Title says it all, awesome card but losing two life everything round seems too impractical when combined with the huge cost.

So today I saw some people playing a pick-up game of Magic at my FLGS, and it made me remember Mage Wars yet again.  I believe that Mage Wars is superior to Magic in almost every way, but it takes far too much time for most people to play initially.  Now, I haven't played for almost a year, and do not have Necro V. Druid, Academy, or Battlegrounds (and won't be buying them in the near future due to a lack of funds).  However, I saw the academy rulebook online and gave it a read through.  I like the idea, but I wondered about something.  Could we mash the two play modes together into something even better?  I am thinking about using the original Mage cards with the spellbook values halved to 60 spell points, and the play area would be set up like Academy except their would be two zones, one for your opponent and one for you.  Melee creatures would have to move into your opponents zone one turn and then attack the next (so only one action allowed except for mages), while ranged attacks could target enemy provided no walls (which can be placed between the zones) are blocking LOS.  Fast would allow you to move into a zone AND attack in one turn, other traits still work as normal.  Conjurations lose their limit of one per zone, any number are allowed and all limitations listed on the card are ignored.  Mana is determined by Arena rules, and everything else stays the same (attack wise and phase wise the two games appear near identical).  What do you all think?  Anything I should tweak, and is it worth playtesting?

The thing that is great about the crossbowmen is dealing with those creatures that have high armor but low health, if playing the dwarf warlord you can get them up to piercing +4, at which point any damage they do is basically direct damage.

Thank you all for the great responses.  I think a Mage Staff is probably the way to go, and have included the book as it now stands.  Let me know what changes you would make!

[spellbook]
[spellbookheader]
[spellbookname]TW Anvil Throne Warlord[/spellbookname]
[mage]Anvil Throne Warlord[/mage]
[/spellbookheader]
[spells]
[spellclass]Attack[/spellclass]
[mwcard=MWSTX2FFA02]1 x  Hurl Rock[/mwcard]
[mwcard=FWA04]2 x  Hurl Boulder[/mwcard]
[mwcard=mw1a08]1 x  Geyser[/mwcard]
[spellclass]Conjuration[/spellclass]
[mwcard=MWSTX2FFJ01]1 x  Harshforge Monolith[/mwcard]
[mwcard=FWJ08]1 x  Renewing Spring[/mwcard]
[mwcard=mw1j08]1 x  Hand of Bim-Shalla[/mwcard]
[mwcard=MWSTX2FFW01]1 x  Wall of Earth[/mwcard]
[mwcard=FWW01]1 x  Wall of Pikes[/mwcard]
[mwcard=MWSTX2FFJ05]1 x  Construction Yard[/mwcard]
[mwcard=mw1j04]1 x  Battle Forge[/mwcard]
[mwcard=FWJ03]1 x  Barracks[/mwcard]
[mwcard=MWSTX2FFJ04]1 x  Armory[/mwcard]
[mwcard=FWJ02]1 x  Archer's Watchtower[/mwcard]
[mwcard=MXSTX2FFJ02]1 x  Altar of Carnage[/mwcard]
[spellclass]Creature[/spellclass]
[mwcard=FWC11]4 x  Orc Butcher[/mwcard]
[mwcard=FWC04]2 x  Goblin Builder[/mwcard]
[mwcard=FWC07]1 x  Grimson Deadeye, Sniper[/mwcard]
[mwcard=MWSTX2FFC05]2 x  Anvil Throne Crossbowman[/mwcard]
[mwcard=MWSTX1CKC07]2 x  Dwarf Panzergarde[/mwcard]
[spellclass]Enchantment[/spellclass]
[mwcard=mw1e32]1 x  Regrowth[/mwcard]
[mwcard=mw1e36]1 x  Rhino Hide[/mwcard]
[mwcard=MWSTX2FFE04]2 x  Brace Yourself[/mwcard]
[mwcard=mw1e01]1 x  Bear Strength[/mwcard]
[mwcard=mw1e29]1 x  Nullify[/mwcard]
[mwcard=MWSTX1CKE01]2 x  Armor Ward[/mwcard]
[mwcard=FWE09]1 x  Standard Bearer[/mwcard]
[spellclass]Equipment[/spellclass]
[mwcard=mw1q15]1 x  Leather Boots[/mwcard]
[mwcard=MWSTX2FFQ03]1 x  Eisenach's Forge Hammer[/mwcard]
[mwcard=mw1q18]1 x  Mage Staff[/mwcard]
[mwcard=mw1q09]1 x  Enchanter's Ring[/mwcard]
[mwcard=mw1q11]1 x  Gauntlets of Strength[/mwcard]
[mwcard=mw1q08]1 x  Elemental Wand[/mwcard]
[mwcard=MWSTX2FFQ04]1 x  General's Signet Ring[/mwcard]
[mwcard=mw1q19]1 x  Mage Wand[/mwcard]
[mwcard=MWSTX2FFQ05]2 x  Harshforge Plate[/mwcard]
[spellclass]Incantation[/spellclass]
[mwcard=mw1i17]1 x  Minor Heal[/mwcard]
[mwcard=mw1i20]1 x  Purify[/mwcard]
[mwcard=mw1i07]4 x  Dissolve[/mwcard]
[mwcard=mw1i06]2 x  Dispel[/mwcard]
[mwcard=mw1i02]1 x  Battle Fury[/mwcard]
[mwcard=MWSTX2FFI03]3 x  Disarm[/mwcard]
[/spells]
[cost]Total cost: 120 pts[/cost]
[/spellbook]

According to my math, Nullify costs three spell points to include, and so does Armor Ward.  Given the choice, I though I would always take Nullify, I believe that canceling a spell is better than just making the opponent pay more.  However, Enchantment Transfusion is an absolutely insane investment in spells points and Nullify can be Decoyed pretty easily, so I think I will give it a go.  Do you guys run Eagle Claw Boots at all?  Also, how do you deal with etheral things like Mana Siphon?

Currently, I run Battle Forge, Construction Yard, and Barracks.  Recently I also added Alter of Carnage, but I haven't gotten it out yet.  As for wands I actually like running a Mage Wand with him, load it up with a Dispel or Dissolve at the end of the game and watch your opponent freak out (especially if he blew all of his dissolves on your armor earlier).  I have played 2 games with him so far, I might try including the Dispel Wand next time.  Economy is still a little rocky, and my main issue is that I usually play locally, but there are only three other people who play Mage Wars. Recently I got Octgn and want to start playing more, but am worried that some of the global players (Charmyna) will pound my face in.  Also want to take this mage to tournaments eventually.

So I am attempting to build an Anvil Throne Warlord book for casual play and possibly some tournament play.  I know that the warlord is often considered a weak choice, but I really like them.  The Anvil Throne Warlord seems to be slightly less creature and more equipment focused than the Bloodwave Warlord, but at the same time I don't want  to do a solo build (I have absolutely no faith in solo builds unless you are using the Forcemaster).  As a result, I was wondering how many spell points you tend to spend on creatures and equipment in an Anvil Throne Warlord book.  I was also wondering how many dispels/seeking dispels/nullifys you guys tend to take, they are so costly for a warlord but so useful!  Last but not least, I was wondering how you buff up on channeling without using things like harmonize or moonglow amulets.  Thanks!