Well for me I don't really need level 5 units; I need units that will create distractions (royal griffons, royal thorns, demologists, shamans...). A few key spells also help (not all of them but at least a few) (gift, fire rain, phantom, time back, ...)
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In my current 'hard' game up to (and including verona) I have had almost no luck with troups and spells. I didn't help my cause by vertically in damage spells skills but I in the end it probably was the best option simply due to lack of spells found.
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At the same time i started a normal mage (since the hard mage is such slow pace) and that game is utterly breeze not just due to easier skill level but before reaching verona (and verona was a gold mind once I started exploring it) I had royal thorns, royal griffons, demologists, fire rain, phantom, gift, ...
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This ignores items though in my hard game items haven't been that bad (I started with the +10 mind (banner) AND +10 warrior rune (sword); though it drained most of my cash) and found a +3int/stuff helm long with a +3 defense/+2 int shield.
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Still debating what to do with the guard. The elven guy is 4int but not sure 4int is all it is cut up to when compared with 700 leadership. Also the 700 ledership guy allows me to use better items.
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Originally Posted by loreangelicus
I've never played mage, but I'm beginning to understand now. I play paladin on impossible, and actually got got a pretty good save game start wherein the duplicate Bolo navi map in Scarlet always gives me Call Colossus. Unfortunately, the paladin does not have enough spell power (ie. intellect) and mana regeneration to employ such a tactic; and this is not even counting the inability to raise Distortion and Chaos high enough at the starting levels. Sure, I could still solo unit the first few islands without losses, but the best I could probably do is to get Order/Heal to level 2 and spend 50+ turns flying around my Red Dragon and throwing a breath attack from a distance every couple of turns. 
I assume rage generation is not a problem for you given that you have "sacrificial lambs" to dish out pain; rage is critical for digging up chests for wanderer scrolls, specifically Ancient Knowledge. I think the problem encountered by other mage players is that they don't get lucky with spells and units. I believe the early game solo unit strategy for mages relies heavily on level 5 units being available, be it in shops or via Call Colossus. Even with a full complement of spells, is there a suitable level 1-4 unit that could be used to solo? |