I've had mixed results with it. In the first two games, the lab in my home province was destroyed on turn 2 and one fourth my population died on turn 3. No good events through turn 10.
Lost both of those games quickly. I'm on my third game, turn 39, and have lost a temple, 3 provinces have lost population, and have had 4 provinces taken over by large barbarian armies. OTH, I've received lots of zealots, province defense improvements and magic gems.
Leadman