Re: MA T'ien Ch'i - a little of this, a little of that and BAM!
 

Yes, but spectres are the only easily available ones. Several nations have them, try talking to your allies.

I think there are some from sites as well. Shadow Seers?

Re: MA T'ien Ch'i - a little of this, a little of that and BAM!
 

Another option is empowering, it's really not that prohibitively expensive for what you get. Consider if you'd have to summon 2 specters because the first one didn't get a S random then that's 40D, wheras if you empower somebody to S1 it's just 50 pearls (which can more easily be alchemized if you need them). Plus, with a little work you can empower a stealthy flier to give you better mobility. Just one stealthy astral mage cleverly deployed is often all it takes to convince your opponent to stop mindhunting - he's got no idea how many or where your astral guys are...

Re: MA T'ien Ch'i - a little of this, a little of that and BAM!
 

Empowering would be very good option if i didn't have spectres reseached yet. I really need the astral gems for other stuff and i really dislike alchemizing (i have no idea how i should write that word =P ) gems. There is no useless gems in dominions :D. If i get spectre whit wrong randoms that means i just got one more dark knowledge caster...

Flying is very good idea. I think i will give some winged shoes to the spectres. I guess 2-3 of this dudes should be plenty enough.

To thejeff: thanks for the tip. The problem is i am playing heads up :D

Re: MA T'ien Ch'i - a little of this, a little of that and BAM!
 

Isn't astral a 40% chance per level to protect against mind hunt? The astral mage would be more likely to die than to feeblemind the caster.

I might be misremembering.

Re: MA T'ien Ch'i - a little of this, a little of that and BAM!
 

It's 40% chance per astral level. That's why you give your S1 spectres an astral cap :)

Re: MA T'ien Ch'i - a little of this, a little of that and BAM!
 

and crystal coin preferably so you can teleport and have 100% protection (if you can forge/trade for it).

It sucks on the 60%/20% off chance it gets through AND hits your spectre, also for players armed with GoH, Chalice, national healers and fairy queens to brute force your incomplete protection if there is enough need.