Re: how do you counter r\'lyeh
 

R'lyeh is not slow expanders at all. In the 62 player mega game I was 1st and 2nd in provinces during the first 25 or so turns (playing LA R'lyeh). Their mid game is indeed not very impressive.

Re: how do you counter r\'lyeh
 

Shark attack is an effective spell to fight any underwater nation but against Rlyeh its especially good because the sharks are size 6. Thus all of Rlyehs mages will target there spells at them rather than your forces. The same with the mindblasts. I always cast this spell 1st combat round if at all possible when fighting Rlyeh underwater.

I have also had alot of success with golems with a bodyguard of mindless troops casting astral tempest.

If you are having a problem with magic duels, give your important leaders/scs/thugs items which give you a extra life. Then they after successfully magic duel you more than once.

Re: how do you counter r\'lyeh
 

shark attack is a great spell, the sharks do have a weakness however - very low mr. Once R'lyeh has access to master enslave the spell can become rather dangerous to cast.

Re: how do you counter r\'lyeh
 

Keeping them off dry lands may not be easy, but countering is a lot more easy once they're up there. As agartha, I had infantry, attentive statues, claymen, and Oracles spamming Blade Wind up front. It devastated them, lobos, unarmored illithids, and 40 star children communion alike. If it wasn't for overland mind hunts, I could have pushed them back to the coast.

Re: how do you counter r\'lyeh
 

In an MP game I'm currently in (late era), R'lyeh expanded early and grabbed a sizable chunk of dry land, and did so by fighting a double fire/water bless of Mictlan. He then set his sights on Man, and got absolutely clobbered by longbowmen. So, I'd start with amassed archers. Maybe some Air mages to lightning spam the bigger targets. Regardless, the worst think about R'lyeh is definitely their dominion. Nobody want to invade something that will make their commanders go nuts.