Generals and outrunning their own bodyguards

[quantum_mechani]

Pnakotus said:
You're kidding? Even the standard generals can be effective in combat with guards; and even pretenders will get sliced by themselves. Guards are essential until you've got piles of magic items.

You would have a very hard time carving up the average MP pretender with normal troops...

Casting something like quickness, iron skin, mirror image, breath of winter, mistform on a reason able combat chassis is the usual early fighter. Magic items is is the main method of turning non-pretenders in super combatants, once you get to construction 4 there are enough items to make a good normal army killer.