You can always mix and match the best units of neutrals/vikings with the cost of losing morale bonuses (which is usually worth losing early on).
Some of the units are pretty indispensable but probably doable without. Especially if you can tolerate some losses since animals are quite plentiful.
I used Ancient Bears because super early on they can tank a nerfed ranged shot from afar then heal up. I wouldn't have been able to minimize losses without the hibernation (only 4 healing scrolls, and as a Viking/Warrior, so I can't just heal willy nilly). They also gain morale bonuses from Maidens (no maidens for my soothsayer run yet, but my Viking did get some).
Plus you have the -15% bear/wolf leadership trainer jacket from the end of the first island which is guaranteed (but by then I'd rather not use bears, but it is probably possible as that is a HUGE boost early on).
<shrugs> in all of my "minimal" or nearly no loss runs, I had to hatch the snakes to throw off the AI. I'm surprised I was able to no-loss Uladar with it.
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