IMO, given equal resouces in Iron, a good Egyptian player can give Phoe fits, but Phoe's economy is so much better early on due to that woodchopping bonus, which off course as the game reaches Iron and both sides have craftsmanship is reduced on percentage terms. I feel that on watery maps,Phoe is the second fastest civ in ROR.Perhaps, Yassy (who's peons are now only 18% faster) could still beat them to a 20 peon fast bronze, but throw in a few fishing boats and Phoe is clearly going to have a better economy when it bronzes vs yassy. I think in a pure iron race phoe is faster than yassy. My game was essentially decided
because I ironed way ahead of the egyptian and massacred a huge horde of CA's/chariots near the shallows with my'remes. Off course, phoe scythe are no match for egypts but phoe's priests are equal to egypt's except for a very important -3 range ! Still, I have found phoe's priests useful for reconverting phants in battle. Phoe had many diverse options... just think how many priests egypt will need to put a dent into 50 phoe legions accompanied by scythe/phants/CA's etc.
Elijeh, I urge you to try Phoe jug's, they shoot as fast as a ballista and have 12 range and 36 atk w/damage area as large as a cat or Hcat(I tested it !) Hele's shoot 42 atk twice as fast, but only have the same 12 range and die after 2 hits.