MA Pangaea-best starting troops?

[Aleph]

Xietor - you can definitely do so, but Pangea still has it.

Frank - I often have trouble keeping up with these conversations since I'm not playing highly competitive MP games (and have no desire to do so). Here's my thoughts on your response.

A Pandemoniac can be empowered to Blood 3 for 45 blood slaves - that same Pandemoniac can now make Armor of Twisting Thorns, including for himself to unlock Blood 4 boosters. To my mind, given how sure a thing blood slaves are compared to other magical gem types, a one time cost of 45 blood slaves (compared to either 20 blood slaves for a booster item or 15 with an additional 10 nature) is a pittance against four levels of blood picks for your pretender god (which, granted, can be offset by the right pretender, but that's even more critical a choice).

I've gotten a fairly critical take on splashing Astral into your god from the forum at large for fear of duels. Is that just for combat pretenders?