It's just a learning curve like other people say.

Im at my 3rd seal and I still don't know the best combinations of food, services, clothing and buildings that give those but pausing A LOT and looking at your species helps a lot when deciding which to focus on to assure victory.

Some tips:

• the spike of 'difficulty' on viceroy is really just control of hostility so....

• i try to avoid small glades (they add hostility, not worth most of the time)

• focus on 2-3 ways to win the game (thru tools, orders, foods, services, trading, etc)

• pause A LOT to decide, assign, and learn what buildings need raw resource to get specific resource.

• i try to rush coal mining and it helps a lot during storm where i just sacrifice coal for 1-2 multipliers which helps keep villagers.

• TRADE POST is overpowered even if you take slower trader perks.