gems etc in combat

[Aezeal]

In my SP games I usually don't let my commanders carry gems etc because they tend to blow them even in small battles.

Of course I see the benefit of using battle spells that cost gems since they usually help your army a great deal. Especially in large battles the whole battlefield spells etc can be usefull.
In my MP games I can certainly see that using mist, storm etc in the LARGE battles can turn the tide of battle and save the lives of many of my skinshifters.

BUT if I give my commander 10 airgems (midgard is the nation of the moment) HOW do I see to it that he ONLY uses them in the large battles with 100 + troops and not in the small skirmishes.

Obviously start of game I just don't give them gems.. but how do I do that later.. when I want to bash a few small armies and then for example besiege a larger force somewhere. How can I see to it that when I load the gems on the mages they still have them when in counts?

Any advice would be appreciated.

[cleveland]

Load up a scout with gems have him follow your army.

You can then transfer an appropriate amount to/from mages just before each battle.

Since the scouts are stealthy, you won't lose 30 gems to a stray arrow.

It won't keep mages from wasting gems in small battles, but it will limit the total # of gems lost.

[Aezeal]

hmm sounds like an idea.. any more suggestions?

[Agrajag]

You could give them gem-generating items, which will help make sure they'll always have some gems. Though I suppose you already thought of that.

[Aezeal]

is there one that produces air gems?

[K]

Aezeal said:
is there one that produces air gems?

Nope. Air gems are one of the most elusive of the gem types, in my opinion.

To break it down:
Water: Sea trolls 1/turn
Fire: Fever Fetishes 1/turn if unt is Wounded(-10 HPs)
Earth: Blood Stones 1/turn
Astral: Clams 1/turn
Death: The Sickle whose Crop is Pain(gems based on kills with item)
Blood: There is a Demon Lord who spawns 3 blood slaves a turn.


The easiest way to get gems to the front with Air gems is to get one of your Air mages to Cloud Trapeze to your army and then distribute the gems.

Unfortunately, keeping gems on commanders is a tactical issue that everyone must address. Even the most well stocked mage will blow his gems when a Golem SC Teleports in or an Earth Attack elemental strikes.