I think Mictlan doesn't suck either, but is trickier to use than most. The game I started in a rather tough position (small map full of Difficult AI with two attacking enemies 3 provinces away early on, and no good provinces between me and them), and I think I'm going to win.
Taking the maintenance savings of the many Sacred units into account, their units are pretty good. Good for cheap blessable troops, and the cheap low-level priests. Very nice heroes complement the already rich selection of priest/mages (leaving a hole only in Earth magic, IIRC). National summons available from the start are potent - I think Fiends of Darkness may be more effective than blood summons (edit: I meant to write - more effective than
cross breeding)(though not as diverse and interesting - do both), especially combining FoD with blessed Eagle Warriors, which can then all fly into the enemy rear to wipe out powerful armies.
One Soul Contract, followed by a Horde From Hell to get a Devil commander (whom to equip), results in evil potential. I've added a succubus for murdering and stealing enemy commanders, and have now wiped out my two enemies (including miasma C'tis, which was a challenge), and beaten off the other who surprise attacked me just as I was about to finish off C'tis.
Note the "weak" thrown weapons on the national troops become very deadly once you can cast Flame Arrows, Heat From Hell with a Devil army is a recipe for enemy annihilation (I assume - I haven't needed to try yet), and the apparently worthless slaves can actually be used well as cannon fodder and distractions (especially because they cost practically nothing - just be careful not to starve your main men by including too many slaves). I think the provincial defense is even fairly good, since each point gets both missile/infantry units, and slave cannonfodder, for each point.
Not easy, but fun, interesting, and potentially very strong once you have enough blood... more blood... slurp.
PvK
[ February 01, 2004, 18:35: Message edited by: PvK ]