Re: Mind Hunt problems
 

Penetration doesn't help protect against enemy astral mages cutting the cord. It helps if you scout and deduce where the enemy has no astral mages before attempting the attack. The success rate can be pretty good if you know where there are vulnerable unprotected targets...

Re: Mind Hunt problems
 

that helps, thanks.

Re: Mind Hunt problems
 

How do you figure out what's there?

Re: Mind Hunt problems
 

Well, one way is to only mind hunt in provinces which just had a battle, so you know exactly what's there. This is a pretty good way to put a stop to raiding by highly mobile/stealthy troops.

Re: Mind Hunt problems
 

Yes, spies and scouts are a good way, and viewing combat replays is another. Note that if you have a scout in a province where other people are fighting, you get to watch the battle replay there, and the victim may tend to suspect his opponent if a battle is followed the next turn by attacks like Mind Hunt. If you look at the troops remaining in the last battle in a province, you can see who will probably be in there when your Mind Hunt will strike (assuming no other magic happens in between).

Other basic safety deductive techniques include using Mind Hunt against enemies who generally don't have astral mages, and attacking forces beseiged inside a castle (and when they run out of leaders, they'll rout when stormed).

Like assassination and other sneaky attacks, Mind Hunt can win a battle by removing an enemy commander as his force is moving to combat, so that the troops he was leading get left behind and an enemy army arrives at the battle incomplete...

Re: Mind Hunt problems
 

Since recruitment happens before rituals, it might be a good plan to avoid Mind Hunting in a Lizard province or anywhere else an Astral mage can be recruited.