[HoneyBadger]

Compared to a lot of troops, yes, yes they are, but compared to what R'lyeh has to work with, they do just fine in early game, because you just don't have the numbers of other troops to protect your aboleth-kin and enforce your will on the surrounding environment. You don't really have the magic, either, for that matter, because it's early game. Shambler thralls have no morale quandries because they have clam dip where their brains used to be, they trample, they've got decent hp, and only cost 1 resource. Against human-sized independents, even Amber Clan, providing you've got their back, their's no contest. EA R'lyeh has crap for melee troops, except the shambler thrall. It's not much compared to most nations, but it's not crap.