[BigDaddy]

Well, you take indies and maybe even enemy provinces with a handfull of heavy infantry, of course.

Plus, you have to keep him around in case there is a non-FR SC.

I tend to think of that particular unit as a defensive unit to use especially with PD against armies. He also has enough HP to be useful with some armor for casting close range spells as well.

But, against a FR opponent, he can only smite.

If you need a temple destroyed or something, especially if you have a financial advantage, it may be well worth it to use this unit to take a providence, even if it endagers his long term survival.

Most stuff is not immune to Falling Fires.

Maybe I'm just confused, because I thought using a mage like this was standard fare. If he can destroy 2 temples of something before dying, he's probably done well for himself. I don't think that qualifies him as a thug, cause he performs better against small armies with a little protection of his own... in some ways, a minimal investment.