Tip: Ba'al and Unrest

[ano]

Have you seen the rephaite sage?
Build anywhere without a lab 6 research for 175 gold; When Ashdod has forests it is the quickest research nation, they get 800g forts in forests.

Have you ever seen the Minister of Magic?
Built anywhere without a lab 5 research for 70 gold. When Tien Chi has swamps(800gp castle) or even forests or plains (1000 gp castle) it is the quickest research nation.
That plus a native fire and ability to make mass fetishes makes them a research plasma-gun if they manage to set up good expansion.