You know, I didn't even talk about  Karavox.  I have a bit of a love hate with him.  I like his story, he is one of the more powerful sovs in terms of both physical power and magic, as having krax blood and cruel makes him better in combat than most Sovs, along with having two level 2 paths in magic.  But, they are not magic picks I would take and I certainly wouldn't choose cruel, as it hurts.  But diplomat is a solid choice for profession, it gives bonuses in trade and allows you to take control and steal enemy troops in battle. And wealthy is among the best traits a Sov can have, can use it with betrayers to pile on the heroes, or use it to rush early troops or buildings.   

That would be a cool mechanic, if your ruler of a wraith or Amarian faction, you start with level 1 in life/death.  That would balance out the weak races, by making their rulers have more magic or traits than other rulers.  

I like Resoln and Pariden. Why because their leaders are sexy sexy women!

I've only played custom factions, but I like making heavy armour archer units so I've been using the trogs during the last few faction makes.  The weight bonus helps me have higher initiative  & the +1 to attack helps as well.  I don't even use the juggernauts

my apologies for not having a standard faction when I play, but with my custome setup I have archers with all but the chest piece of master plate (use a +5monk robe or somethin), they have both +3 fire/ice attack necklaces & both initiative necklaces, a two essence city with two more essence added through other means with aura of haste (or whatever it's called, +1 initiative per essence & the +1 fire attack per essence spell & +1 defense per essence spell) = gives me some archers with really high defense, attack of 20ish (with last upgradable bow), & an initiative of I think 27

Resolin or Pariden. They have 'enough' magic to make the game fully dynamic.

Resoln.  All I play.  I love magic, and those who can mightily wield it.

Tarth... not because of master scouts, but because of their bows... I'm a sucker for a bow and arrow.

Yea me 2

Sincerely
~ Kongdej

Yes, it's true: my love affair with Procipinee ended after her spellbooks doubled in point cost.  Irreconcilable differences, you see.  She went back to her mirror, and I moved on to custom sovereigns.  These days I typically prefer a mix of the Light spellbook, with different backgrounds and traits, and a race that has Enchanters and Betrayers.

If I was asked at wand point to choose a couple of lore-based rulers to play, I'd opt for Kraxis or Gilden.  More heroes and better defenses for Kraxis, all those lovely stacking HPs for Gilden.

On the empire side I like Magnar. There is nothing more pure and wholesome than sending six slave armies at a city to weaken it for your quendar fire mages to invade.

I have not played as Kraxis are they able to use all spears as one handed? I don't see this in a trait description or in the manual?

Altar. They are quite frankly, the most powerful by a very long way, and also the most enjoyable imo.

You haven't tasted power until you've roamed the world with an Epic army of seven heroes, all of them >lvl 30. Make your soverign a mage (since henchmen have only limited magical capability) and use your army of henchmen as carriers for all the legendary weapons you inevitably pick up while adventuring. Watch entire empires fall to your little handful of people.

Forget about the other "magical" nations. Altar can have all the mages they want, mages with insanely high levels and tons of inherent defense without having to touch armor. Bonus points if you happen to make friends with pariden and buy a few spellbooks from them.

The free prestige from completing quests also allows them to reach incredible city sizes that take most people forever. And to top it off, they get a unique leather cuirass (early armor tends to be with you for a long time) and two powerful unique swords. As i've discussed elsewhere, swords are overpowered weapons, and athican swords are just that, with a cherry on top. 

I like pariden too, but i don't really see how anyone can compare to the altarians.