[Graeme Dice]

Originally posted by Wendigo:
The mages are far from cheap, only 1 in 8 of the higher class will roll astral 3.

Thaumaturgs are not that expensive, which is what the original poster was referring to for use as a communicant.

All the above nations will Magic duel your Broken Empire mages to nothingess, so you either field no mages or lose them all. Unlike, say Marignon, Abysia or Midgard Vanheim who can choose to field their other (non astral) mages.

I think you overrate the danger of magic duel, as even in DOM 1 an astral 3 mage had a (3+1d6)/(5+1d6) chance of beating an astral 5 mage in a duel.