[Wendigo]

Then you should rename the thread PDF, because your example proves nothing.

This was a mistake of the strategic AI sending to the arena a mage that knew no combat spells (ie, had a little thau research, but no evo or alt research). Mages default to cast, if the mage just knows crap he will cast crap regardless of how good or bad the spell AI be.

Despite the nay-sayers, the spell AI is one of the best parts of the game. You want some proof? get the same mage, research evo1 & thau1 and send him to the arena...he will cast star fires instead of com master/slave. But you cannot plant melons & expect apples to grow.