Mages – their development.

with three creature development options

Maybe I didn't understand correctly, but you probably meant two…

And of course, city development!

It depends on which maps you play… If it’s a late-game map, one type of city upgrade is better; if it’s a rush strategy, another is better. Please clarify.

I don't quite understand who you want to play against…? Against the Order? If so, there's already a thread about that… Here's here where you can read more…