Bless nation recommendation, please

[13lackGu4rd]

necromancing this thread a bit, and for the *good* reasons... you guys actually got me interested with the F9W9 Wot5E rush for EA TC. after some of you actually said it was pretty successful, I wonder whether it's a good all around bless rush such as Jag Warriors, Palashankas, Vans, KotC, etc or is it more of a bless rush to counter other bless rushes, mainly other F9s and Niefel Giants?

usually I'd think that EA TC is best off with a high S pretender, but if this rush works as well as the more standard ones than it can definitely be a nice surprise...

[LDiCesare]

F9W9 for T'ien Chi is a nice rush but just don't hope to beat Hinnom with it. You can probably beat Abyssia despite their fire resist, but an early war against them may cost you because the F9 will mean your scales may hurt a bit. Other neighbours shouldn't be too much of a problem. Note that you'll soon have to replace your Wot5E with something else (river demons for instance) if you want to survive mid-game. The nice thing with F9 is your pretenderr will be able to cast flaming arrows for your non sacred armies of composite archers.

[chrispedersen]

F9W9 is not optimal against hinnom, with Tc.
I would look for probably a simple w9, or possibly an s9.
Crank dominion up, and get lots of scales.

So for example, CBM an W9 lady that gives you 6 water gems a turn would probably be ideal. I'd make her sleep for the extra points.

Your w53's at 20 defense will hold anything except his chariots forever.

[13lackGu4rd]

well, I wasn't really talking about Hinnom, just in general... whether EA TC can be a solid standard bless rush nation comparable to the likes of Mictlan and Lanka, or is a TC bless rush more focused to counter other bless rushes, such as Niefelheim and Lanka? Hinnom is a different beast altogether...

also if you guys do think Wot5E are actually worthy or a bless rush as opposed to say a late game bless, than what would you recommend, in general not specifically against Hinnom or any other nation? F9W9 has been talked about a lot in this thread, which is why I started wondering about it, but other options should certainly work as well...

[chrispedersen]

TC has a solid early game rush. However W5e's are so good that double blesses are not optimal. IMO. Spending the extra points on:
High dominion,
Magic scales
is better.

[13lackGu4rd]

testing EA TC on SP right now, and besides the random arrow killing my MotW and stopping me cold, the Wo5E seem to be doing a pretty good job against indies. tried just W9 as well as W6S6(on a Lady of Fortune) for a stronger late game possibility without completely thrashing my scales. I wonder though if a simple S9 would still be good enough, especially later on when you can make them also 100% resistant to fire, cold, lightning and poison. and I mean more against other rushers, not just indies...

[chrispedersen]

S9 was one of the options I recommended, its perfectly ok. But I will usually imprison if I am going into an s9 blessing. but I would in no way go with an s6w6.
I would go either s9 or w9 or an w9s6