Welcome to the game, everyone! On to the questions:
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					Originally Posted by  Ragnars Wolves
					 
				 
				On that note, if you will have me in my first MP game....I will take (drumroll) MA Pythium!!!! (Uhhhhh, BTW, a 10 turn Nap mandatory with me from everyone else would be a very nice and special welcoming gift). 
			
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 PriestyMan is right - Pythium certainly isn't a weak nation. But you are welcome to it - only the notorious Ashdod is banned for being overpowered (OP).
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					Originally Posted by  Ragnars Wolves
					 
				 
				I have noticed that I have the Paragos map but NOT the dead sea map. Could you possibly put a link to that map on the first page and perhaps the end-game diversity mod, or direct me to it. Thank you agian and thank you for the explanation of what to expect in the game, it will be a big help. 
			
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 Here is 
a link to llamabeast's modified Parganos (I'll update the first post as well). Note that this doesn't have his preset start locations. This isn't a problem, though, as only the server needs to have them.
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					Originally Posted by  Duncan_Frost
					 
				 
				...It's kinda unfortunate that Bandar Log is already taken, since that's the only nation I'm any good with.   
Could anyone suggest a nice replacement for a new player to try out on his almost-first MP game?  
			
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 Hmm, similar to Bandar? Have you looked at Arcoscephale? Like Bandar, you can use elephants for expansion. You also have strong astral magic and risk-free mind hunting thanks to your recruitable healers. But unlike Bandar, you don't have a host of sacred summons and troops. Depends how you play Bandar. If you play them as a bless nation then Arco isn't a good substitute.