[Twan]

Relying on living pillars is not very efficient if Rlyeh is in the game (pillars have MR 8). Also without prod 3 you may not be able to make more than 2 per turn (thanks the crappy 20 admin capitol).

IMO Atlantis only has chances as a thugs/mages nation on big maps (starting with an awake Dagon pretender you have an ultra easy start, and can use your gold advantage to make a shambler army for taking indies, so you should have 18-25 provinces by turn 10, and other forts for researchers before the other sea nations, then you can focus on construction/alteration and start to use mostly basalt king/queen thugs by turn 15-20 or so ; and the only units you'll make after are atlantian spearmen chaff (or the version with poisonous armor if you have ressources) -because they have MR 10 and so are less a waste if Rlyeh is in the game-).

Against Oceania knights the only working tactic I know is basalt kings chain casting Earth Meld/destruction etc behind a lot of chaff, so you'll also use atlantian spearman and basalt kings only.

On small maps hum... I think EA Atlantis simply lose.