Only lost 1 game so far

Tis annoying with the lack of resources you start off with. You just have to build the fortress, then build as many mallorn trees as quickly as possible. Then you should be raking it in. That's so long as you've got a few troops already, otherwise tis better to build the archer range early on.
In the War of the Ring mode, I actually found it easier to play on the side of evil, twas much more fun aswell. Although again, lack of walls is annoying.