Sauromatia Pretender, Units, Question on Blood

[Immaculate]

I've been gone from Dominions 3 for about a year but recently decided to return to it and play a few games.

I downloaded the newest CBM (because i would like to play a few noob games in the near future) and realized between what i observed and what i read on these forums that there were a few really big changes.

So, based on that, i have a few questions,

1) With changes from CBM, the gorgon is a lot less strong, what other chasis with earth do people like to use (or do you just assume you want weaker scales and power through with the gorgon?)

2) What exactly are the changes to blood hunting- no more sanguine rods right? so what affect do people feel that has for a weak/mediocre blood nation like Sauro.

3) Related to question 2, you can't get a ton of jade knives anymore? How does blood sacrifice get affected? is it worth to sacrifice with H1 without the knife? When is preaching better or worse?

4) A lot of Sauro units (except adrophag archers) seem to have gotten a little bit of a boost- do people find they are using them? if so, under what circumstances?


Thanks all for your time.