[Ironhawk]

I was one of the players that used Pythium to win and they are solid. Probably one of my favorite nations, still. They are still weak in the mid-game, as in Dom2, but as other have said here: their national Angel summons are quite good. Harbingers make incredible thugs with only minimal eq. Angels of Fury are great anti-troop SCs.

As for old-age in particular, I didnt find it to be crippling. I cant remember what sclaes I used but the old age was managable. Occassionally one of my arch theurgs would get a disease. But that was just his cue to Teleport directly to the front and start fighting. Not many problems, otherwise.