Haven't finished this scenario yet (and I only get to play on the weekends) but I'm playing Basium for the first time and I have a dominant position, with only Judecca in any reasonable shape (maybe 12 cities) and Hyborem whittled down to a measly three.
This post is going to be a mixture of general Mercurian ideas alongside the scenario itself.
First off, things I don't like about the scenario. It's long, grindy, the lack of rivers anywhere and freshwater until you get into the deeper recesses of Hell are all quite irritating. Yeah, the AI is a bit dim, but isn't it always? Personally, I got saved by Kaelyn early on when her forces deflected the brunt of an early Infernal rush, and Varn was able to knock out one of the Demon lords by himself, so I cannot with any sort of good face call them useless.
After Kaeyln converted to the Order, it highlighted a real problem with the scenario though. 7 infernal players, by themselves, have no evil living units and therefore generate 0 manes. I on the other hand was being fed (sporadically anyway) by my three allies, as well as the never ending horde of champions I turned out of Bourne the gleaming to march to their deaths. I think either there should be a few vassal evil civs, like clan and doviello mixed in, or perhaps more thematically, a steady influx of Manes by event. Also, since about 85% of what you face are demons, Demon Slayer becomes more or less an automatic, and basically gives you a 40% bonus to all units. Diversity is important, and the AI is limited in this one.
The Mercurians are awesome, especially for a map like this. Angels of death can wander along, crippling the infernal cities with their Vile touch and knocking the population down to one, which will never recover. Holy Damage is awesome against Demons and even more so when they try using diseased corpses. Ophanim can simply fly over the mountain chains that seperate regions. My newest gimmick was when I realized that Angels of death do not replace shadows, but are in addition to them. Given that my areas completely cover the front lines now, my allies tend to sit there with huge armies in their capitals and do nothing. A little Mask, and a little prying, and suddenly the now good Balseraph and Bannor (The Malakim are actually contributing, albiet mostly ineffectively) are once again contributing Angels to the cause.
Basium has gotten to obscene levels, at 1100 exp and counting. I've run out of meaningful promotions to give him, and every so often if he gets hurt I'll give him something like protection from electricity to heal him up a little. Sphener is also starting to become a demigod, although he has but a puny 300 or so exp. (Bannor got Valin first.
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One thing I absolutely love about the scenario are the passes. Hell seems to be segmented, and I get a little defender's thrill out of noticing there is only one square they can get to me at, and building a fort and stocking 15 units there.
