Missing Life/Death shard improvements
I finished up a game other day by conquest. In the end I had over a dozen fire, earth, water, and air power. Yet I had a life power of 3 shards. The inbalance between them comes from the buildings you choose on level promotions or 1 per faction buldings (ie towers.) So why does life and death have no increases by buildings? Kinda making an assumption death shards is in the situation.
Maybe have only chosing a life/death school in sovereign creation give the ability to make the building that improves the shard power. As it stands now there is no real reason to choose life (except unable to buy a life spellbook.) Healing spells can be gained by enchantment, henchmen, champions. So ignoring the school upon creation is not much of a penalty.
Throw in some 1 per faction buildings in the tech tree somewhere. Have it require a fully upgraded life/death shard or something.