Finally really got into crating
After numerous games where I more or less ignored crafting (it's a very intimidating part of the game with how many different items there are and how much micro is involved with equipping units), I decided to really sit down and give it a shot with a Master Dwarf as MA Ulm.
Had an absolute blast. I still have no idea what half these things do, I'm late game now with tons of gems and crafters with dwarf hammers and a rainbow pretender, I'm making all kinds of ridiculous stuff.
Lightless lanterns have been amazing, basically doubling my research for very very cheap.
I'm kitting out Iron angels with Bone armor, dual fire brands, iron face, hydra armor and two girdles of might and setting them to attack rear. They just obliterate entire mage lines in a couple turns. It's glorious.
I have dozens of priests with bows of war, they've been eviscerating backlines like a hot knife through butter with the precision and range buff bless.
At this point I'm just making random unique artifacts that I have no idea how good they are, and just kitting out my commanders with random crap and watching them roam free like a kid at a playground with a quad barrel RPG and power armor.
Finally getting to the water war and found out that poison golems can solo entire armies with the same build as my iron angels.
This game is wonderful.