[Xietor]

If you start with no astral you should plan to have plenty by midgame.

The race i have played the most especially against human players is ulm. But I use the ghost king pretender, and i give him 4 nature, 3 air, 2 astral, 5 death, 2 water. I also sleep him, and take 2 cold, so i can also take 3 order, prod, and 1 growth.

So even playing ulm i get access to most gems. And, of course, you get gems of people you kill off as well. I typically research 3 enchantment, 6 construction, 5 conjuration. Then i crank out 2-3 bane lords, give them pendant luck, fire brand, charcoal shield, boots quickness, ring regen, marble armor and horror helmet. this makes them
deadly solo, but even more so when mixed in with black knights, and ulm crossbow men, so they will not be sole focus of smites and enemy spells.

I also try have at least 2 troll king courts up, with the troll kings having plus 1 earth boots and 3 revig items, and some zero encumbering chest item.. I script them summon earthpower, invulnerability, cast spells. They can wipe out lightly armored troops with blade wind.