Re: The Ages
The nation I suggest picking as your first AI opponent is MA Ulm. They're a bit atypical, but their general low speed and low diversity makes them easier to adjust to than a random nation. Their armor is another thing, but I'd rather be faced in my first game with black steel, than a magically diverse nation who could cast dozens, if not hundreds of spells I've never heard of before.
So... the limited variety in a computer controlled Ulm makes it, IMO, the best learning partner. As a plus, their low MR means most of your spells will work as well.
If you want an easy time of learning, set both your nation and Ulm's to human controlled. Design for them a crone with no scales, extra magic, or anything, just the bare chassis. Then set them to AI, play _your_ turn and then host.
When I first picked up the game, and was determined to play with some of the less flexible races such as Agartha, my first enemy was not the AI. It was learning my own troops, and what really is viable against those independents litering the landscape. Once I learned the basics, and stopped sending entire armies on suicide missions (knights, anyone?) then I gave myself a real AI opponent, without any handicaps.
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