[SelfishGene]

From what i've seen of LA Atlantis, it seems getting lots of death gems, having a good Death magic Pretender, and having lots of Productivity and Magic scales are pretty much essential elements to making LA Atlantis work. They are definately a weaker nation out of the box, and are always going to have something of a hard time.

I'd say Atlantis' viability is very much dependent on whether R'yleh or Ermor is in the game. Now, if you're supremely lucky and start near Ermor you have a real chance, because Ermor is extremely weak to massed Priests at the start, and you NEED Death gems, and Ermor's capital is Death gem paradise. Later on Ermor can compete with you in the water, though.

Atlantis vs. Ryleh is the lynchpin though, and if Ryleh is in the game (imo) you're pretty much screwed. Basically Atlantis' strategic flexibility contests with it's tactical inflexibility and it's dreadfully linear unit line. Atlantis is a fully amphibious empire that can build forts and temples underwater easily, can cross bodies of water easily, and can use sailing to move along and across coastlines easily. But even so, Atlantis' fewer, more expensive units will get totally trashed by Ryleh's huge hordes of mindless chaff and mindblasting Illithids, pushing you totally out of the water. Without being able to use your amphibious capacity, you're stuck up an iceberg without an igloo.

I haven't found much use for Tungaliks, which are a very inefficient unit. However Atlantis does have easy access to path boosting items with a little research. Tungaliks with Skull Staff = Raise Dead. Water bracelet = several water spells.