AOE1: I never understood that!
Does this mean that a high-astral mage may protect a low-astral bystander?* Does a low-astral mage might mean doom to a high-astral bystander or to a non-caster standing too close to an astral beacon?
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* (Ok, if it is highest first, then the higher astral mages protect the lower astral mages anyway anywhere on the battlefield...)