[Nikolai]

Just expensive mages? Champion is sacred, build everywhere, and 4 research... for pocket change. Magic 1 makes a lot of sense. Magic 3, especially with great reinvigoration from pretender blessing is not really needed.

But Death + Misfortune leads to bad, bad events. Your capital may be wasteland by turn 10.

Growth 1, Misfortune 3, Magic 1 (Total -1) is better rather than
Death 3, Misfortune 1, Magic 3 (Total -1)

For research, Alt 3/Evo 4/Con 4 are good start. At this point, you have thugs and artillery. Order depends on who's your neighbor.