[B0rsuk]

Ok, some random thoughts below:

- hydras for fast early game, possibly elephant counter (I'm not sure if they're size6).

- Theurgs can counter elephants, minotaurs, and other tramplers. Hydras, theurgs and cataphracts against minotaurs.

- Serpent Priests are Water/Nature mages. Bone Melter is available, although I didn't have a chance to try it.

- National hero is a level3 serpent priest with high water and nature. Human with 3 misc slots and awe.

- Daughter of Typhoon is an immortal hydra.

- National mages: theurgs for communion and astral, occasional astral on other mages. Epoptes can heal afflictions. Heliodromus and Leo can forge lightless lanterns. Leo sounds like a good prophet. Serpent Priests, Renata and Renatus are not heretics. Low ranking cultists are usually not heretics, too.

- Solaris infantry: very expensive in terms of gold, but higher stats and fire resistance. Still, if you're not facing fire magic or Abyssians, they're overpriced.
Regular infantry is mapmove1. Elite infantry with mapmove2 is capitol only.