[YellowCactus]

Wow,
Cainehill, nice post. I'm experimenting with F9W9B9 blessings with Mictlan. Scales are Luck +3, all others -3. The worst is drain 3. This set-up gives all holys +4 attack/strength/defense, hastes every other turn and gives flaming weapons. It works because eagle warriors (flying with two attacks) only cost 15 gold and 3 resources. The Blood fountain with mictlan's blood bonus give +6 blood from turn 1. So one or two FoD can be produced each of the first 10 turns. With F9W9B9 on the pretender (7 dominion), items are not needed for recruiting Ice Devils/Archdevils/Demon lords/Hoards from hell. The silly tactics available with this set-up are too many to list here. At blood8, a level 3 blood priest can cast 'Gift of Strength' which adds another +4 strength to all units. Imagine Jaguar warriors with 18 attack, 22 strength, quickened with 3 attacks. They're expensive though....25 gold. The scale problem takes care of itself on large maps because Mictlan inately doesn't spread dominion well. For the first few turns you must use only the god for 26 research, but sages will help outside your dominion. The blood path is really all you need. This is no amazing, exploitable pretender setting, but as for the discussion on blessings, its pretty fun! It brings a whole new meaning to SHROUD OF THE BATTLE SAINT!
-Yc