[Huzurdaddi]

Ethereal Elephants aren'that good, their ever-crappy morale makes them rout pretty easily even if Ethereal

Yeah that's pretty much what I found. And boy did it suck when they trampled those expensive mages!

Hoplites are a better choice.

Ahh fond memories. They used to be my favorite infantry until my current infatuitation with Principe! Actually I also liked the Hypaspist. I think that on cost basis I actually liked the Hypaspist better. But they are both good.

a good Ethereal candidate is Abysia, with their strong, human-sized infantry.

Ohh that is a good one. Their infantry would be quite nice etherial. (hehe I still like the principe better!).

The thing is that this does require quite a number of casters to make it work. So you really need ( IMO ) really cheap casters that are sacred that leaves you with:

1) Pythium has these in mass.
2) Ctis ( yay Shaman ).
3) Marignon has the Witch Hunter ( same as the theurg ).
4) R'lyeh has the starspawn ( but really don't they have better things to do! ).
5) Ulm's Illuminated One ( ok they are not sacred but they are CHEAP ).

Most of these races are usually considered real "contenders." Well all of them except for Ulm Black Forest.