[kasnavada]

Another possible thugging possibility is by using Pans (why the hall do I find mages better thugs than the regular commander is beyond me). However, a bit (lot) more research is required. The base for this one would be earth spells, for example : invulnerability, which gives your pan 27 (or more) protection. Iron skin (did I get the name right? I'm at work now) also works. With a weapon, eye shield, messenger boots and luck amulet, it is pretty effective.

It does have drawbacks however : having little defense, I got 2 of them killed by indy carrions, due to fatigue (yeah, on that test game, I got 5 provinces taken over by independants in about 4 turns...). Most attack hit the pan, but the pan is protected and doesn't take 'regular' damage. However, fatigue attack hit, and result in death for the pan. The second problem is that pans are your main mages, so using them as thugs is probably not as effective as using them as mages.