[PvK]

Just a few points:

* The placement diagram is I think wrong in that the available placement square is just about the entire side of the neutral zone, and the default placement area is in the middle of the available placement square, but doesn't touch the neutral zone.

* I think adding a couple of bodyguards will reduce the chance of a mage getting hit roughly in the way Fate describes. Of course it also helps a lot in the event of a not-overwhelming melee attack too. I don't think a couple of bodyguards are very likely at all to attract any more enemy fire than the mage would, unless they are a targetable type (large monster, missile, or cavalry) and the enemy uses such orders (much more risk against human players). I guess it might be an increase if the enemy has single missile snipers set to Fire Rearmost.

* Technically, Curse has some risk of extra afflictions for any unit that might get hurt, not just melee.