I'm rather a wargamer type, so am only able to succeed with nations that have sound strong heavies - Ulm, Arco, Pythium, Abysia - and suck with more subtle nations like Pangea, Mictlan, or R'lyeh.
Maybe Pythium is the easiest IMO : just stack Principes, add some Standards, get some indy archers, back with Theurgs+Communicants
Contrary to Peter E I'm not that easy with Jotuns - troops are very expensive, never numerous and I get easily mobbed... Plus I still have difficulty with Blood economy.
Never played Atlantis, they seem so weak ...
