[FrankTrollman]

According to the "official formula", Tien Chi spellchuckers are indeed "overpriced". In actual practice, however, the fact that Tien Chi can have just two spellcasters wander around and find all the magic sites is absolutely golden, and worth every penny.

Even the national summonings are just about worth the gems cost - it's just the hero time that is unacceptable. Celestial Demons should really be summoned in groups of two or three. Not four, because that is an inauspicious number in Tien Chi.

The thing that ultimately bites Tien Chi is their mandatory Turmoil - that severely doesn't synergize well with a group that needs to buy an expensive utility mage every turn. That and the opening army isn't very good and you can't buy up a decent infusion for it and still afford the mandatory mages.

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Tien Chi could be well helped by:

* Getting a decent starting army. A pile of the the armored glavers and a pile of the Composite Bowmen.

* Getting a decent starting general! The Noble is an expensive boondoggle, they need something, anything that can lead troops at a reasonable cost. It should probably be able to lead 10 Undead and 10 Magic troops just because of how Spring and Autumn is.

* A bonus chance for a good luck event in the capitol. Luck economies don't even pretend to have a reasonable income until they get a lot of provinces under their belt.

* Having something for the Master of Five Elements to do besides find magic sites and lead troops. Perhaps an Earth/Nature combo spell. Or just plain starting them out with Clay Soldiers.

-Frank