Next...?

[Valerius]

Since you mentioned you liked equipping thugs what about trying a thug nation? If you want stealth you could try a glamour nation. If you want brute force, then a giant nation. So, how about moving to the MA and trying Eriu (excellent thugs, some forge bonus), Vanheim (good thugs, good forge bonus, blood magic), or Jotunheim (the incredible slicing, dicing skratti, blood magic).

[Mars76]

actually looking for something more in a new direction to open up a newer facet of the game....