On the effective early use of Pretenders in combat

[AhhhFresh]

Originally posted by Peter Ebbesen:
Now, if the astral 5 Wyrm is equipped with a Starshine Skullcap and a Crystal Coin (taking up two out of its four precious equipment slots, but needs must when the enemy can field astral mages), and casts Power of the Spheres and Light of the Northern Star, THEN it can probably mind duel just about anything (except for a high communion) to death and a low-level astral death squad would get a nasty surprise.

If fighting an astral pretender, is there any reason not to have every astral mage you send at it scripted:

(Communion Slave)(Communion Master)(Mind Duel)

Besides being 3 actions, increasing the chances that you mage will be dead before he can mind duel...

Other than that, the only reason I can see not to do it would be if the "spell affects every member" effect of communion had meant that if one member of the communion died from a mind duel, they all did.

But I don't think that's the case is it? I can't seem to find much information on it...