Fire Emblem Awakening [SPOILERS INSIDE]

yea, considering my first playthrough was on hard and with very little grinding, the mofo's appearing out of nowhere and ganging up on the closest mage wasn't cool at all.

that said, after that, every time i read the word "reinforcements" i just charged to the middle of the map.

There should be a marker though, like a bunch of tightly, bunched forts or usually the big area farthest from your starting position.