New player seeks advice about playing a mage and the tactics for no loss

[Metathron]

Originally Posted by kcwong

I don't rush with the snakes though... I like to minimize my losses. So often the snakes will give me the chance to cast a spell and use my dragon, then wait on their first turn.

I didn't mean that you should rush forward with them, that is hardly ever a good tactic. What I meant was to wait and attack at the end of your turn, that is where the +1 speed often proves crucial for reaching the approaching enemies at the end of turn 1 already.

Also, is there a reason why you're using the bears over the snakes? No retaliation, high initiative, poisoning,... (As you can see, I'm a huge proponent of royal snakes )