Being the OP of this thread I feel obliged to state that I never took any offense from any reply in this thread. I started this thread to have my understanding of the card's effect be affirmed. The answers of Puddnhead and Zuberi did just that. I also never found the wording confusing, but after reading the replies to this thread I think I have an idea of why someone could find it confusing. In the end this is more an issue of foreign language than imprecise wording. So I don't think clarification is actually needed because native speakers will easily get the meaning -- that's as precise as one could wish for IMHO.
I could imagine that AW is considering adding clarification nevertheless because they care so much for the game and the people playing it. That is exactly what makes Mage Wars so great and stand out from other games out there. Thank you very much for that Arcane Wonders!

"... during this mage's activation" means >>anytime while this mage is active<< and not >>directly after this mage's activation (indicated by flicking the action marker)<<, right?
This is not relevant for Academy because the mage cannot take a move action, so I'm asking this here in the arena forum, where it is relevant whether a mage uses the cowl's effect before or after moving.

The orc is better with melee swarms. (And Talos imo)
His melee +1 is nice, so he is a decent puncher, even without a weapon.

Mmmh didn't manage to make swarming orc work for me. Maybe that just means that I'm bad at swarms

I had the impression that the dwarf was better suited to protect the outposts until Talos comes out ...
could you elaborate why you think the orc is better with Talos?

Thank you Halewijn for your feedback.

On the deck: It looks very solid at first sight. It will be outdated very soon, because steep hill and other cards will be able to boost your deck a lot! I woul consider making your zone even closer to the opponent when you expect him to turtle. (aka spawn 4 earth elementals maybe) Then you can shoot in the entire arena.

You are very correct. Steep Hill will fit into this deck so well. Also some other warlord-support-cards from PvS will fit very well!

I would add more arcane wards to suppport your dwarf, and maybe a tanglevine or 2 extra to keep them 1 space away from your base.

Sounds good. But what to leave out for these? I Think I'll need to cut more of the commands ... up to the point where I can also cut the Helm of Command because I have no commands left ...

Instead of the orc butchers, I would consider level 3 and up creatures. More durable, cost less full casts. There are many options.. [mwcard=FWC09]Iron Golem[/mwcard], [mwcard=MWSTX2FFC03]Bloodcrag Minotaur[/mwcard], [mwcard=FWC15]Thorg, Chief Bodyguard[/mwcard] could keep the opponent distracted and away from your base. Or a [mwcard=MWSTX1CKC01]Bridge Troll[/mwcard] is always worth considering.
There are more good promo's but I excluded them.

I like the idea of Thorg but I will need time to get him out that I probably don't have.
The Bridge Troll is very good but 5 Spellpoints seems like a lot to me and he will need additional support to increase his armor.
Iron Golem is the least expensive Mana and SP wise, he is slow though and needs massive support to be effective. I think he works better when you focus the book on him (or more of him ).
The Minotaur I personally like very much, but I found it also quite hard to make him work effectively.

I'll think that through and try one or another.

Also, I would add an extra ranger (or 2) to replace/help Grimson. He could be awesome as a target for Enchantment Transfusion, (like Hawkeye) and make good use of the archer's tower once Grimson is dead. [mwcard=MWSTX2FFC05]Anvil Throne Crossbowman[/mwcard] for more range or [mwcard=FWC10]Ludwig Boltstorm[/mwcard] for his damage output.

I do have a goblin alchemist 
I'm a bit concerned about mana and I find it easier to cast an alchemist late rather than Ludwig or the Crossbowman.

Ludwig + take aim against someone with 2 armor or less is essentially 9 dice without any other buffs! The huge downside is his short range.

That would require the anvil throne warlord ...

I would also add a bit more force pushes to aid the archers.

More is alway good ... but where to cut?

I also think you should change the warlord. I think the dwarf would be better in your deck.
1) Your rangers have not much use of being a veteran.
2) You could cast a bow + a rune and shoot to save mana and have more piercing
3) I think his command "Take Aim" is slightly better than "Release volley" especially for high dice attack and multiple strikes. (Especially Ludwig, a lot less the crossbowman)
4) You can protect your equipment/harshforge plate easier.

