[Velusion]

Sounds like you need to build your nation focusing more on immediate short-term power rather than hoping for long term scales.

IMHO a heavy scales dependent nation (aka investing in really good scales) is the biggest shortfall of most MP players. Sometimes it does work out - but the vast majority of the time you will be eliminated quickly.

So my first recommendation is if you aren't running a good bless you need an awake combat pretender - or just cross your fingers and hope for a lucky break.

The second recommendation is to find your neighbors and immediately start researching in area's to counter their national strength.

The third recommendation is to pick stronger nations rather than weaker nations. Some nations are just better in MP than others. So if you go with MA Abysia or MA Ulm rather than a nation like MA Vanheim or MA Pythium you are automatically putting yourself in the hole. Of course it can be very satisfying to win with an underdog nation - but don't fool yourself into thinking all nations are created equal.