[Torin]

Never forget the non-mage communicants that have auto communion slave. If an arch theurg has the crystal matrix that auto casts communion mater, then you don´t loose a turn and the first thing you do could be a really powerful spell like master enslave.
PD is probably the best I´ve seen with tower shields and javelins. MA Ulm is ok too.
Magic 3 is really good to race to the cool spells. expand quickly and build additional forts to feed the communions as they are more important than armies.
Maybe it would be a good idea to pick mother of the rivers with added nature to forge clams. to feed astral pearls and summon angels as raiders.
all in all if you survive the early game surely you are a gifted nation.