"Might vs. Magic"

I wonder, why can't you play as Jedite, Alamar, Tanta, Grindan, Labetta, Ciel, Sephinorof, Andru, Nagash, Adel, the ice lightning specialist (I don't remember the name), Ein, Kaitlimn, and others? Aren't they mages?
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Who said you can't? Just pick specialists with keen eyesight :D. The discussion was about the overpowered nature of Solmirov-Deemir, and this tournament was organized to resolve that dispute, IMHO. Therefore, it's logical that those who support their overpoweredness will choose them as starting units.