Favorite faction

Favorite faction is Gilden. Dat iron golem unit!

And Markin is just like playing my paladin in wow.

Strongest faction, Definitely Yithril them juggernauts! The weakest is the undead factions when managed by the AI. They rarely manage to settle new cities. I once saw one with three new villages. I overran them.

Definitely the Resoln faction, I hate their hyper dodge wraiths to the point where I always make a commander sovereign. x.x

Mancers - I mean Capitar. they are a bit materialistic, but also least affected by cataclysm and also they seem to be very mundane people. remind me of Romans (I mean, having a city called Ruvenna - very direct reference to Italianite culture). they never lived under Titans's slavery and love money, art and a bit violence in those colosseums

They're probably my favorite actually... I agree with you on the Dodge... I don't really like that as a racial bonus... but I like the interesting extra units, Spiders and the binding demons.  Not that they're all that great... but they're fun.

Yeah, Resoln is also my favorite faction. They feel the most magicky, I guess.

I love Binding, and the Wraith Touch ability can come in very handy. I actually do not use Death Worship a lot and I hardly ever train a spider.

All in all, they are a mixed bag. But every time I play another faction, I still expect to get an Elemental when I develop a shard and get really disappointed when nothing happens...

I like all factions, but I'll probably never play a faction that focuses on military might instead of magic, like Gilden or Yithril.

I don't have a clear favourite and I also don't think any faction stands out as being stronger than the others. I think StarDock did a tremendously good job designing these factions, absolutely brilliant! The one exception is the Dead which - while probably my favourite faction if I must pick one - simply isn't balanced. I'm a sucker for the undead units and the whole faction concept, though!

I'm also in the camp that dislikes the non-magic factions. Gilden is probably my least favourite faction with their slow and cumbersome style. My custom pwnage faction uses a combination of magic and swordplay and gets the best from Pariden and Altar.

I think Pariden may be a contender for the slightly-better award if one must be picked: They have some incredible empire-building skills with the combination of the Arcane Monolith spell and especially the Scrying Pool, and they can still hold their own in combat. If the game drags on, Pariden will be in a good position to win. They're not as hot if the map is small and cramped with players - then the Empires are more likely to dominate. On a large map, though, you won't beat Pariden.

Yithril is easily the strongest and scariest faction in the hands of the AI.

My personal favourite would be the Dead and Pariden. I'm also a real sucker for Undead units and Undead factions, and I like factions more based on magic because I really love that stuff. Resoln is a lot cooler, but somehow I tend to do a lot better with Pariden. I bet the arcane monolith has something to do with that...

Pariden. More magic is better.

Pariden--because on a Medium map or smaller, with decent enemies, they just don't get the time for the slow growth they need to push magic. Creates a nice challenge.

 Pariden. With the scrying pools I can assure getting an enchantment slot to cast Bless City and reduce unrest in newly conquered cities.

Altar - I like henchmen.

I like Tarth, mostly because of their backstory of being liberated gladiators.  After watching Spartacus I can't help but root for Tarth.  

Also, Glory and Gore by Lorde is totally their theme song.

Favorite: RESOLN. They rule. Reasons? Plenty:

1. You get free, expendable soldiers for every shard/shrine/altar
2. Convert shrines to Death Shards for even more powerful spells
3. Wraith Touch is a super-ability. I personally stick to spearmen/militia/swordsmen until I can get my "Dark Riders". As they level, so the wraith touch. I can take down demons/dragons/whatever because my soldiers are practically vampires dealing armor-ignoring, 70+ DMG each. 
4. Juggernauts??? Who's afraid with them missing their attacks just to get their lives sucked dry?
5. The fact that you can get high Dodge units thrills me to add to this fact.
6. Graveseal is a superb spell that will make the strongest of enemies, die in a very humiliating way.
7. Curse is another spell I'm fond of. 
8. Last but not least, Resoln have access to the spell KILL. Enough said.

Most Powerful: Have to say Yitril? As in raw power. Is easy to climb up the power rating with them. Also they are a bit cheesy, just research Juggernauts and mass-produce them. You've pretty much won.

Don't like: The Dead. Should stay dead for this game.