Some help with Pan please?

[tinkthank]

I started off playing dom2 with Pan, and enjoyed quite a bit (I like stealth), got my feet wet, until I started playing MP, then moved on. I recently returned, because of old fond memories and whatnot, and am a bit confused. I have a bunch of questions, but I think I will split em up into two Groups, one for New Era and one for Default, with the exception of one major question:
Magic.
I have gotten to know (and like!) the Nature magic of Machaka, especially mixed in with Death. The path of Construction is just so wonderful with Manikin etc., and the lovely Death summons....
I have gotten to know (and cherish) Astral magic with TC, and Fire magic with Abysia and Machaka, Air magic with TC and Van and Caelum ...... etc.
But what do I do with E2Nature3? I really dont have a plan.
Sure, I can summon Vine ogres, and the occasional expensive animal. And I can try for GoH -- but I dont really need that as Pan with all that nice recup, do I?
What about battlefield magic? Besides Howl tied in with sneaky attacks, I just dont know what to do. Your tips are greatly appreciated!
Also, as you can see below, I have problems with research.

Now, on to some specific questions:

NEW ERA
- Who is going to research? Yikes. I seem hard pressed with NE to afford a magic scale, but even with magic1 I feel like I am crushed without a sage. I cant make any research-boosters either.
- No random. Ouch! I have never played a nation with no randoms before. None whatsoever, it's like Ulm. (Which I dont play...) I think e2n2?1 would make more sense (less tree-hugging, more steel), but c'est la vie -- this just seems to force me to take a rainbow. But I really dont want to, that just seems so unthematic.
- No centaur bowmen. Why not? I think they would fit very well thematically, but who cares what I think. I dislike recruit indies, because I that just bugs me from a RPG standpoint, but so what. What do you do? Since I dont see myself with big damage-dealing battlefield spells as NE (which ones?), unlike Abysia, I feel I need some archer power. What do you do? Alternatively, a Staff of Storms would be nice -- but then I need a bunch of air for that and a forger of at least a3.
- Magic. See above. I cant figure it out. No randoms, e2n3. What are some good goals, on and off the b-field?

Basically, I want to really like New Era (I like tree hugging and minotaurs), but I just cant find the groove. Can you help me?

DEFAULT
- With a bit of Turmoil, I feel that I can afford a magic scale easier, but not too much easier. Still, who does the researching?
- How much Turmoil, if any, do you take?
- What do you do with Pandemoniacs? I want to use them, but a unsacred 350-gold Bloodhunter is a bit steep, and I need blood to be able to do anything with him, it seems. Or am I missing something?
- Default pan is even sneakier than NE -- it would be great to see some nice stealthy-tips, especially from people like Gandalf, who is obviously a Pan-sneaky-Pro. What do you say to sharing the wisdom?!?

Thanks much in advance.