It seems that most games of FE:LH that play a long time will involve the player slowly winning against the AIs. Or quickly winning, as it works at the moment.

If defenders of towns got a buff, it would help the player defend certainly, but wouldn't it also make it harder for the player to quickly blitz through the AIs? If the player (or an AI) took more damage in taking towns, it seems like this would be a good mechanic to slow down conquests (when winning or losing).

Or is it more complex than that?