Let's talk about Pythium

[Belcarl]

I just got the game delivered last night (7 days to sweden), so I'm still fairly new to Dom3, although I have played Dom2 extensively.

I picked up one of my favourite old nations from Dom2, Pythium. Thinking that a communion based Grand Theurg strat, with a solid infantry block of Principes and some Thugs sounded like a grand idea.

Early and mid game I'm struggling though. Mainly because my Grand Theurgist seems to have a lifespan of 5-20 turns before old age kills them off. And no, I don't have any death scales, growth 1 infact. A pretender with 4N also

That pretty much maims any none air/water evocation branches for Pythium, since the other theurgist only gets AWS if I remember right. Unless you want to invest 50+ fire gems into the young theurgist with empowerment +boost items.

So, can old age be countered with Regen items, and/or Gift of Health? Otherwise it feels like Pythium really needs to beeline for Construction 6 forge items produced by the pretender pretty early. After getting Thaum 1, and Evoc 2 atleast (enough for communion and Lightning bolt).

Or maybe I'm just to stuck in my old ways, I used to empower GT with fire, earth and death to level 1, and then boost them up with communion slaves to be able to cast almost any evocation spells I wanted on the battlefield. Now it feels like it's a one shot 50+ gems investment that I will lose in the next 10 turns no matter what.

Principes/Triaries/Emerald guard + Thugs with cheap items (10-20 gems costs) seems to work out as planned though. Should be able to hold the field until lvl 7+ summons and SC comes along in the late game I think.

Hydras I only use as an attrition force, 1-3 large escorted by a trainer and some small ones to make huge poison dents into large none undead low hp forces. Dunno if its worth the gold compared to the standard Legion army though. I don't mix those two, because of the poison.

My problems might be more general then to just Pythium though, since the main problem is aging.