You know what: I think you're right ... and I hate that you're right
I want to have a good book for the orc not for the dwarf 
[rant]Is there any (viable) warlord book the dwarf doesn't do better?
He's better for Talos, he's better for solo, now he's also better for archers ...[/rant]
 

This is the opening I used to do in order to counter an air wizard who casts an Earth Elemental in Round 1 and then one every uneven round (up to 4).

The first Earth Elemental you can kill before he can attack you, but the 2nd is already difficult and will attack you.

The 3rd will cause you to leave your base to avoid the zone attack.

While you are cleaning up the 3rd and try to ignore the 4th, the wizard builds up forces.

How do you respond?

Mmmh, I think when he casts an Earth Elemental Round 1, I'll go for NC. Round 3 his Mage will receive 5 Dice of Damage; from Round 4 I can have Hawkeye on Grimson and do at least 6 Dice (7 If I can give the "Release Volley" command but I will probably need both actions otherwise) per Round. I'll keep the Elementals from reaching Grimson using walls and the teleport will also buy me some tme; additionally I would try to bring out 1-2 Orcs and move them towards the Wizard. Attacking them will stop the Elementals from moving further towards Grimson, not attacking will allow them to beat the mage with addtional 4 Dice each. So by Round 7 the Wizard will have received at least 29 Dice of Damage. That could theoretically already kill him. If he's not dead by then I'll make sure that my mage is in range for a hurl boulder at the end of round 6 so I can make additional 14 dice of damage.

[spellbook]
[spellbookheader]
[spellbookname]Sniper War[/spellbookname]
[mage]A Warlord Spellbook[/mage]
[mage]built by the OCTGN SBB[/mage]
[/spellbookheader]
[spells]
[spellclass]Attack[/spellclass]
[mwcard=MWSTX2FFA02]3 x Hurl Rock[/mwcard]
[mwcard=FWA04]2 x Hurl Boulder[/mwcard]
[spellclass]Conjuration[/spellclass]
[mwcard=MWSTX2FFW01]4 x Wall of Earth[/mwcard]
[mwcard=FWJ02]2 x Archer's Watchtower[/mwcard]
[mwcard=MWBG1J02]1 x Gravikor[/mwcard]
[mwcard=MW1J09]1 x Temple of the Dawnbreaker[/mwcard]
[mwcard=DNJ03]1 x Etherian Lifetree[/mwcard]
[mwcard=MWBG1J01]1 x Altar of the Iron Guard[/mwcard]
[mwcard=MW1J22]1 x Tanglevine[/mwcard]
[spellclass]Creature[/spellclass]
[mwcard=FWC07]1 x Grimson Deadeye, Sniper[/mwcard]
[mwcard=MWSTX1CKC07]2 x Dwarf Panzergarde[/mwcard]
[mwcard=FWC11]3 x Orc Butcher[/mwcard]
[mwcard=FWC04]1 x Goblin Builder[/mwcard]
[mwcard=MWSTX2FFC06]1 x Goblin Alchemist[/mwcard]
[spellclass]Enchantment[/spellclass]
[mwcard=MW1E21]1 x Hawkeye[/mwcard]
[mwcard=FWE06]2 x Fortified Position[/mwcard]
[mwcard=MWSTX1CKE01]1 x Armor Ward[/mwcard]
[mwcard=FWE09]1 x Standard Bearer[/mwcard]
[mwcard=MWSTX2FFE02]2 x Akiro's Favor[/mwcard]
[mwcard=MWSTX2FFE04]2 x Brace Yourself[/mwcard]
[mwcard=MW1E32]1 x Regrowth[/mwcard]
[mwcard=MW1E03]1 x Bull Endurance[/mwcard]
[mwcard=MW1E17]1 x Force Orb[/mwcard]
[mwcard=MW1E37]1 x Sacred Ground[/mwcard]
[mwcard=MWBD1E01]1 x Astral Anchor[/mwcard]
[mwcard=MWSTX1CKE03]2 x Healing Charm[/mwcard]
[mwcard=MWSTX1CKE04]1 x Enchantment Transfusion[/mwcard]
[mwcard=MWA01E02]1 x Arcane Ward[/mwcard]
[spellclass]Equipment[/spellclass]
[mwcard=FWQ05]1 x Helm of Command[/mwcard]
[mwcard=MWA01Q09]1 x Wispwillow Amulet[/mwcard]
[mwcard=MWSTX2FFQ05]1 x Harshforge Plate[/mwcard]
[mwcard=MWSTX2FFQ06]1 x Morning Star[/mwcard]
[mwcard=DNQ09]1 x Wand of Healing[/mwcard]
[mwcard=MWA01Q04]1 x Leather Chausses[/mwcard]
[mwcard=FWQ08]1 x Ring of Command[/mwcard]
[mwcard=MW1Q09]1 x Enchanter's Ring[/mwcard]
[spellclass]Incantation[/spellclass]
[mwcard=MW1I23]1 x Rouse the Beast[/mwcard]
[mwcard=MWSTX2FFI06]1 x Defend[/mwcard]
[mwcard=MWSTX2FFI04]1 x Flank Attack[/mwcard]
[mwcard=MW1I18]1 x Perfect Strike[/mwcard]
[mwcard=MW1I19]1 x Piercing Strike[/mwcard]
[mwcard=FWI08]1 x Sniper Shot[/mwcard]
[mwcard=MW1I07]1 x Dissolve[/mwcard]
[mwcard=MWA01I01]1 x Crumble[/mwcard]
[mwcard=MWA01I02]1 x Disperse[/mwcard]
[mwcard=MW1I12]2 x Force Push[/mwcard]
[mwcard=MW1I20]1 x Purify[/mwcard]
[mwcard=MW1I28]1 x Teleport[/mwcard]
[/spells]
[cost]Total cost: 120 pts[/cost]
[/spellbook]

