Too true, these are all more or less verifiable facts.

I justed wanted to list them in one place to make the situation very clear.

You can downplay ench-9 all you want, but being the first to artifacts and being able to get the best is a game-changer. Which is why you don't mention that in your retorts.

Also you're research lead isn't getting any smaller, not for most nations.

I have no death magic and as everyone probably knows, my pretender doesn't have ANY magic, so no, I can't pursue a tartarian strat.

Anyway, I think we've laid the facts pretty bare. True gentlemen can decide for themselves what the best course of action is.