Why are Sages fair? Opinions wanted!

[Chazar]

@Tuidjy & The Panther:What were the map sizes and magic site frequency in the examples cited?

Tuidjy wrote:Sages are rather common and available to everyone.

I really doubt that for lower magic site frequency (<= 40%) on smaller maps (50-120 provinces with 5-10 players)!

In my last game as C'tis Miasma on Inland map with 7 players, I built shamen with highest priority, but had no chance to compete in research and got swarmed by summons. Well, admittingly my fault was that I realized to late to go for construction and lightless laterns, but at least that gave me the feeling to catch up a bit... And, I have to admit that as well, the shamen where quite some fun on the battlefield as my nation got steam-rolled...

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Well, I am not on a crusade to nerf the sages! I just feel that there is something wrong with them under the settings I depicted above - and I am still wondering how to fix this problem with a mod for myself, for I am not aware of any way to fix them that would make me really happier about them right now! I am thus contemplating some ideas here to mod sages, and ask whether people would think that those are fair. After all a mod is only useful if I can convince my fellow players to accept it...