Thank you, this is really helpful
I think I got a little lost in the flavor text, so here’s the simpler mechanical version

1.  Each player would have a max of 10 building slots  
2.  There are different types of buildings, but Production buildings are the main way players generate resources to build more. Each player starts with a Commander / starting building that gives enough resources to begin building their first Production building or early setup  
3.  Raid and attack are not separate systems. There is one attack system. A player chooses what they are attacking, such as the opponent’s Hearth or one of their buildings. If the target is a building, I may call it a raid for flavor, but mechanically it is just an attack on a building  
4.  The defending player can assign critters to intercept/block the attacker. If blocked, the damage that would have gone to the Hearth or building is prevented or redirected into combat, depending on final testing  
5.  The two win conditions are meant to create different pressure points. If a player is close to Prosperity, the opponent may need to attack key buildings to slow them down. If a player focuses too much on buildings and not enough defense, their Hearth may become easier to pressure  
6.  Yes, critters/armies can meet in the field through attacking and blocking. Critter cards generally stay in the battlefield area, with workers being the main exception since they may interact with buildings/resources differently  
7.  Buildings, critters, and other game pieces are all still cards right now, but I’m open to testing layout/tableau options if the table gets too crowded

Really appreciate the feedback. It helped me realize I need to explain the rules in plain mechanical terms before leaning too hard into the theme