Re: Some questions regarding communions
 

1) Yes, though it's probably not cost efficient.
Don't forget Blood sabbath works the same way as communion and is compatible with it.

2) If the slave goes first he will act every turn, if he goes after any master he will not. What he's scripted for doesn't affect this. If the master does not cast, the slaves can act.
Using thugs as communion slaves does work. If the master is also a thug, having him buff the slaves then attack will allow them to attack also. Simply making sure the slaves go first will also work. If the master is more fragile, you can have him cast the self buffs and then retreat.
Bear in mind the slaves, especially if they don't have the right paths, are likely to start fighting with a lot of fatigue.

I used this with Vampire Counts. Using one of them as a master for Soul Vortex and a fortune teller for luck and other astral buffs.

Re: Some questions regarding communions
 

Other uses for communions, as MA Ermor:

Think of 3 thaumathurgs...10 slaves, 1 master. Master casts power of the spheres on turn 2. By turn 3 you cast 10 shadow blasts costing only 10D and 1S gems. That's quite some damage for the cost.
I found that having 1 master casting power of the spears on turn 2 is a must...great permanent boost for all the slaves that they keep even if you break the communion.

Another use... master one grand thaumaturgh with an air random. Have him cast power of the spheres + 8 slaves. He gets to A5 = Fog warriors, Storm, etc... basically with ermor is really easy to even get to Air and Water level 5 battlefield spells... http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/happy.gif

Re: Some questions regarding communions
 

Similarly with Arco's Mystics. All those 1 path elemental randoms become impressive once you've communioned, cast PofS and Summon Earthpower (and Phoenix Power). All the slave can now shower Falling Fires, Magma Eruption, while the master can do battlefield buffs.

Re: Some questions regarding communions
 

Extra bonus, if you can manage to turn up a single b1 mage, sabbath master, hold, hold, hold, reinvigorate will wipe out all the fatigue from those slaves around round 6 (you'll marginally pass out from the sabbath master). This can be a very good way to finish off buffing the slaves for melee after you just made them cast a bunch of spells they don't have the paths for. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/happy.gif

Re: Some questions regarding communions
 

Is there a way of telling what order your mages will cast in during the fight?

Re: Some questions regarding communions
 

I keep expecting to be contradicted on this, but I believe that they always act in order - as in, in the order they are displayed on the orders screen. At least, this was once true.

Re: Some questions regarding communions
 

I can confirm that they act in the order that they appear in the orders screen. That is the only thing that matters and not their grid placement in the battlefield, as i once red in the forums.
I only have problems with casting order when i move mages from different provinces all into the same. I couldnt find a pattern to know which province's mages cast first once they are all together.

Re: Some questions regarding communions
 

If you give them their move orders, then use 'y' to get to the orders screen in the target province, they'll be in order there.

Re: Some questions regarding communions
 

Aha. So you can guarantee that the master casts after all the slaves if needs be...

It's not entirely clear to me from the description how the division of fatigue works. If a master casts a spell that would net him 50 fatigue and has 10 slaves, do they get 5 fatigue each?