Demo comes out... I arrive at work two hours later then planned. So what is one of the first things I do once I get here...
I quickly played around with some opening strategies. One that I found that works well is Arcoscephale with a water 9 bless and Wind Riders.
The plus +4 defense added to the base 17 makes a great defensive unit. Spear, Lance, Hoof are all nice.
I chose Mother of Rivers as my pretender base and I left her awake so I could collect her water gems. I made a Wind Lord my profit. I made him an ice sword and a black steel kite shield. He can be fully equiped and ready to go this way on your 4th or 5th turn (depending if you alchemy a water gem).
Combine him with 6 or 7 basic wind riders, hold and attack rear and you can really tear things up. Once you hit 20 or wind riders you don't even need a walking army and you have a very flexible fighting force.
You could equip 2 wind lords this way every 5 turns with your starting resources. Not sure if that is the best use the gems but it is interesting. Later once they rack up some experience you can equip them with some better items.
Anyways... just something fun I was playing around with. Hopefully the full game will arrive today (shipped Monday).
What are you guys doing with the demo?