The civilization is restricted from 2/3 of all
resources.
However, it can make better use of the ones it has. But even that limits them to about 50% of what a normal civ has.
To compensate, they can get extra
for each Creation Node they have.
This mechanics is to encourage them to grab as many mana nodes as they can and make them into creation nodes.
But there is a twist.
Their Mele line has no access to metal weapons, in fact weary few units (Knight, Phalanx and other T4) have access to them at all.
But the mele line gets +10% strength for each fire mana they own with no maximum limit. This mechanics is to encourage them to grab as many mana nodes as they can and make them into fire nodes. This is intensified by them getting +1
from each Fire mana they have and the fact that both their heroes have Fire Affinity.
So the gameplay is revolves around expanding to get more mana nodes and the conflict of balancing Fire and Creation mana.