[fantasma]

One of my first games was Niefelheim, it got boring very soon when I stomped about the map with several groups of the blue giants. That left me with a dull feeling for the game.

Then I started a game as Marverni, simply the theme got me, and you know what? It taught a whole lot more. It has decent troops once you learn which ones to use against who and very nice mages with the druids.

But similar things can be said about many nations, the point is to pick the ones you enjoy themewise. You will learn how to make them effective, at least against the AI.

Regarding Man, I think they are dull. Ulm is so anti-dom3, it is the antithesis to the game, I guess it is mentioned therefore quite frequently? Anyways, you will lose quickly relying on black plates, although castling up and spitting the smiths out your ears can be very effective and fun. But this is not a good recommendation for a beginner, it plays so differently than most nations.

I would suggest picking the race you like themewise, check out any guides, then come back for some advice once you picked your nation.

Just some generally agreed on early game goals:
1. Try 15 provinces in the first year
2. Try building at least 1-2 castles (one should be finished, but this is varying on the nation and style)
3. Recruit mostly - that reads exclusiely except in the very first turns, maybe - mages from your forts.
- Take order 3 unless you know what you are doing. Pretender design is one advanced topic, try replicating a build from someone experienced, or ask advice on your first builds.

Generally it pays off to specialise in something you are good at, i.e. high hitpoint sacreds profit from regeneration (n4-8) and reinvigoration (e9, if they have armour) more than jaguars who are killing machines that like more attacks (w9, f9) blesses. If you have fear (lowers morale), stack awe on top (checks against morale before making an attack). You have shields, your opponent not, so massive archery can profit you. He has few hard hitters, use swarms of unarmoured high attack/high defense troops. He has high defense, use things that don't check defense like area of effect attacks, or missiles (unless he has a good shield, that is).