[SelfishGene]

I used a 4-Fire Dragon in a multiplayer game, thinking i could expand out quickly so that i could bring the magic economy up to speed. However, well, the Dragon got eaten by the bugged Eater of Heroes, but anyway.. i don't think that he would have been able to dish out enough damage to beat Pangaea's really decent Satyr Warriors and huge swarms of Maenads. The other problem with fast expansion is that i'm a paper tiger, and most other nations have stronger troops, so seeing me get big fast makes me the first target. Marverni has some decent potential but you need to survive for 20+ turns unmolested to really bring that potential out. Once you're magic/battle magic economy gets rolling this are easier. It's the early game that all those damn human troops just get in the way.

I like the 9F Phoenix idea.

Personally (imo) all the human themed nations in the Early Era are to a greater or lesser degree weaker than the "mythological" nations available.