Starting in The Untamed Lands

[Olorin]

What Kingdom would be your choice to start in The Untamed Lands?  What actions would be a good start? Where would you choose to expand, all things being equal?

Starting Advantages:
[12] The Untamed Lands
1) Two companion brigades of highest defense rating  in 1st group as Regular
2) gains Black Owl Totem
3) additional Adept in 1st group
4) Companion brigades recruited in The Untamed Lands hired at 50% normal cost (both food/gold).
5) Popcenters recruit: Mythians, Nyvarians, Zamorans
6) Gains 0 fleets 

Popcenter Recruits
Each are listed, then their abbreviation, followed by their ability ratings: in this order

The ranking, from best to worst,  is Superior +[SS], Superior[S], Excellent[E], Very Good[VG], Good[G], Above Average[AA], Average[A], Below Average[BA], Poor[P], Very Poor[VP], Not a Factor[N]

Long Range Missile, Short Range Missile, Charge, 1st Round Melee, 2nd Round melee, Combined, Storm[PC], Defense [standard food/gold payment per turn]

Zamorans [ZA] [4000/6000] AA-G-A-AA-AA-A-A-A [1600/1600]
Nyvarians [NY][4000/6000] A-A-G-A-A-AA-A-AA [2000/2000]
Mythians [MY] [6000/8000,  1 VETERAN Brigade]G-VG-A-A-A-AA-AA-G [1700/2100]

[Strongwill]

Untamed:

My fav Kingdoms to play here, RD/BL/TY and anyone who can get companions like Hill Giants (HI), Mammoths (MA), Ogres (OG), Trolls (TR), and any special companions that have huge initial cost and maintenance costs. Many good kingdoms can go here.

I like Zamoran troops (3) give 10% valor bonus. Improved weapon and armor can boost the defensive value of troops, and a good wizard can really boost the defense rating of even crap troops like skeletons.

I also like mixing my troop types to get different bonus that can stack with spells:

Westmem (3) non green 10% shield bonus, Zamorans (3) non green 10% valor bonus,
Orcs over 4 give 5% moral up to 35%.
As well as a ton of others, all can be found in rule book. Only bonus not capped is shield bonus. Fear/valor/moral/ all capped at 35% from all sources, so plan well spell/troop type bonus to get the max amount of your fight.

So to answer question in nut shell almost any kingdom is good there, I like pop recruited troops with a bonus like valor/fear/moral. And I like to take kingdoms with big bad expensive companions because the cost reduction of untamed lands. lol hope this helps.