running out of troops

[gmjapan]

Serious need of some suggestions... lvl5 paladin and totally new to this type of game and I was having a blast but now i seem to be out of troops to buy to make a functional army.
There is 1 Archmage left to get, 10 archers, 2 swordmen and i think a dozen priests.
Theres plants to buy from the little village and i found wolves but neither of these seem to have any punch. I found Marauders and Barbarians and witches that sell snakes and spiders but I have no ranged to support them so after a few more battles they will be depleted too. I dont mean my unit stacks i mean the shops. I just lost a battle against a 'slightly weaker' gang coz they happily picked me off from a distance without any ranged of my own. I really dont see an army i could buy and take to the next fight.

I looked in the hits & tips and everyone talks of ressing and sacrifice and inquisitors but i dont have these things.

I've lost my numbers to heavy losses in lots of battles; one battle im wiping the floor with puny flowers and the next my full Archer unit is 1-shot by goblin towers or a cave i maybe shouldnt have been in. It all adds up to needing help, or pointing to help or some suggestions if possible.