[sushiboat]

I usually don't give non-melee mages any combat equipment at all. If I have mages sitting around the lab with nothing better to do, I might forge offensive equipment for regular commanders. They can't cast spells, and I don't want them to die in melee combat, so I might give them a bow, a summoning item, or a ranged spell item so that they can be useful. Generally, however, I forge for SC's, the Pretender, maybe the Prophet, and maybe some high HP summons who won't die easily. Mage lab time and gems are limited, so why give fulll equipment to some 10-HP national mage who could die any time?