How do you spend your Gems in the early-mid game?

[Endoperez]

Spamming even one of them at the enemy's capital works. They rise unrest, and once unrest is over 100 (10 castings of any one of them will raise it way above 100) they can't recruit from their capital. It's a nasty tactic.

[Xietor]

Spamming spells on enemy capitals is a luxury. If you are 1 fighting 3-4 other nations, you may need every gem for thugs/outfitting thugs to defend your own provinces.

If your opponent is using summoned troops to a large degree,
spamming spells on his capital may not be effective. It is always fun though!

[sum1lost]

You might think it is a luxury, but early in the game, thugs don't really exist. Those spells do.

[Xietor]

I agree. The spells, including rain of toads, are excellent spells. Many times, however, I just cannot afford to spare the gems, especially if i am saving for mother oak or some other global.

[HoneyBadger]

I occasionally like to spam the spell "maggots". It works really well in games where I'm playing nature against, say, Ashen Empire.