Basic Self Defense for New Players

It is perfectly possible to go through Illy without building a mage tower or employing any magic whatsoever.  It is, however, decidedly less efficient in the opening stages of the game.

Even besides their usefulness in killing enemy units, Runes serve as a useful intelligence tool, since an activated Rune tells you the race of the attacker.

If you prefer you can interpret magickal interventions as deriving their effectiveness from a superstitious populace.  That is, I suspect that the mere sight of the glowing sigil above my gate causes ne'erdowells to experience a drastic increase in blood pressure, resulting in a heart attack or stroke.  The glow of the morning sun through the magnifying lens mounted above the sigil may account for the charring effect.  It is all rationally explicable, as anyone from the Temple of Reason can assure you.

Ryelle, who as an elf is full of soft-headed superstition, would probably differ with me on this.

I would say that it is decidedly less efficient no matter what. i am assuming that the above quote already accounts for the 8% food production. and as you said the rune magic is essentially "free" troops of 250-400 units without taking auxiliary buildings into account. but since the building has one of the highest population rates, then the tax income (and population) also make this an ideal defensive structure.

i would like to ask if there ever is a reason to defend against spies or scouts? and if this defense is needed when to add it. 

My second Question is whether the Diplomatic units also receive a bonus from the city wall. 

Thanks!

Other players would probably happily help a new player who has been thieved with such resources, but for a player who prefers to be independent, a vault makes a lot of sense.

Plus, there's nothing like the satisfaction of frying some thieves on your rune AND realizing that the remaining thieves got away with absolutely nothing.  All pain, no gain for the thief -- that's a win in my book.