[Cohen]

About items I had already my mind, as I said in someone else post "What this game really needs", where there was a exaustive discussion about Life Drain, and another post about Clams and Gem Generating item.
For Items I took nothing from Zen.

National armies will be revalued by:
1: Better production scale.
2: Some easier access troop boosting spells (more access to some spells affecting troops).

True, making easier to get some summon improves magic too, but troops can deal with Wyverns, Drakes and such.
The thing that make troops worthless are SCs with drain life. Without drain life (or regeneration + reinvigoration, but they're 2 items instead of 1), even troops could kill an SC.

For your opinion regarding Human Mages, personally I like to them usable. And for Usable I mean they could be taken without letting you know this will make you lose.
Moloch is effectively good now. I'm going to transfer it to Marignon in 0.2, becoming a choice for a fire only bless.
About Alchemist, I've already answered before ... however picking this, means you renounce to your SC from turn 1.
Thx for the advices PDF. Even if you want to help not to ruin the game, want to do some testing?