Gents:
Two suggestions.
(1.) Set the advantage to the AI and have HAL play as the defender. Ideally, select a scenario with the majority of units that start second (defender) are setup as "static."
(2.) Play against a human opponent (PBeM). State up front, when looking for an opponent, what will be your anticipated turn exchange rate and have potential opponents make the decision to play you or not?
It's really a shame to play against the AI when a HtH match is so much more enjoyable!
Regards, Mike / "A good plan violently executed now is better than a perfect plan executed next week." - George S. Patton /