[onomastikon]

Hello, still new here, and have these basic questions which lead up to the general plea for help in tactical positioning:

1. I notice my casting commanders (incl pretender) keep casting the same old spell each round, e.g. endless Strength of Gaias, Sermons, Legions of Steel, Blessings, etc -- but those effects are not cumulative (right?), so it just seems a waste. But I dont see a setting for "cast some spells and then go attack" or "cast only a few good spells, but not the same ones over and over" -- any tips?
I dont think I understand the spellcasting thing well yet.

2. Also I notice my Commanders, e.g. my Pretender (an Earth Mother with ok equipment) will under default cast crappy spells until she is blue in the face but wont trample anyone -- unless I set "attack", which I have tried a few times with success. But then she wont cast *any* spells. Any tips here?

3. Even when I really try to do a nice battlefield setup (troop positioning on those little green fields), general mayhem happens (horsement dont flank until it's too late, etc). Any tips here?

ok much obliged.