Overall, the nations picks were not what I expected at all:
I'm really surprised that nobody wanted to pick Caelum and Vanheim. Especially considering that the map could have been Theater of War, where Caelum could have probably been playing alone
Then, why Caelumites didn't choose Machaka as a pair? Not that Caelum + Arcoscephale is weak or anything, but how one would counter Caelum + Machaka? Machaka takes red dragon fire-9 and expands like crazy with their spider using Caelum's spare gold, who just keep buying seraphs and researching. By the time somebody can field against spiders (early on even pretenders has trouble dealing with spiders), Caelum's seraphs will start dropping all over the place with lightining and false horrors. Ermor/C'tis could try undead spam vs spiders, but unfortunately for them, Machaka's best squad leaders are priests
Interestingly, that despite of all air-hype, 3 pairs didn't choose air nations at all (unless Marignon will be conqueror's of the sea). Being last I didn't expect to get Vanheim.
Meanwhile, who deserves a point for style?
I nominate
- Rise and Fall (Ermor and Pythium)
- When the Winter comes... (Vanheim and Jotunheim)