[MaxWilson]

Ashdod looks cool, though. Will probably need a Prod scale or two--Gileadite archers are cooler than longbowmen but cost Resource 49, and the top-line sacred troop costs Resource 88! Most important thing: the Zamzummite is a pretty cool battle mage. Decent precision (10, though no access to Air for precision boosters), some will be capable of casting D4 spells like Cloud of Death, E3F1 spells like Magma Eruption, E5 spells (with Earth Boots, which are forgeable by Ashdod) like Weapons of Sharpness and Petrify, and D3F1 spells like Banefire. They can also participate in communions with the lesser mages. A bit more expensive than Ktonian Necromancers but they fill essentially the same niche (with a better mapmove).

I might try out Ashdod.

-Max

Edit: Okay, I'll add to that. Ashdod is *seriously* cool. I hope I'm not repeating anything others have said, but here's what I saw:

Even without a pretender, they can forge boosters to get up to F5 (F6 on battlefield, think Flame Storm w/ giant-HP chaff), D6 (Darkness/Rigor Mortis/skelly spam or national summons), E5 (E6 on battlefield), and S5. National summons are interesting, and the higher level ones are incredible. The 9th level Call Merkavah spell was incredible when I tried it in a quick test game. Even naked and unblessed, the Ophanim just rolled over everything I sent them at without taking a single wound that I saw. Def 15, Prot 21, sacred, Awe +3 (or was it +6?), fire shield 9, size 5 flying tramplers with map move fly 5, I'm in love. Better than Iron Dragons stat-wise and IMHO more fun to watch ("rolling wheels of fire," heh). I didn't even do anything with the Chayot, he just stood there and watched the carnage. (Interestingly, some of Ashdod's national summons have Shattered Soul.) I didn't play much with their normal troops but they seem acceptably fun. I did note that their PD is pretty well-balanced. Nice mix of Gileadite archers, Gileadite spearmen, and Edomite somethings. PD is potentially important for resource-hungry Ashdod.

Since Earth, Death, and Astral are my favorite schools (with a smattering of Fire for the magma spells) I think Ashdod is going to become my new favorite flavor for the next month or so. Now to see how well they do at expansion...