Earth and Magic Item strategy?

[Saxon]

Forge of the Ancients! Oh my, I had forgotten about it. Any mage can forge any item you have researched at a reduced price. I am using summoned 1 Death Revenants to forge anything I fancy! This was the spell I wanted for this game, I can try out any and every magic item I want! Throw in that forging bonus weapon and things are dirty cheap as well. Gems will eventually be a problem, but right now I don’t have enough mages to forge everything I want. Ok, I could, but I don’t want to reduce research, as Mechanical Militia is really going to help me. I have too long of a front with three angry neighbors…

[Endoperez]

It doesn't allow you to forge every item, but the effect is pretty close to it. All your mages get +1 to every path when forging requirements are considered.