[Windreaper]

Yup, sorcery rules. Astral is still the king in my book with death coming close second. Nature got its key spells nerfed and isn't really essential now, imo (also, it's easy to recruit an indep 1N mage and forge a wineskin or two).

I'd rank earth the 3rd strongest path overall and by far the best elemental path - no weak areas, really. Air is also good but Fire/Water I can easily live without.

These things are nation and player dependant, but generally I'd say:

1. Astral
2. Death
3. Earth
4. Air
5. Nature
6. Blood (I don't use it much, but it can be a game winner)
7. Fire
8. Water