Another thing to consider - in MoM the channeler could often cast powerful and decisive spells during Tactical Combat, whether he was physically present or not. How can you not have at least a tactical option in a game like this - I assume auto resolve is going to remove the capability of the channeler to cast during combat, or if not how would a channeler cast spells during an autoresolve battle?

Presumably the AI channelers will be able to cast spells as well. That means the AI will have some way to determine when to use spells. In auto-resolve, the AI is controlling your side too, so it'd use spells just like the computer.

If auto-resolve really just runs the battle normally (only without the graphics), it's not really a huge problem.

Assuming you are only allowed to cast a certain amount of magic as a channeler per turn, it would suck if auto-resolve burned your points on an insignificant battle leaving your tank empty for a more important one (in the same turn)...

That actually opens up a big can of worms, though. We already know some spells will cost essense, which is supposed to be finite. And I'd certainly not want the AI to cast these spells without my express direction.

But I suppose for that there could also be a spellcast setting. Neverwinter Nights has pretty decent controls for this. You can set the AI into "Overkill" spellcast mode where they'll just fling anything at anything. Then it scales down to more conservative casting and to manual only.

I like this a LOT.

Sammual

Another thing to consider - in MoM the channeler could often cast powerful and decisive spells during Tactical Combat, whether he was physically present or not. How can you not have at least a tactical option in a game like this - I assume auto resolve is going to remove the capability of the channeler to cast during combat, or if not how would a channeler cast spells during an autoresolve battle? 

Not to beat a dying horse, but again, look at Dominions. You could specify what spells to cast during the battle. There was synergy if you lined up your troops correctly and cast certain spells and set up your orders correctly. Auto-resolve does NOT have to mean zero control of the battle.

This is just one of the problems with auto-resolve. If it loses a fight it could have won because it won't use your spells, people will complain. If it wins a fight by using spells, people will complain. If it wins a fight by using essence, people will really complain (probably with some justification in that case).

Again, bingo.  If we don't control when important strategic resources (essence) is used, the player is goign to be very, veyr angry.  And with good reason -- win or loose.

Auto-resolve questions aside, I think it might be a good idea to limit essence-using spells to the main map and have only mana used in tactical combat. (Of course that would be a moot point if essence use is limited entirely to imbueing places, people, and things--an idea I like even better.)

Well, if the only thing essence is used for is imbues, doesn't that kind of remove the idea of a strong combat channeler woh keeps that essence to use in combat? Or would just *having* essence boost your combat magic, even if it doesn't consume it?

duh