Umm what? I have died once and then the continue button came up and i started at the exact same place.
I really don't have any of the prolbems you seems to have, takes a while to learn the controls but now after 7 hours it's a piece of cake giving out comands.
You must build the platform outside your house/castle from there you can summon each type /farmer/soldier/carpenter/etc etc
And you must upgrade it also then you can summon specific characters.
If you summon the "Battle party" all of the ones you used last time will run up to you.
If it isn't turnbased it isn't worth playing 
(mostly)
And shepherds we shall be,
For Thee, my Lord, for Thee. Power hath descended forth from Thy hand, That our feet may swiftly carry out Thy command. So we shall flow a river forth to Thee And teeming with souls shall it ever be. In Nomine Patris, et Filii, et Spiritūs Sancti. -----The Boondock Saints
