First of all let me say that i know there are a hundred other posts like this (OrleanKnight's) but I need to get this off my chest or I just might Explode. I Just auto calc every combat I can because honestly, it's horrible.

Here's Why and some simplish fixes

Territory & Tactics

The first Reason Tactical combat is boring is that it involves absolutely no tactics worth mentioning. Controlling tiles in is a huge part of tactical combat in turn based games. In FE strategy is just running to mid and hitting first or pummeling with spells. The AI should just be waiting for the chance to pounce on your mage or archers, even to the point of keeping cavalry in reserve. To help prevent this many games use a system where units cant move next to enemy units without having to stop there. In FE zone of control is made usless because everyone dies in aprox two blows and some units have 10+ movement and initiative, also Terrain is too open. Chokepoints and defensible locations to move archers too are another thing that is completely absent. How about battling across a river with two bridges or something? Easy Simple fixes

Classes & Talents

Champion classes beyond the warrior and mage are horrible simply because the game is so simple. You cant specialize a warrior at all, a lv 15 warrior is exactly the same as any other and the stats system make Assassins pointless because theres nothing to specialize in. Defenders be useless becuase defense is pointless in a game where  you exchange like 2 blows of 60 dmg(Also see tactics above). The Assassin specialization is pointless because they tried to make them specialize in dext, which is just as useless as int. Crit strike is flawed if warriors are defined by only their strength stat and weapons deal dmg based on strength. Talents needs to be made more complex to even allow the classes we have. The Simplest way to revive fun champions is weapon specialization talents. For Example daggers as they stand just suck, but how about a talent that lets Assassins always strike twice with daggers? Or a Talent that gives Assassins a Dext based dmg bonus when using a bow? This fixes Assasins and makes champions more interesting. Defenders could get an improved defend talent for shields or a multi turn resistible stun for maces. There should be multiple abilities for every weapon and class in the game.

Units and Monsters

There are multiple types of dmg in FE, why are they never used beyond champion armor? Rock Spiders should laugh at cutting weapons. Cavalry should be afraid of whatever it is spears do. Also higher lv spears would be nice. There should be units in the game that are almost impossible to kill unless you have their weakness, be it fire or hammers. Instead every unit and monster in the game is just X hp, X dmg, X Init with a face. If it's got four legs it's fast and if it's got eight it's poisonous.

Unit stacks are underpowered again due to their simplicity, their just normal units with a weakness. The interaction between monsters, champions and stacks should be made more interesting. Unless using a special ability or talent, champions or monsters shouldn't be able to kill more than 1 unit in a stack per turn. Inversely their should be a limit to how many guys in a stack can attack, maybe just the front row (Unless they have spears? or a Spearwall talent?). Just think about how much this actually adds to the game. It makes initiative more important if you want to kill stacks or strength more important to kill monsters. Plus abilities for warrior champions would become more specialized, allowing you to build warrior champions more than just one way. Sword/Shield Duelist to fight other champions? GreatSword wielding monster slayer? Mace wielding stack slaughterer?

Thanks to all those who took the time to read this and doubly for those saintly souls who reply.