Oh, one thing to mention, I guess. I don't really *use* mage characters.

I use my tank and my healer, with the other two characters never deploying until my tank has engaged the final enemy. They're pretty much just there to sponge EXP to do challenges at some later date.

It's too hard wrangling the maidens to prevent all the squishies from running past my tank and getting 1-shotted. Even with the healer, I usually have her "picked up", drop her way back, cast the heal, then pick her up again. Thankfully, skills cycle even when they are being held after first deployment, and casting the heal keeps her in position for a good chunk of her pickup cooldown.