Oh wow, that didn't turn out at all like I expected. Pretty much the complete opposite.
*trying to express my surprise without giving xietor free scouting reports pffft
As an aside this is my first bless nation and I'm personally finding really bad scales suck. Completely goes against my normal playing style. I think its just the death scales though as I could deal with the turmoil/sloth/misfortune normally... I think. The death scales essentially force you into courses of action, I don't like that. The income loss has been pretty severe with the plagues and such. In the future I believe I'll stick with growth 0/1, and take a reduced bless.