1) extend the timer. Currently you can't attack towns with out having so many extra ticks that you won't be able to burn in the hour you have to burn them :/
2) Instead of punishing one group by pushing there battle forward by an hour shift both battles 30 either way.
I've just been fucked out of commanding my own battle because the timer shifted while I was asleep. WOOOOOO, fucking WOOOOOO.