I fail to comprehend how Boron has turned this thread into a discussion on hoarding -- Boron, stop!
No, but seriously. Tuatha has research problems, that is true, they need sages. But once they find them....
I agree that the Monk is also an exceptional unit, I love monks. I always try to buy as many monks and bards as possible.
@Duncanish: Well, a funny little man with a lute just looks out of place in a town full of lizards, or giants, or undead -- in whose ears is he going to whisper? Stealth 30 is just tough!
@Boron: I have to post this because you cannot stop talking about hoarding. I was primarily interested in the Bard as a plausible 30-stealth-haver, not as to the effectivity of Man as a nation, which is completely beside the point. Nevertheless, I can't help but to be curious. Firstly, whom would you reckon as the 5 weakest nations besides Ulm and Man? Secondly, why a weak Van besides the forced scales for LoT? I can understand comparing Lot to Van, since its mages appear to be very similarly built at first glance. (Look at the Tuatha: he has the identical stats of the Vanadrott, except that he is 10 gold more; instead of a hoof attack, he has a magical Alicorn attack, and instead of the sailing ability, he recuperates, and instead of 1 blood, he has 2 nature. I'll leave it up to you to judge if one or the other may get a better deal.) LoT has serious research problems and needs to find sages asap, but once they do, they are just as scary. And as to troops: Man lacks in absolutely nothing but tramplers. In LoT, the D.Sidhe is a really decent 35 gold sacred unit, and only Flags are cheaper than Cu Sidhe for a bless unit, and Cu are far better than flags, they are also stealthy patrollers to boot. There are any number of tactics Man can use with their very variable army. AIr and Nature as paths happen to work very synergetically with the schools one would normally research as support spells for archers. And there are bards. Sure Van has Earth, cheap randoms, and Vans/Valks, which are all great, and I think Van is one of the strongest nations out there, but I just dont think that Man is a watered down Van.
As to their effectiveness: I really dont know Man well at all, but you could try to challenge PhilDuchon to a 1on1 and let him play Man. Good luck!