Well done, Michal.
I do like what Samurai Battles does with the system but I'd agree that Ancients is a game far more rewarding of tactical control. With the lack of evasion, the greater power differential between unit colours, easy leader death and the additional unpredictability of the Dragon deck, I feel more like I'm along for the ride with Samurai Battles than with Ancients (or with Napoleonics). This also affects scenario design because variety is a lot more constrained by the limited unit options, the overwhelming power of reds and the general deadliness of the system, meaning balanced scenarios pretty much all look the same. This isn't to say I don't enjoy it and it obviously hits one of my historical buttons, but its a distant third in my preferred C&C games.