So how about extending the depth of the casting queue?
 

I mean how about it?

Nothing more fun that seeing your casters casting lots of buffs once the 5 spells are cast. It's cool!

Re: So how about extending the depth of the casting queue?
 

BTW, I can't not WAIT to hear from the people who will argue that it would "upset balance".

Re: So how about extending the depth of the casting queue?
 

I never want to hear this phrase in reference to such a thing to my face. Because if anyone ever says this to my face, I will slug them.

Re: So how about extending the depth of the casting queue?
 

Sounds like a great idea... all depends on how time consuming and complex it would be to make this work for dominions_2. A way for gamers to disable spells for commanders would also be great.

Re: So how about extending the depth of the casting queue?
 

<font size="2" face="sans-serif, arial, verdana">Once again you and I are in agreement.

Re: So how about extending the depth of the casting queue?
 

<font size="2" face="sans-serif, arial, verdana">There are also plenty of times when you also want your casters to buff themselves and those around them after they run through their script.

And yes, there is definetly a chance that game balance would be affected when a SC could buff themselves to complete invulnerability. For example, with an unlimited script, I would pick something like:
Quickness, invulnerability, soul vortex, phoenix pyre, resist magic, iron will, elemental fortitude, resist lignhinng, resist fire, resist cold, resist poison, summon earthpower, body ethereal, personal luck, astral weapon, astral shield, breath of winter, fire shield, mirror image, mistform, personal regeneration, strength of gaia, etc.

You know that the enemy will eventually surround you, which is really what you want, since you can continue to buff at a rate of 1 spell a round after that point. Or you could tell them to attack for a single round to make sure that you get close enough to do some damage while you contiune to power up.

Re: So how about extending the depth of the casting queue?
 

I certainly would enjoy more control over combat, and particularly over my mages.

I think what this comes down to unfourtunately is a conceptual decision on the part of the designers. The amount of control, that is limited control, that you have over the mages is fairly consistent with the amount of control you have over the combat as a whole. I might even say that that is pushing it, and that the mages actually are more flexible than any other part of the combat engine as it stands.

Comparing to MoM, HoMM, or AoW in all of which every unit gets round by round control by the user, Dom2's mages are already getting very special treatment compared to its Inf, Cav and Archers.

I'm not saying that I don't think expanding the spellcasting interface and level of user control is not a FANTASTIC idea. I'm just saying that as it stands, I find the current level of mage control consistent with the rest of the package.

Re: So how about extending the depth of the casting queue?
 

I would just like to state that I LIKE the limited control. The idea with "Cast specific spell" would be cool. though, as would a "attack mages", which would target the nearest character that had cast a spell.

Attack leaders, however, would be extremely uncool.

All this is in thread with my "Micromanagement is bad theme".

(If I had my way, you would not be able to build armies except at your capital. At all http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon7.gif That would also make light infantry more useful.)

Re: So how about extending the depth of the casting queue?
 

The option to enbale/disable spells from the casting selection screen would suffice. You would still have to choose whether to cast or attack after the fifth, but if you choose to cast at least there would be some control to avoid casting spells that are inappropriate/unwanted.

Re: So how about extending the depth of the casting queue?
 

<font size="2" face="sans-serif, arial, verdana">Maybe you just need to rethink your playing style. I've found that I can greatly reduce the level of micromanagement I suffer through a few simple adaptations to my playstyle, and avoiding certain micromanagement-intensive nations. This allows me to easily complete even the late-game, massive-map turns in less than an hour easily. Going faster helps, too!