The Idea of this Book is, to get Grimson to shoot the first time in turn three without signaling it before turn three.
Opening is:

Round 1 (19 Mana): Goblin Builder (-5), Wispwillow Amulet (-3)

Round 2 (21 Mana): Altar of the Iron Guard (-4), Move Goblin Builder and Mage to the same Zone (either NC, or one zone towards other mage on the long side of the Arena), if possible Zone Enchantment (Astral Anchor, Sacred Ground or Fortified Position) in this Zone(-2).

Round 3 (25-27 Mana): Archer's Watchtower with GB (- 4), Grimson Deadeye (-15), Rouse the Beast on Grimson(-4) --> Grimson shoots!

Round 4 (12-14 Mana): Start protecting Grimson, eg. Dwarf Panzergarde or Earth Wall.

The idea now is to protect Grimson at all cost using, guards, protective Zone Enchantments, healing enchantments, add a defense, tanglevine him to counter force push (any better idea to give him unmovable?), add AstralAnchor against Teleport, Etherian Life Tree, ...
When you added a substantial amount of Enchantments (about 3) add ET to protect the Enchantments upon the unfortunate event of Grimson's dead (move them to your mage then).

During protecting Grimson you should take care to build a small army step by step. Try to use Grimson to reduce the life of oponent creatures and let your soldiers kill them to gain Veteran tokens.
I tried to choose the protective spells so, that I they are still useful after Grimson's demise.

This is the fourth installment of this book and it changed a lot after my first two games (in the second installment I dropped Goblin Builder and added Construction Yard which I reverted for the third version). In my games so far I learned that it is very hard to protect him properly. Even with that many protective cards it remains a challenging task to play the right protection at the right time.

After my last match I added Tanglevine and Altar of the Iron Guard, so I don't know how they work out yet. In that match I lost Grimson to a push so I added Tanglevine. I switched a Defend for the Altar in order to have the guard on the Panzergarde one turn earlier.

Please let me know what you think of this book and if you have ideas for improvement.

This book is built only with the sets already available in german (up to Academy core). So it might look a bit outdated for you but for me it contains the newest hot stuff .

I also agree that the starter books are not build to be competitive. A tournament just with starter books will be biased, because there are arguably starter books that are better than other starter books.

I like to use the starter books in casual play to "get to know" a new mage and test some of his options in order to decide which I like best. The starter books are good for this because they usually contain the whole variety of that mage's card pool (at least for the new cards). That's at the same time the reason why they cannot be competitive because a competitive book needs to focus on few options and not provide every possible option.