I'm thinking about doing another playthrough.

Both of them sounds good. In my case, I have started a game with Lord Realass to try that quest loop, and some other things (I want to try to get white horses by engulfing a ranch, as you told me).

To tell you the truth, I'm not very interested in the quest loop, as I find the fact of buying quests very artificial: it breaks the idea of random quests, and the standar development of units. But the option is there, and I want to see how does it work.

So if your playthrough may help in making the developers to put an eye on Quest maps and re-think the mechanics, I vote for 1).

I recommend option 2 because helping new players is a good thing. And you give good advice.

I got the idea from another post but I am having fun with a 22 faction battle royal on the large map.

For good of the franchise, as far as helping new folk out and thereby increasing the numbers of excited folk, i'd suggest option 2. Show em how it's done on Expert without any tricky exploit. Do it from perspective of new player who isn't reading the forums regular and hasn't put much time in to ponder the exploits. Get some kinda basic E:FE game theory going on. Get em thinking along core lines. Is my vote

Kudos to you Tuidjy for doin play-throughs. 

It seems that #2 is gathering more support.  So, what should the race be?  I guess that the following are OUT:

Krax blood, Men blood, Trog blood  (these blood perks lead you into a specific strategy)

slave lords,archers, death worship, flesh bound tome (lead you into a specific strategy)

wanderlust, heroic (quest loop)

binding, stealth, master scout, enchanters, cult of a thousand eyes (game changing advantages)

Also OUT are "Beastlord" and "Adventurer" because they also define how you will play.

I am thinking of Ironeer blood (but without using any golems) and a pick of the non-synergizing perks: lucky, quick, warriors, tough, scholars, etc...  The name of the race will be "The jacks of no trade" 

The sovereign will be a serious one, though.  My standard 2 magic paths + brilliant/hardy/wealthy/clumsy/sword.

Oh, and it will be a kingdom, because I do not want to use blindness... although that leaves shrink and growth.  Hmm. I guess I will not pick Life OR Death.

Porcupine... flex those muscles!

Are you going to use the snaking mod in the game?   or is it strickly vanilla?

Strictly vanilla.  Not that I was not tempted, but the point is to show newbies a starting strategy.   Your mod should BE vanilla, but I am not holding my breath.

When are you going to break down and play my mod? All this vanilla stuff is going to stifle your skills.

Do not worry about my skills. :-)  I think that playing a no-strength race is going to be good practice. 

As for your mod... I am just worried that too many boards are still dominated by people who can't make it through the beginning of vanilla Fallen Enchantress.  I mean, there's three threads like this on the front page here.

Lets lure the fresh meat, then we can indulge....

OK, I started the play-through - option (2).  The thread is here, but of course, it's barely started.

Aww I didn't get to recommend a hugely overpowered race of "Amarrians, Warriors, Assassin's Tools, Researchers, No Armour"...

Sincerely
~ Kongdej