[HoneyBadger]

I think you're missing the point I'm trying to make: that Niefelheim does not give you a huge amount of options to play successfully: It's got units that are there mostly for effect, unless you really know how to get the most out of them, and that making bad choices about Niefelheim can easily cost you a successful game, even against the AI.

EA Tien Ch'i, on the other hand, is a much more forgiving Nation, and much more flexible, choice-wise.
You can go with an "all or nothing" approach to a Bless strategy, or absolutely anything in-between, and still do well, without knowing that Nation very well.

Someone learning on Tien Ch'i is much less often going to be frustrated, at any point in the game, by not being able to play "how they want to play", and still win.

I feel that's important to the learning process.

And I don't have any issues with Baalz, if that's who you're referring to. He's got a far deeper understanding of the game, and is a much better player, than I ever will be, and his strategy guides are the gold standard. He's done a great deal to help people learn the finer points of Dom3, including myself, and has been a real asset to everyone. I admit I was a bit tiffed at his choice of wording at one point, in one of his strategy guides, but that certainly has cost me more than him, and the contents of the guide in question were themselves without fault.

Also, if the guides aren't "friendly" for new players, then why are you referencing them, as something new players should be familiar with, in this conversation?