Tip: Counter to Darkness?

[Saxon]

Depending on the game, you may find that the other player is having a tough time keeping the death gems arriving in his army. Also, there is probably only one mage scripted to cast Darkness and that mage may only have enough gems to cast it once.

So, try to force them to cast when they don't want to. Cast a spell which attacks the army during the magic phase, just to make them cast. Call of the Winds, the undead horsemen spell, things like that. Then attack with your real army in the same turn and they won't have the gems to cast it again. Alternativly, just keep forcing battles, so they burn up gems. An army on the march, without labs, can run out of gems relativly easily. If nothing else, it will force them to use gems on this, instead of summons or forging.

Obviously, if you have a good and organized opponent, this is not a sure fire counter. But it does increase the pressure on them and create a chance you will get an opportunity.