[Soyweiser]

No research in alteration? Not really something you can do with a lot of nations. You need a lot of these spells. Alteration also has some of the rush stoppers.

Most of the time casting some of the buffs is irritating, but not that big of a problem.

The main problem is when your mage casts ironskin when bombarded with lightning, after you already cast stoneskin.

Or casting stoneskin when you have a chill effect.