[thejeff]

NTJedi: Not to hijack this thread too far, but I'm curious as to why you picked Neifelheim? I don't think I've ever really noticed how well the AI does with it, but it seems to have all the traits I'd associated with a nation the AI couldn't handle well.

Strong SCs. Strong sacred troops with no H3s. Blood. Generally lousy non-capital troops. Mages are expensive and not particularly good for artillery.
I'd expect the AI to do its best with strong regular troops and good general battle mages. Since it doesn't seem to consider the bless when buying troops, it'll never have a lot of sacreds and if it does it often won't bother to bless them. It won't build SCs and has trouble using them even if you build them in.
But good solid groundpounders and cavalry, along with fireball or bladewind type of casters. That's what it can handle.

Not that most of your suggestions aren't good. They'd certainly make any AI nation tougher, I'm just wondering why you chose one that doesn't play more to the AI's strengths. Or at least what I see as its strengths.

I'd also suggest using one of the Better Independents mods, instead of mucking with dozens of provinces by hand.