Even with your god researching you won't have anything but Evo-2 for combat, since he's on Const.
It's really nice to get Const-4 by the end of year-1. Then if your Warlock or two is diseased, you can stick the shroud on them and make them last longer.
Nearly all your capitol mages are going to be out expanding, with this strat. So there's no-one to research at all if your god doesn't do it. I suppose you could take 6 months and search 3 provinces bordering your capitol. It's just a chance you're taking with old age disease.
I didn't bother with rods since I don't want to patrol with death scales, and except for all the Mutes everyone is a B2 at least.
And I wouldn't bother with hammers for the lanterns, they are only F5. I made a few Wands of Wild Fire but regretted it, because it's just as easy to fly in a Demonbred. I probably should have empowered another D mage in fire, for more Smoulderghosts.
I hate falling behind in the research race, that's why I want to hit Const-6 ASAP.
You're right though, once I hit Const-8, I was looking at all the stuff my god could forge, if only he had some gems.
