think I do not need to point out the thing where on 8 player game (mostly in ATT, also in HC) the player finds him self lost already. Yes there are cases where the latter player do has advantage, but most of times happens the first scenario.
The trick would be to change the Army contributed. Its obvious when we have 3-5 players and first 2 or one player has 3 times more Territory than the rest they usually find themselves not taking new territories but rather reinforcing them so when the rest players try to fight each other and lose most of their army strength the 1 or 2 more territory players just eat them away.
Just a note to prevent the higher territory player adventitious position in HC, Border mode there should be something when player X does not conquer each turn amount Y territories he will get 1/3 or 1/2 of his Army to distribute. This would only apply in certain scenarios when territories come to certain ratio so the higher player rather would distribute army rather than attack for conquer new ones.
What I mean to say is that too many times winners are determined with only few rounds, later it lacks a strategic aspect because experienced players already know when to attack or when to collect army and so on. And unless more territory owning player does not make terrible mistake or fall under bad luck he obviously wins. To prevent this lack of strategic aspect and same scenarios that make this game boring I believe even for younger players this game needs a little more complex system.
Also the territory must be attacked to get full army or just a part of it is good for HC modes so we would not have several rounds just because now one wants to take the risk and lise his 8s. That would add a more thinking to the game. Its just one idea, I hope Developer or other players have more and Lobdo would think about this. Because at current gameplay it gets too boring, same scenarios, same strategic books.