Earthquake
 

How effective is earthquake for dealing with 20+hp mages? Also, does it affect friendlies as well?

I'm playing through some SP games, as I am very new, and I have a few nations throwing a lot of astral mages at me. I can't seem to script anything to deal with them before they mind burn me down.

Re: Earthquake
 

Earthquake does affect friendlies as well including the caster. How effective it will be against those mages depend on how well they are geared and how many times you can cast earthquake.

Something else cool to keep in mind about Earthquake is that if you have a blessed caster casting it with a death bless, the spell benefits from the increased chance to cause afflictions.

Re: Earthquake
 

Caec - it sounds like a better idea might be some thugs with mr resist items like rainbow armour, starshine skullcap, amulet of mr.

But if you don't have the paths for that, another trick against mind burn hordes is to just use a lot of chaffy troops.

Earthquake will struggle to kill 20 hp units though.

Re: Earthquake
 

What about throwing up 4ish mages with some basic construction 2 heavier armor/shield scripted to all cast earthquake in the first round?

Re: Earthquake
 

Heavier armour and a shield is actually sort of a bad idea, since earthquake checks to hit versus defence, which will be garbage with that. Your mages will also all be extremely fatigued after the quake, and will probably get ganked.

Sticking on def items is probably a better bet. Parrying jitte, ice sword, cat charm etc.