List top 3 MA MP races

[Xietor]

I am not an expert, and i think small map v. lap map is very different. So for this thread, you can assume the map is Aran with 9 players. Yes, that means blitz is possible, or even likely. So defending yourself early from some f9 w9 vans needs to be in your thinking.

1. Arcosphale

I think having level 3-4 astral mages, that can get mind burn very early, coupled with tough infantry, healing priests, and elephants(combined with hyperists), can make early expansion easy, as well as the ability to hold off a zerging army. Late game, you have astral magic.

2. Vanaheim

Air magic is tough, glamor troops, and the ability to pummel most races early on. Vans being able to be recruited at all castles is also insane. Also gets a free scale pick with the plus 1 cold.

3. Ryleh

Many advantages to an underwater start. You can pick your fights. Astral magic, mind blasts, decent priests, summons.
Many spells that can target on land capitals cannot be used to target underwater provinces. Seeking arrow, fires from afar, etc. Stealth troops typically cannot attack you underwater. You get pd on land and sea.

[Evilhomer]

I think you listed some of the best for sure, I would replace arco with caelum (very strong air, mobile, mammoth) but that might just be my personal preferance.

[Xietor]

Caleum's pd is so bad though, that i think that one point takes them out of top 3. Who would they replace?

Air, mammoths, and 120 free design points are huge though.

[Evilhomer]

flying (high mobility) makes up for the lack of low pd with ease. I stated that it was arco I would replace.

[Ironhawk]

Xietor said:
Caleum's pd is so bad though, that i think that one point takes them out of top 3.

What does PD have to do with anything in MP? All that matters is your mages and a couple of core national units.

[DrPraetorious]

PD matters a lot if you are fighing *against* Caelum.

He'll send out flying scouts, and if he knows how many Caelumites it takes to beat PD X, he'll split his forces accordingly and go wild. He'll lose, say, three of these armies, which are made up of worthless caelumite scum anyway so who cares?

Having good province defense drastically reduces the number of provinces you lose this way.

Vanheim does the same thing - if I can take twenty of your provinces with 5 van each, rest assured that I will do so.

And, of course, even opponents who don't like to micromanage will sometimes spam call of the winds / arouse hunger at your entire empire.

Against a clever opponent it's a real weakness.

[Xietor]

PD matters!

Pangaea is pretty good at taking provinces that you have temples in. At 400 gold a pop, and dominion being important, not being able to guard your far flung provinces with pd sucks.

[Tyrant]

Those are reasonable though badly spelled choices. Caelum, Pythium, Jotunheim and Ermor would be the other contenders IMO.

1. Caelum- Crappy flying troops, but excellent build anywhere mages give Caelum matchless strategic mobility and crazed firepower. They also get 120 points free on nation design because of the temperature preference and a fistfull of little advantages such as water item forge bonuses and magic weapons on most of their troops. Late game is not first rate, but they can overcome that by kicking butt in the early and mid games.

2. Jot- Giants smash! Wide magic, bonus for the cold, blood for the late game, thugs.

3. Ermor- Sturdy line troops that will give the excellent casters time to destroy the enemy, useful cheap sacreds, free undead, death and astral magic (two great tastes that go great together) and top notch PD. They got game all the way from start to finish.

3.5. Pythium (Ermor's cute but *****y little sister) Pretty much the same army as Ermor, communion from hell, and Hydras.

Nearly all the MA nations are viable. I think Ulm and Argatha are the two duds in the bunch

[Evilhomer]

MA is easily the most balanced era i think, so yes most nations can do well.

[Xietor]

Spelling fantasy names has never been my strong point(: