The AI is Isengard, as I said. The map is usually Fords of Isen II, as I like playing on Castle maps. So Gondor has a harder time? Which faction(s) do you recommend using against Brutal Isengard in FOI2? Gondor, Rohan and Dwarves are probably my strongest factions, followed by Isengard, followed by Mordor, Lothlorien and Angmar.
5 hours and save & load sounds like a PITA, but I've seen you do it faster, for example
here you used Rohan to beat Brutal Isengard in FOI2 in 32 minutes. The basics should be quite obvious: creep with your scout hero and starting units as much as you can, but don't upgrade outer farms as you'll lose them soon anyway, then fill your inner base, defend, upgrade your inner farms and units and get your heroes out. But do you have any tips for the moments when the AI has almost full map control and a superior economy thanks to its 2 Outposts, and you're being overrun by superior numbers and an endless Ballista spam?
I'm sure you've got much better at the game, but the Brutal AI has also improved much in 4.3.x versions, as it gets spellbook powers 2-3 times faster than you and actually uses them, and unlike in 4.2, the AI fills its base with small Arrow Towers, which are eventually upgraded with Steel Bolts.