Okay, what about the following pretenders for base Man : Oracle (Astral 4, Earth 3), Wyrm (no magic), Virtue (Air 9) or RB Great Enchantress ?
I try to stay 'classical' here and avoid tricky setup like Unluck+3 (a gamble to gain 120 points in an orderly land, with few events) or Ceremonial Faith (to push a strong dominion into enemy territory)...

ORACLE :
Astral 4, Earth 3, Dominion 5, Castle 40%
Order +3, Production +3, Heat 0, Growth +2, Luck 0, Magic 0
Positive : cheap pretender, lets you invest in a very strong economy. Gives you access to astral and earth magic, perfect complement to your national mages.
Negative : immobile (but still able to Teleport), has only 2 misc. items slots, weak bless bonus (MR+1)

WYRM
No magic, Dominion 5, Fortified City
Order +3, Production +3, Heat 0, Growth +2, Luck 0, Magic 0
Positive : cheap pretender, lets you invest in a very strong economy. No magic to loose if it dies and comes back. Very strong, regenerates, amphibian.
Negative : no magic at all (no research, no sites, no spells), has only 2 heads + 2 misc. items slots, no bless effect.


VIRTUE
Air 9, Dominion 6, Fortified City
Order +1, Production +2, Heat 0, Growth 0, Luck 0, Magic 0
Positive : good support mage (able to cast alone any high level Air spell), can fly, strong bless bonus, good starting dominion.
Negative : Crones have Air 2 (some have even Air 3).


GREAT ENCHANTRESS
Fire 2, Air 2, Water 2, Earth 2, Astral 2, Death 2, Nature 2, Blood 2, Dominion 4, Castle 40%
Order +1, Production +2, Heat 0, Growth 0, Luck 0, Magic 0
Positive : excellent researcher, site finder and summoner/artificer, plus she gets 1 free astral pearl/t.
Negative : physically weak, vulnerable to Magic Duel, no bless effect, weak dominion.

Any thought ?