[Gandalf Parker]

I suppose if it was limited to MP then it might change some of the answers.

I tried Kailasa and didnt do too bad. Their cheap units can take some indept provinces to give you a start.

EA Yomi has many low-priced units, and many low-research summons which can allow gem-cost units to fill in for lack of national units.

Bogarus might do surprisingly well also. It has some fair 8 gold units, and many low-research summons.

Also keep in mind that along with this scales setting you can do fast expansion with low domain to stay ahead of the scales while you build indept armies