[AreaOfEffect]

My apologies, I didn't want to come off as saying that alteration is somehow greater then evocation. They each clearly fill in a different roles. If Ry'leh is knocking on the door with a bunch of shambler thralls, you want iron blizzard. No doubt about that. I would even agree that evocation is likely to be my first pick for research. I wasn't trying to make a serious comparison between spells of completely different levels if you can believe that.

My main point is that a few spells, like petrify, are under-appreciated, mostly because they appear to be out of reach for most casters. However, earth is surprisingly easy to boost, particularly with a nation that has a forge bonus and starting earth gem income. In the case of petrify versus magma eruption, it depends highly on what units each of us are using against each other. Destruction and petrification is much more useful against a barrage of thugs then earthquake and magma eruption.

I'm a little surprised that you are much more conservative about the fielding of blood stones then you are about the fielding of thugs and gear. I've always felt that the best place for the stones is on the field of battle, not stocked away at home. Yes, they are indeed valuable and produce gems of their own, but they save you more gems and resources in battle then out. It is wonderful to have a huge supply of gems each turn, but blood stones are not clams. You can make them work for you right away and in a very powerful way. Granted, you shouldn't field all but one of them all of the time. However, you should be willing to take those flying shoes and bloody stones and place them on the field when things start to happen. Don't treat them like treasures, treat them like tools is all I say.