Theocracy is decent, one of my favs
I like to play Malakim and with malakim its just part of strat.
I always resereaching Military Strategy early, so :
Capital Command post + Conquest, + Apprent + Theo = cap
Deis Deei + Altar of Lonottar + 6xp civis = HC
I developing under GodKing and etc. then switching in one turn inot "conquest XP mode (normally using GA).
10 xp disciple units (only with altar 1, add more 2 xp per each altar upgrade, add hammers for priests too)
8xp arcane units (10xp if i manage to build capture Form of Titan)
Poop Arcane units in cap, disciple in HC. Win.
+ unlimited priests. Later Altars give huge bonuses including inceased hammers for priest specialists. The outcome and benefit is huge, if you have bit patience... and theo.
3hammer2commerce priests is easy thing to get with theo, and its just crazy infrastructure boost as well.
As for rest of "underpowered civics"
Foreign Trade - can be desent with alot of coastal cities and Traderoute benefiting buildings. Income from trade routes can be HUGE. Dont understimate it.
Mercantilism - if you dogpiled that may help.
Aristocracy - Should be used with
financial trait imo, and good with
FOL (AF+Aristo Farms) and
SE. Tryed, working good. dont forget you get 4 awesome national units. (you not getting commerce boni from river tile using forest, but if you make river tiles farms you get 4 food 4 commerce tile ! (with sanit conquest) - unit building speed can be insane + lol 4food 4com tiles pown. (u can go 5/4 with agri))
Conquest - one of BEST civics imo.
SO: fucxk the haters, learn to play
