Use of mages

[Crafty]

Newbie here I need tips on the use of mages!

I almost always just use them for research, and then when construction is high enough, i start forging stuff.

Trying to figure out how to do the upgrading path tricks with items and summons e.g get a N2 mage add a thistle mace, with N3 get a Ivy king who is *naturally* N3, add mace to get a N4 etc..

But one thing I'm still wondering is, how efficient mages are in battle. I know it depends on what mages you are using, but is it generally worth while to drag a couple of mages with your elite troops just to have them cast battle field magic? Sure there are some special tactics like Wind guide , flaming arrow with archers, but in general are they worth it?

So far, the only time my mages see battle is if they are attacked in their nice fortress+lab... Is that a mistake? Should I be more warlike with my mages?

Any national specific advise is welcome as well.

[GameExtremist]

Mages often make the difference between victory or death.

Use them in your battles for buffing your troops and also for countering your enemy troops strengths and weaknesses.

[Cor]

Yes it is a mistake. take a few with your large armies.

Battlefield wide buffs are priceless.
Flaming arrows also works on slingers, turning a crappy chaff into deadly chaff.

[thejeff]

Or the area effect, large number of effect evocations.

Falling Fire/Frost, Shadow Blast, Nether Darts, Blade Wind, Magma Eruption.

[sum1lost]

from my experiences in dom 2, the right buffs can create some nasty forces- machakas chaff units become deadly with flaming arrows and windguide

[Ironhawk]

Mages *are* the firepower of an advanced army. Recruitable units are, by and large, just meatshields after a certain point. Look into the battlefield enchantment attack spells and also the higher level AOE battlefield spells.

[Novi]

Oh, the pleasure!

Frying your opponents with Thunder Strikes, Magma Eruptions etc. or mincing them with those blood-thirsty, fire-spitting Archangels (Glory to the nation of Pythium!)is a rapture beyond your wildest dreams!

However, there is one very irritating issue regarding the use of heavy battlefield spells. Gems. You have to keep your mages stocked up if you want them to have any effect and dealing with this sort of micro-management is NOT fun - at least in SP games I find it very tedious and time-consuming.