[Baalz]

Originally Posted by Kuritza

Weakest of all TCs doesnt mean 'weak', not at all. And how come Eriu is 'surely better' than TC? No death, no blood, no astral; expensive capitol-only mages with high encumberance; quite average troops (fir bolgs with their low protection arent that good in MA). Yes, recruitable cloud-trapezing stelathy thugs, really nice - but thats the only good thing about Eriu.
Perhaps it was rated that far because Eriu can be a good support in a team game. Otherwise, TC is much better in my opinion.

Not true. Don't get me wrong, their lack of access to B/D/S hurts quite a bit, but its very untrue they don't have anything else going for them. Firbolgs are very cost efficient indie clearers and start looking a whole lot more competitive when you consider the ubiquitous magic support they should be fielded with. Arrow fend & wooden warriors/mass protection are available fairly early and turn them quite fierce with their 15+ defense and cheap price tag. Not too much of a stretch to drop earth buffs on them as well and leverages their sweet base stats nicely. Spears don't seem to do too much damage, but clever players can pull a nasty swap with mass protection + iron bane against heavier opposition. They can also almost match Caelum for lighting spam, you've no excuse for lacking a punch. They do tend to struggle into late game, but you're also looking at adding fog warriors, mass flight, mass regeneration & weapons of sharpness to your firbolgs (those stats look very, very nice for the price now) and supporting your lightning carnage with rain of stones & foul vapors, and having a virtually unlimited supply of anti-thugs ready to cloud trapeze in and decapitate tartarians wherever you need them. Doesn't look to me like they've got nothing else going for them.