[Huzurdaddi]

As for getting them, I suppose Pythium with a pretender having some Death (you can also just wait for luck with the ArchTheurgs..) is the obvious choice

Well the ONE problem with them is the high number of gems. The requirements for casting the spell is quite low.

I'm not sure that Pythium is the best race for these guys. IMO you need water, and lots of it. Lots. To make as many clams as you can get your hands on. And a few more for good measure.

So my new favorite race is atlantis!

Heck once you have the astral income required, you can just empower the crud out of some poor mage if you don't like putting astral on your pretender (mage duel is a pain, but IMO it's good, astral is such a good path everyone would take it).

Hmmm ... now when I am thinking Pythium can get 90 gems by around turn 15 or so (alchemy, baby). Or earlier if they find some good sites. Just one of these armies could do wonders at that stage of the game. Hmm maybe my atlantis thing is not the best afterall.