Re: Spell usage for melee units with magic
 

Yeah, leaving them to cast spells has really only worked with pretenders. A F9E9 Cyclops, buffed and ordered to cast, is far more efficient raining fire and lava down on his enemies heads than swatting at them with a sword.

Re: Spell usage for melee units with magic
 

Thanks all for suggestions and such. It's too bad, and a bit annoying to me, that the AI isn't set to do such things such as cast spells and attack.

It would be nice if the AI was smart enough to do things such as attack but, if surrounded by enemies, could cast something like Immolation. The fact that the AI can not simultaneously cast spells and attack seems to make certain spells next to useless (e.g. Hand of Death).

And thanks for the info about Soul Vortex. The manual didn't seem to make it obvious that it is continuous... it actually sounds useful now http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/cool.gif

Re: Spell usage for melee units with magic
 

The short range spells are useful. They just can't really be scripted.
They get used when the bad guys reach your mages. I've seen the Hand of Death types save mages from assassins and the Immolation types do serious damage when the lines have been breached or fliers get to the mages.

You really don't want your buffed and fully equipped SC to start casting attack spells most of the time. The fatigue will get him killed. And if he's not buffed and fully equipped you don't want your mage attacking. Let him sit back and be artillery.

Re: Spell usage for melee units with magic
 

My script for Tir Na Nog glamour riders.

Blessing, MistForm, Resist lightning, attack once, Shock Wave, attack closest.

I give Frost Brand, Valor Shield, Startshine Cap (if I have), Rainbow armour, Girdle of Might, and Bracers. All cheap, 5-10 early items.

Insane raiders. Will kill any PD, will never be catched, and is an example you can use close range spells in melee.

Re: Spell usage for melee units with magic
 

I've done Earthpower, Ironskin/Invulnerability, attack one turn, Flame Eruption x2, (nothing) with Dai Oni before and it worked pretty well. The one turn of attack gets you in range for FE and the reinvig from Earthpower keeps you going in melee after that. (Additional reinvig from items still helps, though. If you're skilled enough in Death and have the research you may want to add Soul Vortex to the buff list.)

A few gems are helpful so you don't go into battle fatigued.