[WraithLord]

I assume from all the reports here that Lanka is indeed a very good nation. Although my small experience with Lanka in the Boil the Ocean game (which has ended prematurely due to technical issues) showed it to be eliminated early on in the game. Admittedly, this could very well have resulted from the fact that Lanka is perceived as a strong nation which caused two of its neighbors to rush it early on. But then again this in itself is a weakness (as was said here before).

I think MA Pythium is being underestimated here and in general. I would assume that this may relate to the fact that its not straightforward to get the best performance out of this nation. I have used it very successfully in MP games with very good results (Jinxed Frechdachs comes to mind and also the current Dagur game). It has one of the strongest astral mages in the game (astral I believe is the strongest magic path), Hydras, access to angels and communion. All of which are not straightforward to use and may even backfire or be exploited against you if used wrongly.

I would place EA and MA Caelum high on the list of best nations for three reasons. Mammoths, Flight, cloud trapeze. Mammoths is for early game. Flight gives extreme strategic and tactical options. While cloud trapeze is an end game finishing move. Just imagine huge armies of seraphs popping out of thin air, pumping out air elementals, storm and wrathful skies. All of those factors I can attest from my experience are extremely effective. I have used them against unlikely odds in MP games (WOOF comes to mind here) and I think in general Caelum is doing quite well in the winning nations thread.

All the above represents my opinion based on my experience. In truth I think only statistics can be a real indication of a nation's strength because the factors are so many.