Answering the Critics

[Unwise]

For example, to control research, Dom has just on/off switch for every mage. Compare it to something like Civ system when you can move the worked tiles around, tweak research rates, set specialists etc...

But that compares almost directly to the Civ research system. Your mages are the "tiles" -- do you use them to research, site-search, cast rituals, or lead armies? Once you decide what you want your mage/tile to be, you can set it up as a "specialist" with the appropriate gear (quill for research, boosters for summons, combat items for leaders, etc.).