Can't figure out what I'm doing wrong

[Sandman]

Graeme Dice said:

What gives you the idea that their mages are poor? They are dirt cheap, and you will easily have multiple mages with two picks in a single path, plus guaranteed astral and nature magic. They are every bit as good as Arcoscephalian mystics used to be in Dominions II. They are probably the most magically diverse nation in the Late Era.

Their map move of 1 is a pain, although you're correct that they are better than I gave them credit for.