[chrispedersen]

Playing man with an earth (and possibly nature) blessing is very strong, and the only way to play man as far as I'm concerned.

It essentially gives man a huge (and fun) stealthy, recruitable, thug army.

Personally I think man is much stronger than people give credit for. I know that people consider man one of the weak nations in MA, I rate it about 3rd.

The elements for success, afaiac is: stealthy lords and wardens with blesses. Stealthy priests. Stealthy bards for incite etc.
And *lots* of castles.