Magic Items and Equiping ?

[Gandalf Parker]

Definetly. One thing I like to do alot is assign knights to a mounted leader. Put them on a flank just slightly back from my front-line infantry. Have the knights "guard commander" and have the commander hold/hold/hold/attack-rearmost. That allows time for the enemys rush to reach my frontline troops, and makes it more sure for my flankers to get around past them.

Doing the same with flyers can also help make sure that the enemy commanders are standing alone before the flyers attack them.

[Taqwus]

I have used the Chalice (admittedly while abusing Tartarian Gate), can't remember ever seeing an attack from that. Horror attacks, however, are a different matter. I suspect that some items not only horror mark you (making it more likely that a horror or Ashen Angel will preferentially attack you) but also increase the chance of a horror arriving at all. The Gift of Kurgi might be one of these, and the Forbidden Light almost certainly is. OTOH, Mage Bane, which does horror mark you, doesn't seem to attract 'em in droves by itself.

[PvK]

From a practical cost-effectiveness standpoint, I think adding combat equipment to warrior commanders is a speculative investment. It has a big effect on their personal effectiveness and survival, but not as big an effect as summons or other gem uses on battle victory... up to a point. However, once abilities become great enough, from items and experience and heroic abilities and buffs, they can become more and more powerful, able to either take out large numbers of enemies, or able to take out opponents which the regular troops can't handle.

There are also considerations such as a large group of summons requiring a bunch of supplies and leadership to add to an army, while magic gear doesn't require either. It can sometimes Last a lot longer, too.

PvK