Source of power.

With the Astral Gates, all the niceties go out the window. I didn't notice any range issues with the turquoise units. If I weren't playing as the Tribes of the East, it would be tough. They start with an army. And I was also "lucky" – a week of festivals and plagues. The map is beautiful, but there's no point in exploring it – jump around a couple of times and "mission complete." And yes, if you want to destroy the gates, you need a mentor.