Ashdod is worthless now

[llamabeast]

If CBM wants to balance things out, maybe they should balance what is the most ubiquitous strategy in the game. E9 bless is seen in all ages, in several nations.

Obviously this might be desirable, but it isn't possible to modify the bless effects.

[Starbelly Geek]

So what's the preferred build now for Ashdod? Something like an awake rainbow with 4N and moderate scales and a roll toward strange Zamzummite skelly spam/thug reverse communions? E4S6N4 dormant to get all the Conjuration summons and Wish with a decent boost to Adons? A monolith with N4S4 and killer scales?

[WraithLord]

"
If CBM wants to balance things out, maybe they should balance what is the most ubiquitous strategy in the game. E9 bless is seen in all ages, in several nations.
"

That is not true as far as my MP experience goes. It is popular for certain nations (recruit-able thugs/SCs) but even for these there are other options, like no bless, small E4 bless, RBW bless etc.
It can be cool to take E10 bless for a giant nation once or twice but then it get's boring and certainly other options are viable. It's a general statement but one that I think is valid for any example that comes to my mind.
I challenge you (or anyone else) to find a contrary example

[Corinthian]

Originally Posted by llamabeast

Obviously this might be desirable, but it isn't possible to modify the bless effects.

I think the recent prevalence of E9-10, N4-6 blesses is actually the fault of CBM. Illwinter probably knew that this bless combo was the strongest bless for many nations and they balanced it out by not giving those nations pretenders with both Earth and Nature. Especially the niefelheim nations suffered from this. The only good earth bless chassie that they could get was the Cyclops. And that one prevented them from getting diversity. There was also the great enchantress I guess, but she costed 55 points back then and had no air magic.

Now that the Master Druid have both E and N it is possible for many nations to both get a bless and diversity at the same time without sacrificing scales to much.

I'm not sure this is a bad thing mind you.