another noob question...

[Aleph]

Or you can play a nation with reanimating priests (Lanka, MA/LA Ermor, LA Ctis through it's national summons, LA Pangea or all ages if you take a nature/death pretender, Mictlan through the Civeteto) and leave them alone for a while reanimating while you do other things - this has the advantage of requiring no gold/upkeep besides the mages in question, and they don't get hungry and chew through all your supply. I believe Mound Fiends can also reanimate, but they are a little more difficult to get in huge amounts before you've already won. I don't have much experience with most of these nations, but MA Ermor's massed Longdead Horsemen can really make a huge difference.