Here is an idea that will allow players to expand even more. What if the stronghold could act as a small village. Not to grow resources but let's say your stronghold is connected to a resource tile. Then those resources would be fed to the stronghold allowing the player to build armies from there. This would greatly help players expand since a stronghold only uses one point compared to a city which uses five.
As of know strongholds are obsolete and hold no real strategic value in this game
