[Squirrelloid]

I think Rytek's list is probably the better direction to head in. There's no way you're going to find 6 nations that are balanced around the most powerful.

(I'd say Lanka is the most powerful EA nation, fwiw.)

Settings sort of matter here. Is this easy research? Standard research? Something else?

Other suggestions for Rytek's list:
Aby - it has a powerful early game, but no more so than EA TC. In fact, it might displace EA TC because its otherwise much more limited. (and unlike EA TC, armor of achilles totally destroys its bless rush strategy).

C'tis (as #6 instead of TNN) - mage-based like the rest of the nations, with pretty sad troop line-up like most of the rest of the nations.

Maybe also consider Kailasa. Its much more sacred dependent, but its on the right level of power.

Considered but not recommended:
Agartha - too pathetic to compete. Even against those nations. 'Bad troop lineup' takes on a whole new realm of meaning - everyone else's troops look *spectacular* by comparison. And its useful mages are capital only and hugely overpriced.

Oh, I'm assuming CBM 1.6, fwiw.