caelum

[quantum_mechani]

One non-dead nation build with all bad scales that is actually somewhat effective:

Sacred Statue, Pythium

Fire 9, Astral 9, Water 9

Air 4-6, dominion 7-10, depending on if you are using the concept pretender mod.

Of course using this you will at first barley have the gold for a full production run of battle vestals and priests to bless them. But considering 7-10 vestals and a priest have very good chance of taking most independent provinces, you should have reasonable income fairly quickly. In addition, your pretender is an absolutely scary rock that can research like crazy for buff spells and then teleport on problematic enemy armies.