1. minion mana usage:

i have a  familiar (or imp) and sand golem, they both have about 4 mana and if i check their description/stats page it says they can cast lightning and a few other spells. however in tactical mode, iif i attempt to use their spellbook it says "no tactical spells available". I have many tactical damage spells researched, including lighting bolt.

Ok so i thought i probably was missing some research etc.

then i fight another sov who also has the same summonable imp or familiar. He casts some aoe spell that does 10dmg to all of my gang. i am understandably pissed at this point

2. sovreign development. 

Since magic is insanely overpowered in this game, it seems pointless to pursue any other stat but essence and to cast "imbue essence" on as many champions as possible to create a gang of magicusers who can blast everyone with their spells.

Please correct me if im wrong here. Mana enables me to do massive damage at a distance and only requires 2 stats. Melee needs for me to be at striking distance, have many hitpoints, defense, weapons, attack rating etc. 

3. It would be nice to have some description of what is going on in battles. Like the imp aoe spell mentioned before, i just saw its effects as a bunch of -10 to hp on everyone. No spellname. In another fight, a spider casts a net on my golem. Nowhere i can i see how long does this last, or what other effects it might have.

4. how to boost manaregen of my sov and his champs? they all seem to get +1 mana per turn.