Power of Themes

[Cainehill]

Except that Iron Faith loses the research-immunity to Drain, and has otherwise reduced magic compared to the smiths (1E1? vice 2E1F). This is hardly "great", especially given that Iron Faith has an enforced drain scale, pretty much crippling magic research for them.

True, they get better priests than base Ulm, and a decent (but resource heavy and capitol only) sacred troop, but it still seems like a crippled Ulm to me. As though base Ulm needed to be crippled.

[Sandman]

One of my gripes about Tien Chi is that the Imperial troops are too expensive. For 13 gold (30% more than regular human troops), you get +2 morale and +1 def, or +1 morale and +2 precision. For a nation which is supposed to have superior soldiers, this is unimpressive. Vanheim hirdmen have +1 attack, +1 defence and +1 morale for only 12 gold, for example. Machaka hoplites, which also cost 12, are better still.