Good one handed weapon for mages?

[Turin]

So I´m in a game where I can forge all 5gem items for 1 gem and all 10 gem items for 2 gems. This means I have to build a ****load of crap.
So my caelum mages need some equipment, but I couldn´t find anything useful except for faithful/runesmasher/main gauche of parrying. Problem is, they can get luck easily already from the shield slot.
Caelums spells are mostly direct damage, so the runesmasher isn´t that useful.
And the maingauche helps only in melee combat, and if that happens the mage is in trouble anyway, because he is probably fatigued out.

So is there anything else useful to put there which I have overlooked?

[Zen]

You can try another shield (it never hurts) if you are going to go for something fun and are facing alot of SC's or elite armies (at this point) try Totem Shields.

Also if you don't have access to good undead nuking spells, a Herald Lance is always a good pick (with Standard). Summer Sword for Tangle Vines (again, if you are facing some SC's).

Faithful as a main weapon then a Shield of Gleaming Gold isn't too shabby if you are dealing with things with morale.

[Pocus]

I know its not a hand slot, but foremost you should add reinvigoration items: girdle of might (reinving 3), boots of messenger (reinving 4) and then rainbow armor (some protection and reinvig too).

Then I bet you will too busy to even think of the hand slot.

Otherwise Zen items are good choice. I would add the firebrand, for the increased fire protection, but only if you are suspicious that the enemy can cast fire from afars or flames from the skies. The extra 50 fire resistance will make the difference between having his mages roasted and having 80% surviving.

[Turin]

ah that was what I was looking for, an item with partial resistance that I missed.
So my caelum mages will get a standard gear of firebrand, luck shield, dragon helmet, rainbow armor,boots of the messenger,ring of tamed lighning and a bottle of living water.

That makes them flying, immune to all elements,lucky, reinvig 7, 16+ MR mages with decent protection, who are accompanied by a water elemental at all times. And all for the cost of only 10 gems.

[Pocus]

11 gems and 7 mage-times, all with a dwarven hammer...

[Boron]

You could instead just forge 50 more clams / turn .

Or forge 7 gears for SCs/thugs per turn if you use all 7 items on your SC/thug .

A caelan mage is imo so cheap that it is a complete waste equipping him .

I would probably do 50 extra clams / turn . That is 1 extra wish every 2 turns . Just wish for blood or EliteScs and win the game with that .

Cause if you give your mages a weapon + a shield then you should also give them a ring of fire resistence and an armor to avoid flames from the sky and stuff like Earthquake/Falling Skies .

Caelums mages are so cheap but as well physically a bit fragile . You have probably something like 50 castles already so you could build 50 new mages every turn . So just don't mess with equipping them .

It is imo one of the worst investments you can do in dominions 2 ( expect in the special age of men game and games with similiar houserules ) .

[tinkthank]

Turin said:
This means I have to build a ****load of crap.

That's an interesting expression. What about a turd for a paddle?

Well, you don't HAVE to build anything, but I like Zen's suggestions. I frequently go dual-shields with mages, and am a particular friend of the Crystal Shield as a second shield if I can afford it, and it looks like you can. I use this for my S&A CM's, usually with Rainbow Armor, Boots of the Messenger, a Starshine Skullcap (you wont want that as Caelum, so choose something tastier), a Lucky Coin, a Water Bracelet (also nice for Caelum), and a Clam for casting PotS. (<-- watch Boron freak: OMG, youre using clams instead of hoarding them??)
Frankly, I use Bottles of Water on assassins, I dont think it is worth it out in the field, but that is up to you of course. As Caelum, you have lots of water.
Good luck