My friend and I play a lot of cmbb. At first we used to buy our own troops, but when you buy your own troops you always buy the best you can. So our battles were quite boring when you always had an good idea what the other had. But now we play totally random quickbattles. You have no idea what troops you have and in what shape they are until the battle begins. And you have no idea what the other has. Most of the times the other has a quite clear advantage over the other. Like I was defending with finns with no armor and only 3 at-guns and some jaegers when he had 6 stuarts and 3 KV-1 and 2 T-34 and air support. Not much infantry, but when those tanks rolled in I ran away.
Try some totally random battles they are quite refreshing!