What nation should I play next?

[Sand]

I just finished a game as Vanheim on the Kingdom of Karan map. I really like the flexibility of Vanheim: mobility, commanders that are mages/priests/scouts, etc., but I want to try a different nation. I played previously as Ulm but they didn't have enough magic for my tastes.

I played Vanheim once with an SC commander and once with a rainbow mage. This time I'm looking to focus on one or two paths of magic. Suggestions are welcome!

[Torvak]

Arcoscephale with a D4 or 5 PoD. Wraith Lords, Arch Angels and Tartarians gallore.

[Wauthan]

You could always run a "Toxic Avenger" game. It's pretty fun since it's a very unusual way to construct your armies. Basicly the whole idea is to do the largest possible amount of poisondamage to your enemy as fast as you can.

Using the Serpent Cult Pythium with a Green Dragon pretender is a good start. Hydras cause immense amount of poisondamage, are immune to poison and are the thoughest sacred units in the game (which really works well since you wanted to focus on a single type of magic). Pythium starts with Summon Horned Serpents and can easily get access to Bog Beasts (also known as toxic artillery). Breath of the dragon lets your theurgs do their part in drowning your enemies in bile while vinemen/ogres serve as the meatshield. When you get access to minor death magic the lesser undead are also an option.

It's pretty easy to make similar elemental focus strategies with fire (firedragon with abyssians, using firedrakes, fireserpents, devils and the likes), lightning (air10 virtue pretender leaning heavily on sacred troops and the few lightning resistant summons) or ice (Blue dragon with Caelum or Jotunheim using undead, icedevils, icedrakes etc) but the choice of troops are more limited.

The Boo! strategy focusing on Death10 blessing and getting as many fearsome troops as possible is pretty funny as well but a lot harder to pull off.

[tinkthank]

Have you thought of giving Ryleh a try? 2 paths, but astral is very flexible. *Quite* the different approach than Van. Also not much like Van at all: Abyssia. Straightforward Ulm-ish troops, but more magic.

[fahdiz]

I really like Wauthan's "toxic avenger" idea. If it please the court, I'd like to swipe that one.

Base Pythium is another really interesting choice...a very straightforward military with the added benefit and complexity of sacred mages. Plus, it will teach you about Astral Communion, and so it's a good nation to use for "skill building".

[PDF]

Ermor Soul Gate is my fave for the moment Quite different than any "living" nations, dark and spectral ... Very fun !