In effect, they are like one of the HE kingdoms, like Yveresse, or Caledor.
Hence, they are not supposed to be competing with the HE's. They rarely venture out from them and are culturally restricted in development of arms. The WE's are a splinter faction from the HE's, and localised to small forested areas. Even in later editions when they're in decline. In the lore, HE's were a superpower faction.
