Teach me how to use mages!

[Twan]

If you have the full game there are spells affecting the entire battlefield and doing dammage to non protected troops.

In example you can give a staff of storms to an air mage (or cast a storm spell) and make him cast resist lightning then wrathfull skies. It's the best spell if you want to see a mage destroying an entire army (but it will affect all troops not having a resistance against lightning, including yours).

There are also the same kind of spells in other paths, fire storm (use fire fend/warriors of muspelheim to protect your troops before casting it). Foul vapors for poison, grip of winter for cold (doing stun damage).

All these spells are the best way to win assymetric wars (especially against the AIs), a mage alone (or better with a little army of troops immune to his element) can with some gems destroy hundreds of unprotected soldiers.

[Agrajag]

Well, if you want to rain death on your enemies, just research some Evocation.
Try Nether Darts, its really fun

[Nerfix]

Banefire.

[KissBlade]

To use mages correctly, you must learn range and placement on battlefield accordingly. Then recognize how spells such as buffs target, for example, body ethereal seems like it only targets the caster but it actually effects troops close by as well. Then learn which ones are magic resistable, armor negating, etc. This way you can script the most effective spell against your armies accordingly. Different nation's mages fulfill different spell needs, for example, Ryleh focuses upon Soul Slay, Enslave Mind while remote assassinating with Mind Hunts and Dreams. Caelum uses Lightning Bolts and Falling Frosts, Ermor, Nether Bolt, Nether Darts, Summon skeletons. It's hard to just give one overall general strategy for mages other than evocation has the bulk of battle magic. However,battle magic isn't always the most important school to learn, just as often you'll need buff spells, summons, boosters, etc. Which nation have you been using currently?

[NickW]

I think the bottom line that a lot of new dom players don't get is that outside of a few very specific strategies there isn't much of a place for mages on the battlefield. Just tacking a mage onto an army without a plan is basically worthless, which is counterintuitive for people who are used to mages being badasses in other fantasy games.

Mages are generally only useful if you have a battle plan built around a specific spell or two, and a good supply of gems for the commander.

[KissBlade]

NickW said:
I think the bottom line that a lot of new dom players don't get is that outside of a few very specific strategies there isn't much of a place for mages on the battlefield. Just tacking a mage onto an army without a plan is basically worthless, which is counterintuitive for people who are used to mages being badasses in other fantasy games.

Mages are generally only useful if you have a battle plan built around a specific spell or two, and a good supply of gems for the commander.

I've had this experience myself actually heh. The best way to learn how to use more mages is to play more people. You'll learn how scripting works and also magic strategy quite effectively from this.

[Nerfix]

It also helps to check what type of damage the spell does. Type as in whether it is normal, armor piercing (good) or armor negating (priceless). Bladewind does normal damage and thus can be blocked by armor. Fire spells do armor piercing damage (generaly speaking) and are more effective against armor, but armor still effects the damage it does. Some spells like Astral Fires and Mind Burn do armor negating damage that ignores armor.

Checking if the spell can be resisted by magic resistance is also useful. Don't try to use Astral Fire, Mind Burn or other Mr-resistable spells against high-MR units.

Having the mage cast path and/or precision boosters can be VERY beneficial. Especially Summon Earthpower, which gives reinvigoration. Aim and Eagle Eyes can make the mages substantially more accurate with spells.

To put it shortly, know what tools you have been given and how to use them best.

[Cainehill]

KissBlade said:
I've had this experience myself actually heh. The best way to learn how to use more mages is to play more people. You'll learn how scripting works and also magic strategy quite effectively from this.

But that mostly only works in blitzes done via IRC, where you can get immediate chat answers (sometimes). Just playing more people doesn't help much - for instance, the most _basic_ stumbling block is that you can't leave them (mages, commanders, or troops) to their default retarded position / orders. Somewhat counterintuitive to most games where units act like they have at least a 50 IQ.

(Example why I'm so harsh : Bad *** one-eyed pretender who starts with great strength and protection. Without orders, he _casts spells_ instead of attacking, even if his magic ability and precision sucks, and he really should be going melee.)