Magic For Dummies?

[Sandman]

If you have a nation with a strong focus in a particular magic path, a good strategy is to aim for one of the gem generator spells. For example, Mother Oak is only Alt-5, and if you research nothing but Alteration, you can get it well before the end of the second year. No-one is likely to dispel it. Best of all, you can pick up protection and swarm on the way.

[lch]

Sandman said:
If you have a nation with a strong focus in a particular magic path, a good strategy is to aim for one of the gem generator spells.

That's a turtle strategy though. If somebody sees that global go up he might consider attacking because he knows you haven't researched anything useful in combat. IMHO site searching is more useful long term than wasting gems on those spells, too.

[Lazy_Perfectionist]

Not always, Ich. For a few nations, there is a certain easily countered overlap. MA Agartha needs enchantment for Earth Blood Deep Well and their golems. As soon as your opponent sees Earth Blood Deep Well go up, they'll make opposition a priority (if astral nation). Late era Agartha has all its undead conjurations, and Well of Misery is conjuration also. To counter that, all they need is Dust to Dust (though Sepulchrals and Cave Wights are tougher than regular Wights), or Wither Bones, not to mention Undead Mastery.

[Baalz]

Yes, the gem generators are spread out. I wouldn't consider it to be a sign of weakness to show a strong evocation or conjuration research level, and those are two of the better gem generators.

[shard]

To carry on with the subject matter....

In a battle, how do you determine the order in which the mages cast spells? Is it from the top mage down in the battle settings? So that you can make, say for example, your very first mage to be the one casting storm so that the rest can benefit etc...

[Rathar]

I think that is exactly the case. Top down. Note the use of the word think.

[Shovah32]

The top-down thing can be annoying when you want to have a lower mage casting first(ie, you have a mage who can cast storm and a load who would benefit, but your storm capable mage is near the bottom).

[Rytek]

Alteration 5 for man seems to be a no brainer for me. Mother Oak, Wind guide, that dragonfly spell in huge numbers as well as phantasmal army spells. Not to mention the buff spells for your pretender if you have one awake... The trek up the enchantment tree is a vulnerable period. But its too late once you get the gift of health up. And then you are just one level away from arrow fend.. You also get fire arrows, which is very hard to make use of, unless you have fire on your pretender or perhaps a lucky enchantress...